While Delta comes up second in size, it’s widely considered one of the better U.S. airlines in terms of quality of service. Delta SkyMiles was the first to stop publishing an official award chart. However, I actually think there are some quite good values today despite the dynamic pricing. Delta also has a knack for customer-friendly policies like rolling over unused elite qualifying miles to the next year, making it easier to earn status.
Today the program is little changed. Status is still earned with either elite qualifying miles or elite qualifying segments even as other big carriers like United and American have switched to more explicit revenue-based programs that issue “points.” But on the other hand the qualification criteria for top-tier status are quite arduous. Be sure to look into getting a Delta credit card to help earn additional qualifying miles.
How to Earn Elite Qualifying Miles and Segments
You’ll need to earn a certain number of elite qualifying miles or segments by flying with Delta or its partners, or using a Delta co-branded credit card. Delta calls these “Medallion Qualifying Miles” and “Medallion Qualifying Segments”. Segments are simply the number of individual flights you take, while qualifying miles are determined as a percentage of the miles you fly. That percentage increases with more expensive fare classes.
Redeemable miles are completely separate, and are the miles you earn and redeem for free award travel. Customers earn 5 miles per dollar based on the ticket price, excluding certain fees, with bonuses for elite status.
In addition, U.S.-based customers are required to track “Medallion Qualifying Dollars,” which is the amount of money you spend on Delta base fares excluding taxes and fees. Your ticket must be marketed by Delta, meaning it has a “DL” flight number. Some partner airline tickets also count toward MQDs, but they earn just 20%. So Delta is really tracking your spend twice, by adjusting the number of MQMs you earn for more premium fares and separately counting the number of MQDs.
You can waive this MQD requirement altogether by spending at least $25,000 in a calendar year on certain Delta co-branded credit cards, but this will only apply to Silver, Gold and Platinum Medallion status. To waive the MQD requirement for Diamond Medallion status, you’ll need to spend $250,000.
MQMs, MQSs, and MQDs are accumulated during the calendar year from January 1 through December 31 and reset each year. When you reach the criteria for elite status, that status will start immediately and last through January 31 of the following year. This potentially gives you an extra month of elite status if you fail to requalify. Delta will also allow you to rollover any unused MQMs to the next year.
Qualification Criteria for Elite Status
Medallion Qualifying Miles, Points, and Dollars are earned on a calendar year from January 1 through December 31. Your status, once earned, will be valid immediately until January 31 of the following year. This gives you an extra month in case you did not satisfy all the requirements to requalify.
| MQMs | MQSs | MQDs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Medallion | 25,000 | 30 | $3,000 |
| Gold Medallion | 50,000 | 60 | $6,000 |
| Platinum Medallion | 75,000 | 100 | $9,000 |
| Diamond Medallion | 125,000 | 140 | $15,000 |
Remember, you need to satisfy either (1a) the Medallion Qualifying Miles requirement OR (1b) the Medallion Qualifying Segments requirement. You also need to satisfy (2) the Medallion Qualifying Dollars requirement unless you have an MQD exception from using your Delta credit card.
Always remember to include your Delta Air Lines loyalty number in your reservation if you want to earn credit for your travel. You can confirm this by reading your ticket details on confirmation online. It’s difficult to get credit if you use a different airline’s loyalty number by mistake. As a last resort, get it fixed when you check in for your flight or at the gate.
Benefits of Delta Medallion Elite Status
Delta SkyMiles has relatively generous benefits, such as companion upgrades for lower tier Silver Medallion members and free CLEAR membership and Hertz status for higher tiers. There is also some flexibility with Choice Benefits that mirror the Loyalty Choice awards issued by American AAdvantage. The redeemable miles earned, between 5 and 11 per dollar spent, are consistent with other major airlines.
Delta Silver Medallion Benefits
- 40% bonus redeemable miles (7 miles per dollar instead of 5)
- Complimentary upgrades to first class or Comfort+ on domestic routes for you and a companion starting 24 hours before departure (excluding Basic Economy)
- Complimentary upgrades on select Aeromexico flights starting 24 hours before departure
- Discounted CLEAR membership
- SkyTeam Elite status
Delta Gold Medallion Benefits
- 60% bonus redeemable miles (8 miles per dollar instead of 5)
- Complimentary upgrades to first class or Comfort+ on domestic routes for you and a companion starting 72 hours before departure (excluding Basic Economy)
- Complimentary upgrades on select Aeromexico flights starting 72 hours before departure
- Discounted CLEAR membership
- SkyTeam Elite Plus status
Delta Platinum Medallion Benefits
- 80% bonus redeemable miles (9 miles per dollar instead of 5)
- Complimentary upgrades to first class or Comfort+ on domestic routes for you and a companion starting 120 hours before departure (excluding Basic Economy)
- Complimentary upgrades on select Aeromexico flights starting 120 hours before departure
- Once-annual 20,000 bonus SkyMiles
- Opportunity to gift Silver Medallion status to a friend
- 4 Regional Upgrade certificates
- 1 Choice Benefit
- Discounted CLEAR membership
- SkyTeam Elite status
- Hertz President’s Circle status
Delta Diamond Medallion Benefits
- 120% bonus redeemable miles (11 miles per dollar instead of 5)
- Complimentary upgrades to first class or Comfort+ on domestic routes for you and a companion starting 120 hours before departure (excluding Basic Economy)
- Complimentary upgrades on select Aeromexico flights starting 120 hours before departure
- Once-annual 25,000 bonus SkyMiles (in addition to 20,000 mile Platinum bonus)
- Opportunity to gift Silver Medallion status to a friend
- 8 Regional Upgrade certificates (or 4 Global Upgrade certificates, or 2 Global + 4 Regional)
- 3 Choice Benefits
- Complimentary CLEAR membership
- SkyTeam Elite status
- Hertz President’s Circle status
Delta Million Miler Benefits
You can earn Million Miler status by accumulating 1 million or more Medallion Qualifying Miles throughout your lifetime. These are not quite miles flown, since MQMs will also vary with fare class.
One million MQMs earns lifetime Silver Medallion status, 2 and 3 million MQMs earn lifetime Gold Medallion status, and 4 million MQMs earns Platinum Medallion status. You’d need to accumulate 6 million MQMs to get lifetime Diamond Medallion status.
