Summary
- SkyMiles rewards Delta flyers with miles for flights, upgrades, and more; Medallion status is earned based on spending levels.
- Tow of the range of co-branded Delta credit cards contribute to status earning, offering MQDs alongside flights and other spending.
- Delta SkyMiles American Express cards provide various benefits, including MQD earning rates and elite status perks.
SkyMiles is Delta Air Lines’ loyalty program. Like most loyalty programs, it awards members with miles that can be used for free flights, upgrades, and more. It also rewards frequent flyers with elite status, known as Medallion status. This is determined based on the total spending level with the airline and its partners, and select credit cards.
Credit cards play an increasingly important role in earning status. Two American Express co-branded Delta credit cards are available that contribute to status earning. These contribute at different rates, and with high spending, it would be possible to earn status without ever flying.
How to earn Delta Medallion status
Delta Medallion status is awarded based on the number of Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) earned within a year. The increasing elite levels and requirements are:
- Medallion Silver: $5,000 MQD
- Medallion Gold: $10,000 MQD
- Medallion Platinum: $15,000 MQD
- Medallion Diamond: $28,000 MQD
Related
The Different Tiers Of Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles Program
Elite staus beings many perks and benefits in mileage earning and onboard treatment – with Delta Air Lines and its partners.
MQDs are earned not just from flying. The earning opportunities include:
- Flights with Delta Air Lines. MQDs are earned at the rate of one MQD per dollar spent on the ticket. This includes the base fare and airline-imposed charges but not any government taxes and fees. There are no earnings for basic economy tickets.
- Flights with partner airlines. MQDs are based on the distance flown and the ticket’s booking/inventory code. You can earn with all SkyTeam alliance partners plus other partners such as LATAM and WestJet.
- Bookings with Delta Vacations. Package bookings earn 1 MQD per $1 spent (excludes taxes, fees, and basic economy fares).
- Select credit card spending. Finally, there are significant earnings possibilities with co-branded credit cards, with earnings varying between cards.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
The Delta SkyMiles American Express card range
Delta offers a number of co-branded credit cards with American Express – including:
- The Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card.
- The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card.
- The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card.
- The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card.
All of these cards earn standard redeemable miles. In general, they award at least one mile per dollar spent, with several bonus categories and more generous earnings on the higher-fee cards.
Photo: Delta Air Lines
Only the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card also award MQDs for spending. This includes both the personal and business versions of the cards.
Note that this earning system was significantly changed in early 2024. Before that, there was a different elite qualification system (based on EQDs and additional measures of Medallion Qualifying Miles and Segments). These cards also did not earn MQDs before the changes.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card (and the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card) is the mid-range card in the series. The Blue card has no annual fee, and the Gold card has a fee of $150 after the first year. This increases significantly with the Platinum card to a $350 annual fee but brings many more benefits.
Photo: Delta Air Lines
These benefits include:
- The ability to earn MQDs at the rate of 1 MQD per $20 spent on the card. There is also a bonus of 2,500 MQDs.
- Credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry.
- One free checked bag when flying Delta.
- A sign-up bonus of up to 85,000 miles when meeting minimum spending requirements.
|
SkyMiles Platinum American Express |
|
|---|---|
|
Annual Fee |
$350 |
|
MQD earn rate |
1 MQD per $20 |
|
Bonus MQDs |
2,500 MQDs annually |
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card (and the equivalent Business Reserve Card) is the top offering in the series. This comes with a high annual fee of $650, but like any premium card in this fee range, it brings many more benefits.
Photo: Delta Air Lines
Benefits with the Reserve card include:
- The ability to earn MQDs at the increased rate of 1 MQD per $10 spent on the card. There is also a bonus of 2,500 MQDs.
- Credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry.
- One free checked bag when flying Delta.
- Delta Sky Club lounge and American Express Centurion lounge access (with terms)
- An annual companion certificate for a domestic or regional flight.
- Upgrade priority over other same-tier Delta Medallion elite status members.
- A sign-up bonus of up to 95,000 miles when meeting minimum spending requirements.
|
SkyMiles Reserve American Express |
|
|---|---|
|
Annual Fee |
$650 |
|
MQD earn rate |
1 MQD per $10 |
|
Bonus MQDs |
2,500 MQDs annually |
Elite status benefits with Delta Air Lines and SkyTeam
These credit cards will help you earn elite status with Delta. Here is a quick recap of some of the benefits on offer if you reach the different levels:
Medallion Silver offers:
- Earnings of seven SkyMiles per dollar spent.
- Upgrades to first class or Comfort+ seats (lowest priority level) – clearing 24 hours before departure.
- One free checked bag.
- Complimentary preferred seating on select full-fare tickers.
Medallion Gold adds:
- Earnings of eight SkyMiles per dollar spent.
- Free same-day flight changes.
- Priority security screening and baggage handling.
- Lounge access when traveling internationally.
- Higher upgrade priority and clearing.
Related
What Benefits Come With Delta SkyMiles Gold Medallion Status?
When you reach Delta SkyMiles Gold Medallion Status, you can enjoy expedited baggage, hundreds of dollars in savings, and plenty more.
Medallion Platinum adds:
- Earnings of nine SkyMiles per dollar spent.
- No fee for canceling award tickets and re-deposit miles.
- One Platinum benefit choice (including regional upgrades).
Medallion Diamond adds:
- Earnings of 11 SkyMiles per dollar spent.
- Three Diamond benefit choices (including global upgrades).
- Highest complimentary upgrade priority (clearing 96 hours before departure).
Related
What Benefits Come With Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion Status?
Speeding through security benefits on car rentals and more on offer.
Each status level corresponds to a status with the SkyTeam Alliance, with further benefits available when traveling with any of the alliance member airlines.
- Medallion Silver: SkyTeam Elite
- Medallion Gold: SkyTeam Elite Plus
- Medallion Platinum: SkyTeam Elite Plus
- Medallion Diamond: SkyTeam Elite Plus
Related
A Complete Guide To Elite Status In The SkyTeam Alliance
The program offers two tiers of Elite and Elite Plus, with good benefits at both levels.
Do you have the Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Reserve American Express Card? How do you find the ability to earn MQDs, and the other benefits on offer? Let us know in the comments section.
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SkyMiles
- Participating Airlines:
- Delta Air Lines
- Owner:
- Delta Air Lines
- Region:
- North America
- Countries:
- United States
- Established Date:
- 1981-00-00
