Earning Delta Medallion elite status provides valuable perks for frequent flyers like priority boarding, upgrades, free bags, extra SkyMiles, and special benefits.
Below is everything you need to know about the status levels and what you can do to earn elite status.
Delta Medallion Status Levels
Delta Air Lines awards elite status based on Medallion Qualification Dollars (“MQDs”), which you can earn via flying with Delta and partners, or on your Delta American Express card.
Delta’s elite status levels require the following MQDs:
- Silver Medallion requires $5,000 MQDs.
- Gold Medallion requires $10,000 MQDs.
- Platinum Medallion requires $15,000 MQDs.
- Diamond Medallion requires $28,000 MQDs.
How to Earn Delta MQDs
Accumulating Medallion Qualification Dollars is essential for reaching your desired Delta status level. Fortunately, Delta offers multiple paths to earn these valuable MQDs beyond just flying. Here are the six ways you can build your MQD balance:
Delta Flights: Earn 1 MQD per $1 spent on Delta-marketed flights (those with “DL” flight numbers). This includes your base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges, but excludes government taxes and fees. Remember that Basic Economy fares don’t earn MQDs or miles.
Partner Flights: When flying with Delta’s airline partners, you’ll earn 1 MQD per $1 spent when the flight has a Delta ticket number (starting with “006”). For flights ticketed by partners, MQDs are awarded based on distance flown and fare class.
Delta Award Flights: You can earn MQDs on award tickets. The calculation is simple: divide the number of miles redeemed by 100. For example, a 25,000-mile award ticket would earn you 250 MQDs.
Delta Reserve Cards: The Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business American Express Cards earn 1 MQD for every $10 you spend on everyday purchases. Plus, cardholders receive a 2,500 MQD headstart each year, deposited 6-8 weeks after February 1.
Delta Platinum Cards: The Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express Cards earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent on purchases. These cards also provide a 2,500 MQD headstart annually.
Delta Vacations: When booking through Delta Vacations, you’ll earn 1 MQD per $1 spent on the total package price. This includes flights, hotels, and car rentals, but excludes taxes, fees, insurance, and other charges.
Not everything you spend with Delta counts toward status. Baggage fees, Sky Club memberships, inflight purchases (food, drinks, Wi-Fi), same-day change fees, and other ancillary charges don’t earn MQDs. Focus your spending on actual airfare and the other qualifying methods above to maximize your status progress.
