If you are a Delta SkyMiles member, you most likely saw this in your inbox this morning, but just in case you didn’t – and you maintain Medallion Status – I wanted to make sure you saw this.
This all applies to earning for the NEXT program year, meaning how you earn in 2023 for 2024.
In this article
Increase in MQD Requirements
One of the hardest things about maintaining status is the yearly spend requirement that comes with it. If you fly a lot of cheap fares, this penalizes you accordingly. And now, if you reside in the United States, your MNQD thresholds will increase as follows:
- Diamond: $15,000 to $20,000
- Platinum: $9,000 to $12,000
- Gold: $6,000 to $8,000
- Silver: $3,000 (no change)
The good news is that you can still spend $25,000 on any Delta Amex credit card in a calendar year and get a waiver for Silver, Gold, and Platinum status. A Diamond waiver still requires $250,000 in card spend. I personally got a card this year just so I could get the spend waiver as I cannot hit the MQDs.
New Choice Benefits for Platinum and Diamond Members
Existing choices remain. New choices are:
- Gift Silver Medallion Status to 2 Members
- $250 Sustainable Aviation Fuel Contribution
- $400 Delta Vacations Experience (flight + hotel)*
- $500 MQD Boost towards next Medallion Qualification Year
- $250 Delta Travel Voucher
- $200 American Express Statement Credit on Basic Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Cards, or Basic Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Cards
- Gift Gold Medallion Status to 2 Members
- $250 Sustainable Aviation Fuel Contribution
- $500 Delta Vacations Experience (flight + hotel)*
- $1,000 MQD Boost towards next Medallion Qualification Year
- $250 Delta Travel Voucher
- $500 American Express Statement Credit on Basic Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Cards, or Basic Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Cards
Using Upgrade Certificates (RUC/GUC) Gets Easier
Per Delta: Diamond and Platinum Medallions that select Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates as their Choice Benefit will be more in control of their travel with the ability to easily request to apply their upgrade certificates on delta.com themselves at check out, beginning in early 2023.
Overall
If you don’t have a Delta Amex credit card that you are getting the waiver on, or if you are a Diamond that barely makes the MQDs as is, this is going to make it much harder for you to qualify for elite Medallion status.
The other changes are good news as nothing is taken away there.
Thoughts?
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