Summary

  • Delta Gold Medallion members earn 8 miles per dollar spent, compared to 5 miles for General SkyMiles members.
  • Gold Medallion status offers waived fees for bags and ticket changes, as well as priority boarding and expedited baggage service.
  • Members also get unlimited complimentary upgrades to first class and Delta Comfort+, plus car benefits with Hertz.

The SkyMiles program has different tiers, and depending upon which status you have, the perks differ. Reaching Medallion Status with Delta SkyMiles offers you an elite-level travel experience.

Once you’ve earned $8,000 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQD), plus either 50,000 (MQM) or 60 Medallion Qualifying Segments (MQS), you will reach the SkyMiles Gold Medallion status. But what are the benefits that come along with this status? Let’s find out.

SkyMiles Gold Medallion

According to data from NerdWallet, some of the numbers involved with the SkyMiles Gold Medallion status are:

Value $3,256.
Estimated cost to earn $10,127
Bonus miles earned with SkyMiles Gold Medallion 60%
Minimum MQDs required to earn $10,000 MQDs (or MQD waiver).

Related

How Many Delta SkyMiles Do You Need For A Free Flight?

The answer can vary by route and date.

Benefits of Delta SkyMiles Gold Medallion status

A chance to earn more miles

For every dollar spent, members of the SkyMiles program can earn 5 miles. But once you reach Medallion status, you earn more:

  • Silver Medallion Members: 7 miles per dollar (2 additional miles per dollar)
  • Gold Medallion Members: 8 miles per dollar (3 additional miles per dollar)
SF_Delta A220-300 Pulling In While 737 Rises From PDX  16x9_JAK-1

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

Gold Medallion status offers a chance to get one additional mile per dollar compared to the Silver Medallion. But before cashing in the wonderful benefits of the program, one also has to learn about some other charges that might be applicable. Delta writes:

“ Ticket price eligible for mileage accrual includes base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges, but excludes government-imposed taxes and fees. Medallion mileage bonus per USD spent based on earned Medallion Status at the time of travel. “

Waived Fees for Bags and Ticket Changes

Gold Medallion status comes with a waived fee for bags and ticket changes for you and your travel companions. If you fly via Delta or China Southern or on a SkyTeam partner flight, you will have your first checked bag free each way. The other perks include:

  • First checked bag is free for eight companions traveling with you on Delta.
  • Waived Same-Day Confirmed fees.
Delta checked baggage

Photo: Delta

However, there might be extra charges for any oversized or overweight bags. There will be no fee waiver if you are traveling from these two airports:

  • Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
  • Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)

Priority boarding, expedited baggage service, and other amenities at the airport

With benefits ranging from check-in to boarding, the Delta SkyMiles program’s Gold Medallion Status helps you easily move through the airport. You can get a string of Sky Priority suite of services, which include:

  • Priority Check-in through the Sky Priority check-in lanes.
  • Expedited baggage service
  • Priority security line access: The airline does state: “This benefit is subject to government security regulations and may be suspended at any time by government directive.”
  • Sky Priority Boarding
Delta boarding

Photo: Delta Air Lines

The airline reports that there are a few benefits you can enjoy at the airport:

“As a Gold Medallion Member, look forward to receiving bag tags to help show off your Status! Plus, you’ll find drink vouchers in the My Wallet section of the Fly Delta App upon earning Status. “

Get Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades

With regard to the unlimited complimentary upgrades you receive as a part of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Medallion Status, the airline states:

“As a Gold Medallion Member, you and a companion are eligible for Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades to First Class and Delta Comfort+®, beginning 72 hours (3 days) prior to departure and to the domestic Delta One® experience on the day of departure. You can now also select Seat Preferences for Delta Comfort+ Complimentary Upgrades on an eligible future flight.“

Car Benefits with Hertz

You don’t always have to be flying with Delta or its airline partners to access the benefits of the Gold Medallion status, as you can reap benefits from Hertz® Car Rental as well. These include a chance to:

Delta Air Lines Boeing 777-200 2002 Winter Olympics livery.

Photo: Delta Flight Museum

But there might be taxes, fees, and other incidental charges that you have to pay. The airline further states that the price of $1 quoted above excludes “other booking charges or any element of the booking which is paid or reduced by redemption vouchers or discount codes.”

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.

Some additional benefits of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Medallion Status

Let’s take a look at some benefits of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Medallion Status:

  • When you book vacations with Delta Vacations, your miles will be worth at least 15% more, alongside savings of up to $250 per booking.
  • Reaching Gold Medallion Status gives you access to a dedicated Medallion phone line for service and support. Your calls will be prioritized over calls from Silver Medallion members and all General SkyMiles members.
  • Gold Medallion Status allows you to receive priority waitlist status on paid tickets if your preferred class of service isn’t available.

Which of these benefits of the Gold Medallion Status do you find the best? Let us know in the comments below.


  • SkyMiles Tall-1

    SkyMiles

    Participating Airlines:
    Delta Air Lines

    Owner:
    Delta Air Lines

    Region:
    North America

    Countries:
    United States

    Established Date:
    1981-00-00

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *