How to Get Elite Status on Delta Air Lines

If you fly with Delta Air Lines often, getting Medallion Status could help you earn more miles and have a better travel experience. Even if you've achieved this status before, Delta updated its status requirements starting this year, so the process has changed.

Most notably, Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) are no more. It's now all about the almighty dollar -- except in this case, it's Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). Here's how earning status in the new Delta SkyMiles program works.

How to earn MQDs

There are three ways to earn the MQDs you need to reach Medallion Status:

• Fly with Delta and its partners. You earn $1 MQD per $1 spent on the ticket price for Delta-marketed flights operated by Delta or its partner airlines.
• Book a vacation with Delta Vacations. You also earn $1 MQD per $1 spent on your vacation experience that you book with Delta.
• Use a Delta credit card. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card both earn MQDs. Terms apply.

When you're going for Medallion Status, it makes sense to get one of those Delta credit cards. They both offer a MQD Headstart of $2,500 MQDs each Medallion Qualification Year. Terms apply. That alone is a big help toward meeting the status requirements.

They also allow you to earn MQDs on your credit card spending. Here's how much each card earns:

• The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card earns $1 MQD for each $20 of purchases made. It's the more affordable option, with a $350 annual fee (see rates and fees).
• The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card earns $1 MQD for each $10 of purchases made. It's Delta's most expensive card, with a $650 annual fee (see rates and fees).
• Terms apply.

Requirements for Delta Medallion Status

Here's how many MQDs you need to earn in 2024 for Medallion Status in 2025:

• Silver Medallion Status: $5,000 MQDs
• Gold Medallion Status: $10,000 MQDs
• Platinum Medallion Status: $15,000 MQDs
• Diamond Medallion Status: $28,000 MQDs

As you can see, these requirements become much easier to achieve with a Delta credit card. If you don't have one, you'd need to spend at least $5,000 on Delta tickets and vacations to reach Silver Medallion Status.

With either of those Delta cards, you'll already have $2,500 MQDs thanks to the MQD Headstart feature. After $25,000 to $50,000 in credit card spending (depending on which card you have), you'll meet the requirements for Silver Medallion Status.

What are the benefits of Delta Medallion Status?

Each tier of Delta Medallion Status has its own benefits, and benefits get better as you move up in the SkyMiles program. The table below highlights some of the most valuable status perks Delta offers.

Platinum Medallion Status and Diamond Medallion Status also let you select your own Choice Benefits. With Platinum Medallion Status, you get one Choice Benefit. With Diamond Medallion Status, you get three. Here are some of the Choice Benefits that Delta offers:

• Bonus miles: 30,000 for Platinum and 35,000 for Diamond
• Delta travel voucher: $300 for Platinum and $350 for Diamond
• Delta Vacations experience (flight plus hotel): $400 for Platinum and $500 for Diamond
• Delta Individual Sky Club membership: Diamond only, requires 2 Choice Benefits
• Delta Executive Sky Club membership: Diamond only, requires 3 Choice Benefits

For frequent Delta flyers, it doesn't take much work to get Medallion Status. If you book a few flights with the airline and use a Delta card that earns MQDs for all your spending, there's a good chance you'll meet the requirements. And while the highest tiers have the most to offer, even Silver Medallion Status has plenty of valuable perks, including more miles on your flight bookings and putting you on the upgrade list.