Delta Bumping Up Elite Status for Select SkyMiles Members

Late last year, Delta Air Lines outraged frequent flyers by increasing status requirements and restricting lounge access, among other modifications. Although Delta CEO Ed Bastian publicly acknowledged that the airline had gone too far and (slightly) rolled back the changes, many long-time elites were still displeased.

However, some Delta elites woke up to an email that may soften the blow, at least temporarily. According to reports shared with Upgraded Points, select members are getting their status bumped up by 1 level from what they earned for the 2024 Medallion year.

Here’s what we know so far — and why you might want to check your email right now.

Check Your Emails: Delta “Gifting” Higher Level 2024 Elite Status

Select SkyMiles members received an email offering a bump in status valid through January 31, 2025. An Upgraded Points reader shared the following screenshot of the email that states:

“The loyalty you have shown Delta means so much, and you were so close to achieving Platinum Medallion Status this year. To show our gratitude, we’re gifting it to you.”

This specific reader had hit the required Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQD) but not the required Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) to hit Platinum level status for 2024. Other reports are similar — elites with enough MQDs but who fell short of MQMs are receiving this bump in Delta status.

This upgrade in status is immediately reflected in Delta accounts, along with the ability to select Choice Benefits (for those who are Platinum or Diamond Medallion).

A Delta spokesperson told Upgraded Points, “This is something we do every year for select Medallion Members who were just shy of achieving that next status tier, and we love being able to reward them for their loyalty.”

Final Thoughts

This looks to be a savvy tactic from Delta to reward travelers who are high spenders but may not have accumulated enough butt-in-seat miles.

After all, starting this year, the number of MQMs you accumulate won’t matter anymore with the new program changes. With this “gifted” status, Delta is trying to get back in the good graces of some not-so-happy elites, some of whom may have taken advantage of JetBlue’s and Alaska’s generous status match opportunities last year.