Last month I went for somewhat of a mileage run when a series of schedule changes allowed me to travel from DTW-DEN-LAX-JFK-DTW-TVC for $250 in total. I was originally booked DTW-DEN-DTW, but after over eight schedule changes and some negotiation with supervisors, this new (extensive) routing was authorized at no charge. After flying five segments over a five day period, I have finally obtained a clear understanding of Delta's Silver Medallion status, and the airline's service in general. Here's what I'll share with you from what I learned/experienced summed up (keep in mind this is entirely based on my experience with Delta flying TVC-DTW-ICN-DTW-TVC DTW-DEN-LAX-JFK-DTW-TVC MKE-LGA-MIA-MSP-MKE this year, obviously, YMMV):

1. Delta is good at being on-time. Out of all of the flights I've taken with Delta this year, 100% have been on-time or early. To put this into perspective, the one trip I took with United as a Premier Silver (TVC-ORD-ZRH-ORD-TVC) resulted in me paying out of pocket for an overnight stay and getting a $50 voucher for the inconvenience.

2. Delta is reliable with checked bags. I travel for alpine skiing a lot. Whenever I travel, I typically have a carry on, personal item, and three checked bags. Out of all of these flights, not once was a single bag lost or delayed.

3. Silver Medallions do get upgraded. Obviously don't go expecting an upgrade to Delta One from LAX-JFK, but I did find myself sitting in Delta Comfort + or First Class for every single eligible flight I flew. Surprisingly, I cleared into First (RU) exactly 24 hours before my DEN-LAX, JFK-DTW, DTW-TVC, and MSP-MKE flights. No stress at the airport staring at the dreaded upgrade list.

4. The flight attendants are receptive to ALL medallions, including FOs. The times I didn't clear into First and was seated in C+, the FAs consistently came up to me prior to landing to thank me for my loyalty to Delta. Not saying they actually care, but it is a nice gesture.

All-in-all I've found Delta to be a great choice - one far superior to flying United. How have your experiences been? What do you think about Delta's recognition of medallions? Let me know in the comments below!