How To Earn Delta Air Lines Medallion Elite Status (And Is It Worth It?)

Key Takeaways

• Delta’s Medallion Elite Status is earned solely through Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), based on spending with Delta, partner flights, or co-branded American Express cards.
• There are 4 status levels—Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond—each with increasing MQD requirements, ranging from $5,000 to $28,000 annually.
• Choice Benefits, available at Platinum and Diamond levels, include perks like upgrade certificates and bonus miles.

Cramped middle seats, being the last passenger to board, or running out of overhead bin space can be a thing of the past once you have elite status with an airline.

For Delta flyers, Medallion Status is the goal. The Delta SkyMiles program underwent a significant refresh at the beginning of 2024, which included changes to how you earn status, so it’s a great time to re-familiarize yourself with this program.

In this post, we’ll show you exactly how to earn Delta elite status and discuss each level’s benefits. Finally, we’ll answer the all-important question: Is earning Delta elite status even worth it?

How To Earn Delta Air Lines Elite Status

As a Delta SkyMiles member, you’ll earn Medallion status based on Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). These MQDs are earned in 3 ways:

• Spending on Delta or Delta partner flights
• Spending on Delta co-branded American Express cards
• Spending on Delta Vacations packages

Qualification Period: The qualification period runs on a calendar year, so you have from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, to earn elite status for the 2025 Medallion year.

Medallion Year: Each Medallion year runs through January of the following calendar year. For example, if you meet the status qualifications on October 18, 2024 (for the 2025 Medallion year), your status will be valid from the day you earn it through January 31, 2026.

Hot Tip:

You no longer need to track Medallion Qualifying Segments (MQSs) or Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) for Delta elite status. Starting in 2024, the only metric used to determine Delta status is Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs).

Delta Air Lines Medallion Status Levels

There are 4 levels of Delta Air Lines elite status — Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion, and Diamond Medallion. (A fifth level, Delta 360, is an invite-only status without published requirements.)

To earn elite status with Delta Air Lines, you must meet the minimum MQD requirement within a calendar year.

How To Earn Delta MQDs Through Credit Cards

One of the easiest ways to earn Delta MQDs is through select Delta American Express cards. Your MQD earning rate depends on your credit card.

You’ll earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent with these cards:

• Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card

You’ll earn 1 MQD for every $10 spent with these cards:

• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card

The other Delta credit cards (Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card) don’t earn MQDs for elite status.

Delta Platinum Card

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 in's and out's 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 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

Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$720

Annual Fee

$350

APR

20.24%-29.24% 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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

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Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion^® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• 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 $1 Medallion^® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• 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: When you use your enrolled Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $10 back each month in statement credits.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, 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.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Delta Reserve Card

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 in's and out's 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.

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^® 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

Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

70,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$840

Annual Fee

$650

APR

20.24%-29.24% 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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club^® when you fly Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 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. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
• Receive four Delta Sky Club^® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly Delta so you can share the experience with family and friends.
• Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion^® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion^® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Earn $1 Medallion^® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• 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 Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Airline Loyalty Program

MQD Headstart

In addition to earning MQDs through spending, each card (Delta Platinum card, Delta Platinum Business card, Delta Reserve card, and Delta Reserve Business card) comes with a $2,500 MQD Headstart each Medallion qualifying year.

The best part of the MQD Headstart perk is that you can earn it on each card. That means it’s possible to earn entry-level Silver Medallion status just by holding 2 qualifying Delta cards — each card comes with a $2,500 MQD Headstart, for a total of $5,000 MQDs. If you have all 4 of these cards, you would earn $10,000 MQDs, resulting in Gold Medallion status. (Of course, that strategy would also come with a hefty annual fee bill, so it’s not something that will be practical for everyone.)

MQD Heastart dollars will be deposited into a cardholder’s account within 6 to 8 weeks after February 1 each year. If a card is opened during the year or if a card is upgraded from a non-MQD Headstart earning card, the MQDs will be deposited into the cardholder’s account within 6 to 8 weeks from account opening.

If a new card account is opened in November or December, the MQDs will count toward the Qualification Year in which the card is opened. For example, if you open a new Delta Reserve card on December 15, 2024, the $2,500 MQD Headstart will count toward your 2024 MQD totals (determining your 2025 Medallion Year status).

Headstart MQDs may be rescinded if an account is closed or downgraded within 60 days of an MQD Headstart deposit or new account opening. Headstart MQDs are only awarded to primary card members — authorized users aren’t eligible.

How To Earn Delta MQDs Through Flights

You’ll earn 1 MQD for every $1 spent on the ticket price (not including government taxes and fees) on Delta-marketed flights operated by Delta or Delta partners. Basic economy tickets aren’t eligible for earning MQDs for Delta Medallion status. MQDs can also be earned on flights booked with Delta SkyMiles. The number of MQDs earned will equal the number of miles redeemed divided by 100.

Seat selection purchases (paying for Delta Comfort+, for example) and paid upgrades are also eligible to earn MQDs.

The SkyMiles member (whose name and SkyMiles number are on the ticket) who is flying earns the MQDs regardless of who purchased the ticket.

The following purchases don’t earn MQDs:

Hot Tip:

As a 1-time courtesy, Delta Medallion members can roll over any Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) earned in 2023 after qualifying for 2024 Medallion status. These MQMs can be converted to MQDs or redeemable miles — 10 MQMs will convert to 1 MQD, or 2 MQMs will convert to 1 mile. Rollover balances over 100,000 can be used to extend the 2024 Medallion year status level at a rate of 1 year for 100,000 MQMs.

How To Earn Delta MQDs With Delta Vacation Packages

Delta Air Lines made sweeping changes to elite status qualification in 2024. A positive change was that members can now earn MQDs on the total cost of a Delta Vacations package (previously, MQDs were only earned on the flight portion).

Each SkyMiles member included in a Delta Vacations package will earn MQDs on the flight portion of the package. Delta’s Exception Fare rules determine the number of MQDs earned.

The primary passenger (the person who booked the package) is the only one who earns MQDs on the non-flight portion of the package, including hotel and car rental charges. The amount of MQDs earned equals the total package price minus the total of all passengers’ Exception Fares.

Components of vacation packages that don’t earn MQDs include:

How To Check Your Progress Toward Delta Medallion Status

You can easily check your progress toward Delta Medallion status online by clicking the drop-down arrow next to your name. For a more detailed look, click on Profile and then My SkyMiles. This information is also available in the Fly Delta mobile app (iOS, Android).

Click on MQD Earning Summary to see a detailed view of how you’ve earned your MQDs (flights, credit cards, or vacation packages).

Delta Medallion Status Benefits

There are lots of benefits that come with having Delta Medallion status. While each level of status has its own perks, there are some benefits you’ll enjoy no matter what level of Medallion status you achieve:

Delta Silver Medallion Status Benefits

Delta Silver Medallion status is the base elite level in the Delta program, but it still offers lots of value.

Delta Gold Medallion Status Benefits

As a Delta Gold Medallion member, you’ll enjoy all of the benefits offered at the Silver level, plus these additional perks:

Delta Platinum Medallion Status Benefits

In addition to the benefits at the Silver and Gold levels, Delta Platinum Medallion status holders can enjoy these benefits.

Hot Tip: All Delta Medallion benefits are excluded from Basic Economy (E) fares.

Delta Diamond Medallion Status Benefits

Delta Diamond Medallion status is the highest level of Delta status you can earn and comes with tremendous value. In addition to the benefits offered at all of the other levels, Diamond Medallion members get these special perks.

Choice Benefits

Choice Benefits are unique perks offered to Platinum and Diamond Medallion members only. They allow flyers to choose what’s most important to them. Delta Platinum members can choose 1 Choice Benefit, while Delta Diamond members can choose 3.

Choice Benefits options include the following:

Delta 360° Benefits

Delta 360° is an invitation-only status reserved for top Medallion members. There isn’t a published set of requirements, but Delta states that it’s based on how much you spend on flights, not how often you fly. Membership is annual, meaning you can earn it 1 year but not the next, regardless of your spending and activity.

Since the benefits of Delta 360° are unpublished, it can be hard to pinpoint all of the perks. But, based on crowdsourced data, Delta 360° members can look forward to perks like these:

• Custom luggage tags
• Delta Sky Club Executive membership
• Potential for private gate transfers
• Potential upgrade priority

Hot Tip: If you have elite status with another airline, you can request a status match with Delta Air Lines.

Million Miler Status

Delta Million Miler Status is based on the total flight miles flown throughout a member’s lifetime.

Bottom Line: Delta has 4 main levels of elite status — Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion, and Diamond Medallion. Delta 360° is an invitation-only status without published requirements or benefits. Million Miler Status is earned after flying at least 1 million miles in a lifetime.

Is Delta Elite Status Worth It?

Determining whether or not Delta Medallion elite status is worth it or not can be challenging to answer since it can be subjective. However, there are some basic numbers we can look at to give you an idea of the estimated value you could get from having Delta elite status.

Complimentary Preferred Seating: Preferred seating charges vary by flight but can range from as little as $5 to $85 or more. Let’s say you take 6 round-trip flights per year. Assuming an average of $40 per flight segment, this perk could save you $480 annually.

Waived Baggage Fees: The basic Delta baggage fee is $30 for the first bag and $40 to $100 for the second checked bag. If you fly an average of 6 round trips per year and check 1 bag per flight, this Medallion status perk could save you $360. Your savings will only increase the more you fly. Note that you could also get the first bag free by having an Amex Delta credit card.

Bonus Miles: As a Delta Medallion member, you’ll earn 2 to 6 extra miles for each dollar you spend with Delta. If you fly 6 times a year and spend $500 on each ticket, you would spend a total of $3,000, earning 6,000 to 18,000 extra miles, depending on your status level. Since Delta miles are valued at 1.2 cents each, you’d get an additional $72 to $216.

Using conservative numbers, you’ll easily get close to $1,000 in value for 3 of the benefits of Delta Medallion status- and that’s not even considering all of the other benefits. So, the answer for most Delta flyers is yes. Delta Medallion status is definitely worth it if you travel on Delta Air Lines often.

Final Thoughts

Medallion status is the elite status program for Delta SkyMiles members. There are 4 levels of membership — Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion, and Diamond Medallion — plus an invitation-only status called Delta 360°.

Status is earned through just 1 metric — Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs). MQDs can be earned by flying on Delta and Delta partners, spending on Delta co-branded credit cards, and booking Delta Vacations.

Each status level has unique benefits and perks to make flying on Delta more comfortable and enjoyable.