Why Delta Diamond Medallion Status Is Still Worth Chasing

With the end of the year approaching, it’s time for frequent flyers to evaluate whether they are satisfied with their current airline status and decide whether they want to spend enough to qualify for the next level.

Delta Air Lines flyers in particular may wonder whether to spend the $28,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars needed to reach Diamond Medallion, the airline’s highest published status, by December 31, 2026.

I’ve accumulated 970,000 lifetime miles, have held Diamond status for years, and currently have $17,000 in MQDs. Following the same spending pace, I should hit $23,000 MQDs by the end of December, just 5,000 short of Diamond.

I value Diamond status enough that I’m going to push to reach $28,000 MQDs by December 31, and here’s why I think that effort is worth it.

Upgrades Happen Often

Many frequent flyers lament that even at high status tiers, it’s become difficult to get complimentary upgrades to first class. Delta, in particular, has become so good at selling first class outright that there are very few seats left for elites. Delta’s own data says that 70% of its most premium seats are sold.

While I do not dispute those numbers, my own experience has been different. So far in 2026, I’ve been upgraded from coach to first on 3 out of 4 flights with Delta or Delta Connection in North America. That’s a very good ratio.

I’ve been able to hit that remarkable score solely on the strength of Diamond status and the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card, which serves as a tiebreaker for upgrades among passengers with the same elite status and fare class paid. Being a Million Miler also helps with the upgrade list, but I still hit 75% without Million Miler status.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Delta loyalists will love the fast track to Delta elite status, lounge access, baggage benefits, and upgrade priority with the Delta Reserve card.

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Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card

Delta loyalists will love the fast track to Delta elite status, lounge access, baggage benefits, and upgrade priority with the Delta Reserve card.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 125,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.

As High As 125,000 Miles. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,500

Annual Fee

$650

APR

19.74%-28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card is a stellar option for frequent travelers who always fly with Delta thanks to its MQD Headstart towards status boost, lounge access, annual companion certificate, and many other great benefits.

Here is a full look at everything the Delta Reserve card can offer to you to help you decide whether the card deserves a place in your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x SkyMiles per $1 on Delta purchases.
• 1x SkyMile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
• Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights.

Cons

• $650 annual fee (rates & fees)
• No bonus categories other than Delta purchases

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 125,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits each Medallion^® Year to the Delta Sky Club^® when flying Delta and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card during a calendar year. Reserve Card Members can also enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion^® Lounge and Escape Lounges when you book your Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion^® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
• Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flight each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
• $240 Resy Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases.
• Global Dining Access by Resy gives you special access to sought-after U.S. Resy restaurants when you add your Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card to your Resy profile. Access to exclusive reservations, premium dining experiences, Priority Notify, and more, all from Resy.com or the Resy app.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: With your $120 Rideshare Credit, earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment Required.
• Check your first bag for free on Delta flights worldwide and get a second bag free when flying domestically.
• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• With your Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74%-28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Airline Loyalty Program

Am I just lucky? I don’t think so. My upgrade percentage has been pretty consistent over time as a Diamond. In fact, this year was slightly better than the average over the past 5 years.

Global Upgrade Certificates Work for Me

Global Upgrade Certificates are my favorite benefit available to Diamond Medallion members. They aren’t available at lower status rungs and are the only way to upgrade into Delta One flat-bed business class on long-haul international routes.

Diamond Medallion members get to choose 3 benefits from a Choice Benefits pool. For my first benefit, I always choose the Global Upgrade Certificates from this list:

• 4 Global Upgrade Certificates
• 8 Regional Upgrade Certificates
• A combination of 2 Global and 4 Regional Upgrade Certificates
• 40,000 bonus miles
• Gift Gold Medallion status to 4 members
• $250 Sustainable Aviation Fuel Contribution
• $550 Delta Travel Voucher
• $500 Delta Vacations credit
• $2,000 Wheels Up private flight credit
• $2,000 MQDs toward the next Medallion Qualification year
• $500 Amex statement credit
• 6,000 Starbucks Rewards stars

Global Upgrade Certificates allow a guaranteed 1-cabin upgrade above your purchased cabin of service anywhere Delta flies, subject to availability.

On aircraft with 3 cabins — Main Cabin, Premium Select, and Delta One — you can use a Global Upgrade Certificate to upgrade from Main Cabin to Premium Select (Delta’s name for premium economy), and you will be automatically added to the waitlist for a Delta One upgrade. This upgrade can clear any time from 24 hours before departure until boarding.

I’ve flown Delta One via this waitlist, but with a far lower success rate than my 75% score on complimentary upgrades domestically. If I want a guaranteed flat bed, I buy Premium Select and immediately upgrade myself by using a certificate.

The MQD Choice Benefit Is a Nice Boost

The other 2 Choice Benefits typically count toward additional MQDs. With each benefit worth $2,000 in MQDs, I use both and add $4,000 in MQDs to my account. That’s without flying or spending money; I just sit at home, tick the appropriate boxes in the Delta app, and in a couple of days, those $4,000 MQDs are added to my total.

That’s a good 14% of the total MQDs needed to reach Diamond Medallion.

Boarding Before Most People, Even in Coach

In Delta Air Lines’ boarding-by-zone system, Diamonds are always in Zone 2 unless they’ve been bumped to First or Delta One and board in Zone 1.

That means I’m always among the first to board, even if I’m flying economy. With such early boarding, I find overhead bins wide open and have plenty of time to set up at my seat, even in the back of the plane. I’ve never had to gate-check a bag when traveling as a Diamond on Delta, and the same goes for my companions on the same reservation, who get the same boarding and upgrade priority.

Exceptional Phone Service

Diamond Medallions have access to a priority phone line and more experienced staff when calling Delta customer service. Only people with Delta 360 status — an invitation-only tier that the airline bestows at its discretion on the very highest spenders — have higher phone priority. But in my experience, the Diamond line almost always picks up within a minute, even during weather disruptions.

Diamond-line phone agents have been consistently very helpful. Case in point: I missed a Delta connecting flight to New York in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2024 when my arriving flight on another airline was delayed. I called Delta to book the next available flight, and when the agent on the Diamond line noticed it would have cost hundreds more, she waived the difference as recognition of my loyalty.

Better Mileage Earnings

Like other airlines, Delta awards more miles to its elite-status flyers. Diamonds earn 11x miles on airfare on Delta, compared to 9x for Platinum Medallion, 8x for Gold, 7x for Silver, and 5x for general members.

That means I regularly earn a lot of Delta SkyMiles. Some may scoff at a loyalty program that usually requires prohibitive numbers of miles for long-haul flights in premium classes, but we like SkyMiles for the excellent domestic deals and occasional bargains on long-haul flights.

That’s why I mostly use SkyMiles for coach-class flights from New York to ski destinations out West. Thanks to Diamond status, I often get upgraded to first class, anyway. If I want to fly Delta business class across oceans, there are many better programs for booking with points — or I can always use one of those Global Upgrade Certificates.

How I’ll Earn the Remaining $5,000 MQDs

With all those benefits within reach, I’m going to book my end-of-year travel on Delta or its partners whenever possible, and I’ll also charge expenses to my Delta credit cards to reach the $5,000 MQDs I need to maintain Diamond status.

Spending on Delta co-branded cards counts toward MQDs, too. For example, the Delta Reserve card earns $1 MQD for every $10 spent, while the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card earns $1 MQD for every $20 spent.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.

As High As 90,000 Miles. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,080

Annual Fee

$350

APR

19.74%-28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card can be a great option for those seeking additional ways to obtain a higher level of status — or to maintain their current status — with the airline.

A key feature of this card is the ability to earn bonus Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) that are essential for earning Delta status. This could help you get closer to earning a handful of valuable benefits with the airline.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta purchases
• 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on purchases made directly with hotels
• 2x SkyMiles per $1 spent at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and U.S. supermarkets

Cons

• $350 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion^® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
• Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Resy Credit: Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card for eligible purchases.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: With your $120 Rideshare Credit, earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment Required.
• Check your first bag for free on Delta flights worldwide and get your second bag free when flying domestically.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee every 4 years, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.§
• Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $350 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74%-28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

A long-haul itinerary on a Delta partner airline may also net me the MQDs I need, even if I spend much less than $5,000 on it. The key is that when flying Delta itself, $1 spent on airfare normally equals 1 MQD. But on flights with partner airlines, you earn MQDs as a percentage of distance flown. Thanks to that multiplier, $1,000 in airfare can equal $2,000 MQDs or more, a strategy I’ve used before to rack up a lot of MQDs quickly.

Final Thoughts

Airline status may not be worth as much as it used to be, since upgrade options have become more limited and airport lounges are often crowded. But in my experience, having Delta Diamond Medallion status has made flying much more pleasant. For that reason, I’m going to make an effort to earn that status again for the entirety of 2027 and January 2028.

Another plus of flying Delta and its partners enough to have Diamond again: I’ll hit a million miles on Delta this year, or early the next. That will likely lift my upgrade percentage above the already great 75% I’ve had in 2026.