5 Benefits That Come With Delta SkyMiles Silver Medallion Status

When perks are discussed in the context of frequent flier statuses, the most talked about tiers will often be Gold and Platinum (or the equivalent, depending on the airline and alliance). In most cases, these include lounge access, priority check-in, boarding, immigration, security, and eligibility for complimentary upgrades to extra legroom seats, premium economy, and, in some rarer cases, business class.

It is rarer that lower tiers like Silver are discussed as, in most cases, they will only include a handful of the perks of the uppermost elite statuses. Today, however, we will spotlight Delta’s silver medallion and explain five of the most exciting perks.

5

Enhanced mile earnings

Silver passengers earn seven miles per dollar.

Source: Delta Air Lines

Like most international airlines today, Delta has a miles-earning scheme based on the amount spent. This may seem counter-intuitive, as the currency is miles, but the more you spend, the more you earn. Historically, a passenger had to fly far on a carrier to achieve status.

According to Delta’s website, a non-status holder will earn five miles per dollar spent in the Main Cabin. So, on a flight between New York and LA, which on average would retail at around $300 one way, a passenger can expect to earn 1,500 miles.

Those with Silver Medallion will earn seven miles per dollar spent, so on the same route, that would be 2,100 miles.

Prospective Delta frequent fliers should note that to earn silver status, $5,000 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) are required; those are the airline’s version of qualifying points.

4

Upgrade your flight

Based on availability, the silver medallion member can be upgraded for free.

Photo: Delta Air Lines

Here is a unique feature practically unheard of outside North America. Silver medallion holders are eligible for complimentary upgrades to a more comfortable seat. Starting 24 hours before departure, upon check-in, status holders will receive a prompt if they want to opt into the standby upgrade for domestic first class or domestic comfort+.

The option the customer can select will depend on the seats available during check-in. If a customer opts in, he will be added to a waiting list while keeping their original seat. If the name is called at the boarding gate, they will get a new experience.

3

Bye-bye baggage fees

Silver Medallion holders can bring along a hold item.

One of the most inconvenient aspects of traveling on a US domestic flight is that cheaper tickets may not include a hold item. While this is no big issue if you plan a day trip, budget-savvy travelers looking for a few days or more vacation will be stuck with a fee starting at around $30 if they still need to pre-book a hold option.

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Medallion status holders needn’t worry about this, as they are eligible for excess baggage. The Silver status is your regular allowance plus one bag; in the case of Basic, that will automatically include a bag.

2

Complimentary seat selection

Aisle, middle, or window?

Traveling by plane means, by default, having to select a seat assignment (unless you are flying Southwest Airlines).

Airlines, therefore, give customers two options: either at the time of booking or during check-in. Aviation enthusiasts often like to secure the best possible seats that offer the most exciting views and want to be sure they are available for our trip.

Booking in advance is the less stressful option. When travelers are non-status holders, this will incur a fee – ranging from a handful of dollars at the back to dozens of dollars on emergency exit rows – seat selection can be a significant budget for travelers.

However, like most airlines worldwide, Delta offers a solution for all its status holders, from Silver to Diamond, to select a seat for free, so long as it is in the same cabin.

1

Keeping the perks

Delta allows members to keep their status even if they take a break.

Life can be unpredictable. For various reasons, a customer can go from traveling several times a month to drastically and suddenly decreasing their frequency of travel. In some cases, this can mean losing frequent flier status entirely. Delta offers a solution for medallion customers facing those issues, however.

Photo: Austin Deppe | Shutterstock

To be eligible, customers must meet some primary conditions:

1. You must have achieved Medallion status in the previous year but have either lost it entirely or moved to a lower status level.
2. You must have documentation to support the fact that an event has occurred, reducing the frequency of your travels (all types of events are considered).
3. If you have already lost your status or have been downgraded, ensure you are prepared to resume travel before submitting your application.
4. If you have not yet lost your status or been downgraded but anticipate this change due to the current events you are experiencing, you must wait for your status change before submitting your application.
5. The three-month period of free status will commence as soon as you receive your registration confirmation email indicating that your application has been accepted.

Bottom line

Delta’s SkyMiles is a popular loyalty program with over 120 million members as of 2023. The elite status is Medallion Status and offers four levels: Silver, Gold, Premium, and Diamond. Passengers from eligible airlines can switch their loyalty to Delta through the carrier’s Medallion Status Match Challenge. If their request is approved, they are automatically enrolled in the challenge and matched to Platinum, Gold, or Silver Medallion Status.

You can find out more about Delta’s frequent flier program in our comprehensive guide below:

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