You Can Now Choose How To Convert Your Rollover Delta MQMs

One of the best things about the former Delta SkyMiles program was that Medallion members could roll over Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) that they earned above their Medallion tier into the next year of earning. This would give elite members a boost on their quest to re-qualify for their current status level or even set them up to move up to additional tiers.

A few months ago, we learned that Delta would be completely overhauling the way SkyMiles members qualify for elite status, and with the changes came the elimination of MQMs.

With the new program now in effect, the only metric that’s tracked toward elite status is Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). But when the program shifted from considering MQMs, Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs), and MQDs to focusing solely on MQDs, many flyers became worried about the accumulation of MQMs they had earned through flying.

Now, Delta elites have options for any rollover MQMs they may have acquired throughout 2023 — let’s take a look at all the details:

Delta MQM Conversion Options Are Now Available

In the initial announcement of changes to the SkyMiles program, Delta stated that Medallion members who had rollover MQMs from 2023 would be able to convert them to MQDs at a ratio of 20:1, to redeemable SkyMiles at a ratio of 2:1, or a combination of both, according to the scheme below:

• 100% redeemable SkyMiles; 0% MQDs
• 75% redeemable SkyMiles; 25% MQDs
• 50% redeemable SkyMiles; 50% MQDs
• 25% redeemable SkyMiles; 75% MQDs
• 0% redeemable SkyMiles; 100% MQDs

After a sustained outcry, Delta backtracked on its initial plan and made tweaks to the program that made it considerably easier to swallow. One of these changes was improving the MQM-to-MQD conversion ratio from a pitiful 20:1 to a much more palatable 10:1. The conversion to redeemable SkyMiles remained at 2:1.

Delta said the conversion options for Medallion members would be available at the end of February, and sure enough, they’re now live.

How To Convert Your Rollover MQMs

If you’re a SkyMiles Medallion member with rollover MQMs waiting to be converted, here’s a quick look at how you can do so.

First, you’ll want to log into your SkyMiles account via delta.com. Then, navigate to the SkyMiles tab at the top of the page and click My SkyMiles.

At the top of your SkyMiles overview page, you’ll see a box alerting you that you have rollover MQMs available to be converted by December 31, 2024. Click Convert Now to be presented with your options.

You’ll then see a screen that will break down your specific options according to your balance of rollover MQMs.

I had a total of 85,367 rollover MQMs to use. Last year, I purposely only qualified for Medallion Silver status, even though I had a sizable balance of MQMs from the previous year’s rollover as well as those earned from flying. This way, I’d “use up” just 25,000 of the MQMs in my balance to achieve Silver status and then would be left with more rollover MQMs to devote to achieving higher status this year.

I chose the 100% MQD option, which gave me 8,537 MQDs to be deposited into my account (Delta says this can take up to 48 hours).

Note, too, that members who have at least 100,000 rollover MQMs can choose to dedicate 100,000 MQMs to extending their current status level for another Medallion year (it will be valid through January 31, 2026).

You can then choose how you’d like to convert any rollover MQMs over the 100,000 used for the status extension according to the above-mentioned scheme.

How To Choose Redeemable SkyMiles or MQDs

You may be wondering whether it’d be better for you to convert your rollover MQMs to redeemable SkyMiles, to MQDs, or both.

Suppose you’re a loyal Delta flyer with a high-tier elite status with the airline (think Platinum or top-tier Diamond) and have at least 100,000 MQMs to roll over. In that case, it seems like a no-brainer to put that toward extending your status, which means you’ll have your current level through early 2026 without spending a single additional dollar with Delta.

In my case, I had a strategy based on my Delta flying from last year that I knew would lead me to secure Platinum Medallion status (at least) early this year.

I earned an automatic 6,000 MQDs from the “MQD headstart” offered by having both the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card (2,500 plus 1,000 bonus MQDs) and the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card (2,500 MQDs), putting me over the threshold of Silver Medallion and within reach of Gold Medallion without needing to spend any additional money.

Then, when Delta announced its second round of changes, I knew I’d have over 8,500 MQDs available to me thanks to the 1-time conversion I just completed, putting me just shy of Platinum Medallion status, which requires 15,000 MQDs. Thus, it made sense for me to convert 100% of my rollover MQMs to MQDs.

If, however, you don’t have a large balance of rollover MQMs to take advantage of, and you don’t feel compelled to chase status with Delta this year due to the changes it’s made or any other reason, it might be best to choose redeemable SkyMiles as you can use them to score free flights. While they’re not incredibly valuable, SkyMiles can be useful for booking trips — especially when Delta offers one of its (increasingly rare) SkyMiles flash sales.

If you’re close to a threshold for a higher level of status and need just a portion of your available rollover MQMs converted to MQDs to get you there, it may be worth considering splitting your conversion into a portion of MQDs and a portion of redeemable SkyMiles, though the precise breakdown you choose will be dependent on your exact situation.

Final Thoughts

Delta’s rollover MQM balance conversion options are now live. Whatever you decide to do with your rollover MQMs, keep in mind that this is a 1-time decision that must be decided by December 31 of this year, and once made, no additional modifications are permitted. Choose wisely!