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How To Earn Bonus MQMs With Status Boost on Delta Amex Cards [2023]

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How To Earn Bonus MQMs With Status Boost on Delta Amex Cards [2023]

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Update: MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.

Medallion Qualification Miles, or MQMs, is a term Delta Air Lines uses to describe 1 of the requirements to earn Delta SkyMiles Medallion elite status. If you’re a frequent Delta flyer, you’ve likely heard of MQMs and using credit cards to get an MQM bonus.

If you’re interested in earning Delta elite status but can’t seem to qualify through flying alone, we’ll guide you through using Delta credit cards to boost your MQM earnings so you can accelerate your path to elite status!

How To Earn Delta SkyMiles Medallion Status

There are 4 major tiers of Delta SkyMiles Medallion status and each level has a different set of requirements that you must meet to achieve that status.

To qualify for Delta SkyMiles Medallion status, you must satisfy 2 out of the 3 following requirements:

  • Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) 
  • Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs)
  • Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs)

MQM-earning is determined by how far you fly and what kind of fare you purchased, while MQS-earning is determined by how many segments you fly and what kind of fare you purchased.

Lastly, MQD-earning is determined by how much money you’ve spent on Delta airfare (taxes and fees, including fuel surcharges, are excluded). MQDs are the only type of elite qualification requirement that offers a waiver for its requirements.

To get Delta elite status, you’ll need to earn a certain amount of MQMs or MQSs, as well as a specific amount of MQDs. Below are the requirements for each status level:

Medallion Status LevelMQM RequirementMQS RequirementMQD Requirement
Silver Medallion25,00030$3,000*
Gold Medallion50,00060$8,000*
Platinum Medallion75,000100$12,000*
Diamond Medallion125,000140$20,000**

If you have an eligible co-branded Delta card from American Express, you can get an MQD waiver that waives the ordinary MQD requirement to qualify for Medallion elite status if you make a minimum amount of purchases every year on your credit card.

In this case, you will earn an MQD waiver for Silver, Gold, and Platinum Medallion status if you spend at least $25,000 in purchases per calendar year on any of the following cards:

You can also earn an MQD waiver for top-tier Diamond Medallion status, but you’ll need to spend at least $250,000 in purchases per calendar year on Delta Platinum-branded or Delta Reserve-branded credit cards.

Hot Tip:

Spending across different eligible Delta cards counts towards the MQD waiver. For example, if you spend $50,000 per year on your Delta Reserve card and $200,000 per year on your Delta Reserve Business card, you can earn the MQD waiver for Diamond Medallion status.

How To Earn Delta MQMs

There are 2 ways to earn Delta MQMs:

  1. Flying with Delta or an eligible partner airline
  2. Credit card spending on a Delta Amex co-branded card

Assuming you’re not flying constantly, you’re probably going to be looking for a way to earn Delta MQMs while you’re not traveling. The best way to do so is through credit card spending!

Image Credit: Upgraded Points

Using the Delta Platinum Card To Earn MQMs Via Status Boost

With either the Delta Platinum card or Delta Platinum Business card, you can earn 10,000 MQMs for every $25,000 spent on your credit card, up to 2 times per year.

So if you just have 1 of these cards, you’d be able to earn up to 20,000 MQMs by spending $50,000 per year.

If you have both the Delta Platinum card and Delta Platinum Business card, you could double up and earn up to 40,000 MQMs by spending $50,000 on each card per year.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

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.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
50,000 bonus miles
$600
$250
20.99%-29.99% Variable
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 cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

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 Miles (MQMs) that are essential for earning Delta status. This could help you get closer to earning free flights and other valuable rewards.

Pros

  • New: 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.
  • 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 and U.S. supermarkets
  • 1x SkyMile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Annual companion certificate
  • Complimentary checked bags
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
  • 20% back on inflight purchases
  • Delta Status Boost
  • Discount on Delta Sky Club visits (Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available)

Cons

  • $250 annual fee (rates & fees)
  • Does not earn transferable rewards
  • Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • 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.
  • Get access to Delta Sky Club® at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests or immediate family when traveling on a Delta flight from now until 12/31/23. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Delta Platinum Card, up to two times through 12/31/23. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

LIMITED-TIME OFFER
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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.

Between great perks and the potential to earn plenty of SkyMiles, this card is a must-have for frequent Delta travelers.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

Between great perks and the potential to earn plenty of SkyMiles, this card is a must-have for frequent Delta travelers.
Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Bonus Miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/23.
Up to 100,000 miles
$1,200
$250
20.99% - 29.99% Variable
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 cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

As a small business owner and frequent Delta flyer, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is your go-to credit card.

You like knowing you’re earning double the SkyMiles for purchases with Delta; benefits like no foreign transaction fees, priority boarding, and a free checked bag each flight only sweeten the deal.

Plus, you can redeem your SkyMiles for travel on Delta and its partner airlines, saving you money. It’s a no-brainer!

Pros

  • Save 15% On Award Travel With TakeOff 15. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta and hotel purchases
  • 1.5x SkyMiles per $1 spent on purchases of $5,000 or more, up to 50,000 additional SkyMiles per calendar year
  • 1x SkyMile per $1 on all other purchases
  • Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
  • Earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 2x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the Miles you earn towards flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available
  • First checked bag free
  • Annual companion certificate
  • 20% discount on inflight purchases
  • Reduced Delta Sky Club visit rate. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
  • Trip delay insurance
  • Baggage insurance
  • Rental car insurance
  • Purchase protection and extended warranty coverage

Cons

  • Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Bonus Miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/23.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Members save 15% 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.
  • You can receive a domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Earn more miles on big purchases with 1.5 miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (that’s an extra half mile per dollar), up to 50,000 additional miles per Calendar year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels instead of 1.5X).
  • Delta Sky Club® Access – Get access to Delta Sky Club® at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests or immediate family while flying together on Delta. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available.
  • With Status Boost®, earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 2x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
  • Terms and limitations apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Frequent Flyer Program

Hot Tip:

It’s important to note that having a Delta Platinum-branded card does not confer Delta Platinum Medallion status. Similarly, having a Delta Gold-branded card does not confer Delta Gold status.

Using the Delta Reserve Card To Earn MQMs Via Status Boost

The MQM bonus on the Delta Reserve card and Delta Reserve Business card offers more potential. Currently, you can earn 15,000 MQMs after spending $30,000 in a year, up to 4 times per year.

With 1 of these cards, you can earn 60,000 MQMs after spending a total of $120,000 per year. And with both of these cards, you can earn a total of 120,000 MQMs after spending $120,000 on each card per year (for a total of $240,000 in spend).

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

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.
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
60,000 miles
$720
$550
20.99%-29.99% Variable
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 cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a stellar option for frequent travelers who always fly with Delta thanks to its lounge access, status boost, 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

  • New: 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.
  • 3x SkyMiles per $1 on Delta purchases
  • 1x SkyMile per $1 on all other purchases
  • Complimentary Delta Sky Club and Amex Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
  • Delta Status Boost
  • Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) Waiver
  • Annual Companion Certificate
  • Access to Complimentary Upgrades and Upgrade Priority
  • Free checked bags
  • 20% back on inflight purchases
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
  • Travel and purchase protection

Cons

  • $550 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • No bonus categories other than Delta purchases
  • Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Enjoy Delta Sky Club® access at no cost and bring up to two guests or immediate family at a rate of $50 per person per visit. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
  • With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card through 12/31/23, up to four times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
  • Eligible 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.
  • Receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or domestic Main Cabin round trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $550 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Airline Loyalty Program

LIMITED-TIME OFFER
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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.

Receive priority boarding, complimentary access to Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounges, concierge support, and an annual companion certificate.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Receive priority boarding, complimentary access to Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounges, concierge support, and an annual companion certificate.
Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Bonus Miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/2023.
Up to 110,000 miles
$1,320
$550
20.99% - 29.99% Variable
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 cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is a premium card option for small business owners who are both frequent travelers and Delta loyalists.

While the annual fee may be steep, the card comes loaded with perks and benefits that all frequent Delta flyers are sure to love. Let’s take a look at what makes the card unique, and why it may be a great fit for your wallet.

Pros

  • Save 15% On Award Travel With TakeOff 15. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Complimentary Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta and 2 Delta Sky Club 1-time guest passes (through February 1, 2025)
  • Complimentary Amex Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta
  • Access to complimentary flight upgrades

Cons

  • High annual fee
  • Does not earn many miles for purchases outside of Delta spend
  • Rewards are not transferable
  • Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Bonus Miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/2023.
  • Save 15% On Award Travel With TakeOff 15. Card Members now enjoy savings on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • With complimentary access into Delta Sky Club®, you can relax before your Delta flight, or find downtime between connections.* You’ll also receive two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year so you can share the experience with others when you’re traveling together. *Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
  • When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner.
  • After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta instead of 1.5X).
  • Enjoy 3x miles per dollar on Delta purchases.
  • With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card through 12/31/23, up to four times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.* MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights.*Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more.
  • Terms and limitations apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Frequent Flyer Program

Is It Worth It?

Using Delta credit cards to earn MQMs is totally worth it for the right customer. But the right customer has to be flying regularly on Delta to make the effort worth it. That’s because there’s an opportunity cost to putting credit card spending on your Delta credit cards. We value Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each, and there are definitely other types of points and miles that make more sense to accumulate.

» Related: Travel Points & Miles Valuations – How Much Are They Actually Worth? [September 2023]

For example, you can generally only earn 3x Delta SkyMiles on Delta flight purchases, which results in a return on spending of around 3.6%. Meanwhile, if you have The Platinum Card® from American Express, your Delta flight purchases could earn 5x Membership Rewards points, which results in a return on spending of around 11%, since we value Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents each.

That’s a dramatic increase in the amount of rewards you could be earning. In fact, if you spend $5,000 per year on Delta flights, you’d only be getting back $180 worth of Delta SkyMiles with the Delta Reserve card. But if you spent that same amount on the Amex Platinum card, you’d be getting back $550 worth of Amex Membership Rewards points!

The biggest value with Delta SkyMiles Medallion status is the complimentary upgrades, and if you’re only flying Delta a couple of times per year on short flights, it’s probably not worth chasing top-tier elite status and losing out on other credit card rewards.

But if you’re on a Delta flight every other week, it could absolutely be worth it to spend a lot on Delta credit cards. Additionally, if you’re someone who highly values Delta elite status, or if you need an extra bump of MQMs to get to the next level of status, then spending on a Delta credit card can make sense.

However, you shouldn’t spend more than you normally would just to earn some bonus MQMs — just use your Delta card as you normally would for everyday purchases and try to hit the spending requirement organically.

Note that you can get almost all the way to Diamond Medallion status just by having both the Delta Reserve card and Delta Reserve Business card and spending $120,000 on each card every year. That’s 120,000 MQMs earned! If you also have the Delta Platinum card as well and also spend $25,000 on the Delta Platinum card, you’ll earn another 10,000 MQMs, bringing up your grand total to 130,000 MQMs earned. You’ll also have earned the Diamond Medallion MQD waiver having spend a total of $265,000 across all of your Delta credit cards!

Final Thoughts

One of the benefits of the Delta Platinum-branded and Delta Reserve-branded cards from Amex is the ability to potentially spend your way to top-tier Delta SkyMiles Medallion elite status.

We value Delta Diamond Medallion status at around $7,000, but you can certainly get more or less value based on your own circumstances.

Each of the Delta Platinum-branded cards can earn you up to 10,000 MQMs after spending $25,000 in a calendar year (up to 2 times per year), while each of the Delta Reserve-branded cards can earn you up to 15,000 MQMs after spending $30,000 in a calendar year (up to 4 times per year).

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Stella Shon

Frequently Asked Questions

You can earn MQMs on Delta through flights or credit card spending.

The Amex Platinum card does not give any elite status with Delta SkyMiles.

No, the Delta Platinum card is a different card product from the Amex Platinum card. The Amex Platinum card earns Membership Rewards points while the Delta Platinum card earns Delta SkyMiles.

Similarly, it’s important to note that having a Delta Platinum-branded card does not confer Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion status.

Currently, you need 75,000 MQMs OR 100 MQSs to qualify for Delta SkyMiles Platinum status. You will also need to earn 12,000 MQDs for Delta Platinum Medallion status.

No, the Amex Platinum card does not earn Delta SkyMiles. It earns Membership Rewards points. However, Membership Rewards points can be transferred directly to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio, so you maintain that level of extra flexibility if you need Delta SkyMiles at any time.

About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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8 comments

Andre Jawde

August 05, 2023

I tried unsuccessfully to add my 2nd 15,000 MQM status boost to my Skymiles account. Please Help.

Christine Krzyszton

August 06, 2023

Hi Andre. If you have spent the required $60,000 on your Delta Reserve credit card in the calendar year to earn the 2nd 15,000 MQM boost, you should check the tracker in your SkyMiles account to see if the spend has posted. If it has, you should contact Delta using the number on the back of your card to ask why your 15,000 MQM status boost hasn’t been applied.

Sam

August 20, 2023

Are these boost amounts yearly or just your first year?

Jarrod West

August 21, 2023

Hi Sam,

You can receive them each year.

Cheri Sparks

August 31, 2023

I have the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve cards. Am I able to combine the spend to get to my MQM boost 10000 award on the Delta Platinum? I am short on both because I didn’t take into consideration it looks like I need that spend on each card to get the boost. But I wanted to check if it’s possible to combine.

Jarrod West

September 07, 2023

Hi Cheri,

Sadly, you cannot combine the spend across cards in order to get the MQM boost.

Paige

September 11, 2023

I have the delta platinum card. Does the Diamond waiver apply if I spend $250k on the card in a calendar year? What does that mean?

Jarrod West

September 11, 2023

Hi Paige,

Yes, the Delta Diamond waiver applies if you spend $250k on the card. If you do so, you’ll no longer need to hit the $20k MQD requirement to qualify for Delta Diamond status. You’ll still need to hit either the MQM or MQS requirement though.

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