Sep 13, 2023, 3:22 pm
Last edit by: audidudi
Highlights of SkyMiles Program Changes and Status Requirement Thresholds
Making Medallion Status More Accessible:
We will reduce the proposed number of Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) needed to earn 2025 Medallion Status.
Beginning in January 2024, Million Miler status will go to BIS miles flown only.
Updated 18 October 2023:
More Recognition and Rewards for Long-Term LoyaltyDelta is giving long-term loyalists more of the recognition they deserve. Effective January 1, 2024, the airline is moving Million Miler Status up in the hierarchy for Complimentary Upgrades. And beginning February 1, 2024, Million Milers will also receive enhanced complimentary annual Medallion Status.
Priority order through 12/31/23:
Official announcement from Delta Air Lines:
https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles...rogram-updates
18 October 2023 Rollback/Update Announcement:
https://news.delta.com/delta-shares-...oyalty-program
- Delta and partner flights: Earn 1 MQD per $1 spent on the ticket price for a Delta-marketed flight operated by Delta or by a partner airline.
Flights booked and ticketed by eligible partners will earn MQDs at the same rate as they do today, based on the fare class purchased and distance flown.Delta has revamped the MQD earning charts on many partners. Notably, non-full fare Business has been reduced from 40% to 30% on a number of core partners.- Credit cards: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express and Reserve Business Card Members earn 1 MQD for every $10 spent. Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express Card Members earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent. There is no limit to how many MQDs you can earn from credit card spending.
- Credit Card MQD Headstart: Updated 18 October 2023: Members with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, Reserve Business, Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express Cards will also receive an MQD Headstart of $2,500 MQDs for the current Medallion Qualification Year
Car rentals: Earn 1 MQD per $1 spent on completed car rentals booked through Delta direct channels.Hotel stays: Earn 1 MQD per $1 spent on completed stays booked through Delta direct channels.
Hotel Stays and Car Rentals: Customers may earn MQDs through Delta flights, Delta Vacations packages, and purchases on the Delta SkyMiles Platinum, Platinum Business, Reserve and Reserve Business American Express Cards. Car rentals and hotel/vacation rentals booked through Delta Car Rentals and Delta Stays will not earn MQDs toward Medallion Status (Updated 18 October 2023).
**Delta will honor MQDs earned on Member car rentals and hotel/vacation rentals booked through Delta Car Rentals and Stays between September 14, 2023 and October 31, 2023, for 2024 travel.- Delta Vacations: Earn 1 MQD per $1 spent on the entire vacation experience, in addition to what you earn for your flight, when booking directly with Delta Vacations.
Making Medallion Status More Accessible:
We will reduce the proposed number of Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) needed to earn 2025 Medallion Status.
- Silver Medallion Status: from 6,000 to 5,000 MQDs
- Gold Medallion Status: from 12,000 to 10,000 MQDs
- Platinum Medallion Status: from 18,000 to 15,000 MQDs
- Diamond Medallion Status: from 35,000 to 28,000 MQDs
Your Existing MQMs:
- Convert to MQD at
20:1MQDs will convert at 10:1 (updated on 18 October 2023)
Also: Beginning in early 2024, Members will have a choice as to whether to put MQM Rollover balances toward MQDs or SkyMiles. And customers who have MQM Rollover balances over 100,000 will be given special offers to extend their earned 2024 Status—one year for each 100K Rollover MQMs. Delta will also provide an option to convert MQM Rollover balances into MQDs at a more generous ratio of 10:1 (up from 20:1). Members will also be able to convert MQMs Rollover balances to SkyMiles at a ratio of 2:1. - Convert to redeemable SkyMiles at 2:1
- Gone after 2023.
- Delta Amex Blue: Zero
- Delta Amex Gold: Zero
- Delta Amex Platinum: 1 MQD per $20 spent
- Delta Amex Reserve: 1 MQD per $10 spent
Beginning in January 2024, Million Miler status will go to BIS miles flown only.
Updated 18 October 2023:
More Recognition and Rewards for Long-Term LoyaltyDelta is giving long-term loyalists more of the recognition they deserve. Effective January 1, 2024, the airline is moving Million Miler Status up in the hierarchy for Complimentary Upgrades. And beginning February 1, 2024, Million Milers will also receive enhanced complimentary annual Medallion Status.
- 6 million miles or more earns Delta 360o™ (previously Diamond Medallion)
- 5 million miles earns Delta 360o™ (previously Platinum Medallion)
- 4 million miles earns Diamond Medallion (previously Platinum Medallion)
- 3 million miles earns Diamond Medallion (previously Gold Medallion)
- 2 million miles earns Platinum Medallion (previously Gold Medallion)
- 1 million miles earns Gold Medallion (previously Silver Medallion)
Priority order through 12/31/23:
- Medallion status
- Fare class groupings: higher-prices fares are ranked above lower-priced fares
- Delta Reserve AmEx card members
- Medallion status
- Cabin purchased (original + paid upgrades)
- Million miler status
- Delta AmEx Reserve card members
- Delta Corporate Travellers
- MQSs earned in current calendar year
- Date and time of upgrade request
Official announcement from Delta Air Lines:
https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles...rogram-updates
18 October 2023 Rollback/Update Announcement:
https://news.delta.com/delta-shares-...oyalty-program
Delta SkyMiles Program Changes (Total Revenue Based) for 2025 Medallion Year
Sep 13, 2023, 4:14 pm
#61
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 495
Question: Does anyone know if MQDs can be hit in a combination of ways? I.e. can I combine actual flight spend with spending on my AMEX reserve? I'm assuming so, but haven't seen every detail yet. Looks like we will be moving to more of a "free agent" plan at this point. Certainly little value in paying for the Reserve after these changes go into effect.
Sep 13, 2023, 4:16 pm
#62
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 21
I'm going to argue that the new changes are actually really good for a subset of customers which includes me so of course I am happy. I'm a Diamond medallion who mostly credits partner long haul business class flights to Delta. MQDs have never been an issue and 35k won't be an issue. However, now the amount of competition for upgrades/better service is going to greatly be reduced let alone the platinums and golds in the SkyPriority lane. Almost nobody is going to get status through a credit card ($120k for gold, $180k for platinum, and $350k for Diamond) meaning again less "elites" with 25k of spend and 4 segments. The credit card access policies are a non issue as my Amex Platinum gets well over $75k in spend but the lounges are about to get way emptier. The only sad thing as a partner airline earner is the Million Miler changes but I will take that for the other benefits and I am excited for these new choice benefits. Diamond might be the new 360!
I'll dump the Amex as soon as I can (though I might hold onto it for the 15% miles redemption discount...got to flush all those away first).
Sep 13, 2023, 4:17 pm
#63
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,596
Actually it is only 180k on AA if you have the Exec card as you get 10k boosts in LP x 2 - when you reach 50k and 90k
Add the 15k LP boost from the Barclays Silver AA Card = only 165k spend needed
This is more than double the spend needed.
Yes indeed. Guilty as charged!
Add the 15k LP boost from the Barclays Silver AA Card = only 165k spend needed
This is more than double the spend needed.
Sep 13, 2023, 4:18 pm
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
Yeah, I guess they are serious about making PM/DM an "exclusive experience." No way I am upgrading to a Reserve card and putting $30k on it to just get halfway to Silver.
Sep 13, 2023, 4:18 pm
#67
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, 2MM
Posts: 1,254
Sep 13, 2023, 4:19 pm
#68
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Plat-ist, Bonvoyyyyyyed, Hilton $15 Daily F&B Receiver, Food Lion MVP
Posts: 1,203
>no mention of mqd earning for skymiles gold card (assuming none)
>no mention of lounge access for vanilla plat
>fcm offers just became a lot less attractive imho
>who tf is booking hotels and rentals cars through delta lmao (other than dl vacations packages)? FF that want bennies at the property sure as sh!t won't start now...
>spend is barely incentivized lol, the carrots are way too small for cobrand spend and this whole thing seems like a poorly fleshed out half-thought that solidifies delta's status as a follower and not a leader (at least aa has shopping portal and such)
that all being said, if vanilla plat keeps unlimited lounge access that's just enough to save me from status matching to aa, but that's my situation and i won't presume to speak for anyone else
this is all just... dumb. especially with the impending demand cliff. promos aplenty incoming and i bet we see changes before march 1st '24.
edit: this also disincentivizes longhaul J on DL, and incentivizes moving the spend to partners. are any brains functional on virginia ave?
edit 2: this is all so stupid. it literally flips all the incentives of the past decade on their heads, and literally disincentivizes revenue for delta in so so many ways. if i was a shareholder i'd be screaming to fire the entire c-suite and anyone who had a hand in developing this program. did they model it at all? did they just assume everyone would up their cobrand spend instead of moving to a 2% card? lmao absolute clownshow.
>no mention of lounge access for vanilla plat
>fcm offers just became a lot less attractive imho
>who tf is booking hotels and rentals cars through delta lmao (other than dl vacations packages)? FF that want bennies at the property sure as sh!t won't start now...
>spend is barely incentivized lol, the carrots are way too small for cobrand spend and this whole thing seems like a poorly fleshed out half-thought that solidifies delta's status as a follower and not a leader (at least aa has shopping portal and such)
that all being said, if vanilla plat keeps unlimited lounge access that's just enough to save me from status matching to aa, but that's my situation and i won't presume to speak for anyone else
this is all just... dumb. especially with the impending demand cliff. promos aplenty incoming and i bet we see changes before march 1st '24.
edit: this also disincentivizes longhaul J on DL, and incentivizes moving the spend to partners. are any brains functional on virginia ave?
edit 2: this is all so stupid. it literally flips all the incentives of the past decade on their heads, and literally disincentivizes revenue for delta in so so many ways. if i was a shareholder i'd be screaming to fire the entire c-suite and anyone who had a hand in developing this program. did they model it at all? did they just assume everyone would up their cobrand spend instead of moving to a 2% card? lmao absolute clownshow.
Last edited by ekozie; Sep 13, 2023 at 4:26 pm
Sep 13, 2023, 4:20 pm
#69
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: Flying Blue, Hilton Honors, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 2,402
You do need quite a bit more than that in order to get SWUs (though still less than DL).
Sep 13, 2023, 4:20 pm
#70
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 235
Question: Does anyone know if MQDs can be hit in a combination of ways? I.e. can I combine actual flight spend with spending on my AMEX reserve? I'm assuming so, but haven't seen every detail yet. Looks like we will be moving to more of a "free agent" plan at this point. Certainly little value in paying for the Reserve after these changes go into effect.
Sep 13, 2023, 4:21 pm
#71
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
Programs: DL GM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,027
I used to use Delta because they were more reliable. Then that was no longer true, but status perks and lounge access kept me loyal and putting up with hub and spoke instead of direct flights on Southwest.
Unless there is some good news in all this tomorrow I have hardly much of a reason to use Delta. I am PM because of covid rollover+covid bonus, but beforehand I could consistently make GM on Amex waiver plus segments. Now I won't even have the slightest chance at FO at $60k.
In writing this out I actually get it, Delta doesn't want or need my butt in their seats, I am just not spending enough dollars with them and crowding their system. I guess they did the math and there are enough bigger fish for them to fly.
Short term, less crowding and more profits for shareholders. Long term maybe that will work, but pushing a whole group of customers to your competitors on purpose alienating them in the process, time will only tell if that's the right choice. In a few years I imagine we'll see some shortcuts to attain status again when they want my business back.
Unless there is some good news in all this tomorrow I have hardly much of a reason to use Delta. I am PM because of covid rollover+covid bonus, but beforehand I could consistently make GM on Amex waiver plus segments. Now I won't even have the slightest chance at FO at $60k.
In writing this out I actually get it, Delta doesn't want or need my butt in their seats, I am just not spending enough dollars with them and crowding their system. I guess they did the math and there are enough bigger fish for them to fly.
Short term, less crowding and more profits for shareholders. Long term maybe that will work, but pushing a whole group of customers to your competitors on purpose alienating them in the process, time will only tell if that's the right choice. In a few years I imagine we'll see some shortcuts to attain status again when they want my business back.
Sep 13, 2023, 4:21 pm
#72
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: AUS
Programs: DL/HH/IHG/BW/Caesar's Diamond (Select), UA 1K, AA EXP, Marriott/MGM Gold, Hertz/Avis PC
Posts: 142
>no mention of mqd earning for skymiles gold card (assuming none)
>no mention of lounge access for vanilla plat
>fcm offers just became a lot less attractive imho
>who tf is booking hotels and rentals cars through delta lmao (other than dl vacations packages)? FF that want bennies at the property sure as sh!t won't start now...
>spend is barely incentivized lol, the carrots are way too small for cobrand spend and this whole thing seems like a poorly fleshed out half-thought that solidifies delta's status as a follower and not a leader (at least aa has shopping portal and such)
that all being said, if vanilla plat keeps unlimited lounge access that's just enough to save me from status matching to aa, but that's my situation and i won't presume to speak for anyone else
this is all just... dumb. especially with the impending demand cliff. promos aplenty incoming and i bet we see changes before march 1st '24.
>no mention of lounge access for vanilla plat
>fcm offers just became a lot less attractive imho
>who tf is booking hotels and rentals cars through delta lmao (other than dl vacations packages)? FF that want bennies at the property sure as sh!t won't start now...
>spend is barely incentivized lol, the carrots are way too small for cobrand spend and this whole thing seems like a poorly fleshed out half-thought that solidifies delta's status as a follower and not a leader (at least aa has shopping portal and such)
that all being said, if vanilla plat keeps unlimited lounge access that's just enough to save me from status matching to aa, but that's my situation and i won't presume to speak for anyone else
this is all just... dumb. especially with the impending demand cliff. promos aplenty incoming and i bet we see changes before march 1st '24.
Sep 13, 2023, 4:22 pm
#73
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
On a macro level, it seems like these airlines want you to be 100% committed to their program to earn top level status - book all your flight, spend hundreds of thousands on a cobrand card, use them to book stuff like hotels and rental cars, etc to get top status. American went in this direction first, and now Delta is as well. The issue is that American miles are worth more than Delta…
YTD, I sit on 10,000 MQD now with the ability to “naturally” earn about 8,000 to 10,000 more before year end through flying. This is in a year with light international travel for me (but heavy on expensive domestic travel like JFK to HNL in J). Let’s say in a heavy year I can get to 25,000 MQD via flying. I would then still need to spend $100,000 on a Delta Reserve card to reach Diamond.
I spend $30K on my Delta Reserve now and put other spending on cards that earn 3, 4x like Chase Sapphire, Amex Gold, etc. Is it worth me to divert restaurant and grocery and other spend to a Delta Reserve in order to earn those MQD? At this point, I would say no.
I think I still value Delta Status and will keep cards… But I will likely drop to the Gold level. These changes haven’t convinced me that it is worth it to shift my spend (above $30K) to the Delta Reserve. They also haven’t convinced me I need to keep booking Delta
this year. I spend a lot on credit cards and travel a good amount for business. But at this point I’m not convinced I need to invest further. I think Delta lost some near term flight bookings from me this year and may lose some credit card revenue going forward. The one saving grace is that the “herd” may actually be thinned in 2025, so perhaps status levels will matter.
YTD, I sit on 10,000 MQD now with the ability to “naturally” earn about 8,000 to 10,000 more before year end through flying. This is in a year with light international travel for me (but heavy on expensive domestic travel like JFK to HNL in J). Let’s say in a heavy year I can get to 25,000 MQD via flying. I would then still need to spend $100,000 on a Delta Reserve card to reach Diamond.
I spend $30K on my Delta Reserve now and put other spending on cards that earn 3, 4x like Chase Sapphire, Amex Gold, etc. Is it worth me to divert restaurant and grocery and other spend to a Delta Reserve in order to earn those MQD? At this point, I would say no.
I think I still value Delta Status and will keep cards… But I will likely drop to the Gold level. These changes haven’t convinced me that it is worth it to shift my spend (above $30K) to the Delta Reserve. They also haven’t convinced me I need to keep booking Delta
this year. I spend a lot on credit cards and travel a good amount for business. But at this point I’m not convinced I need to invest further. I think Delta lost some near term flight bookings from me this year and may lose some credit card revenue going forward. The one saving grace is that the “herd” may actually be thinned in 2025, so perhaps status levels will matter.
Last edited by Adelphos; Sep 13, 2023 at 4:33 pm
Sep 13, 2023, 4:23 pm
#74
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: AUS
Programs: DL/HH/IHG/BW/Caesar's Diamond (Select), UA 1K, AA EXP, Marriott/MGM Gold, Hertz/Avis PC
Posts: 142
As a diamond I could easily hit 270% of the distance in MQMs (which counted towards MM status) when flying J on partner airlines since I have a 120% diamond bonus on top of the 150% cabin earnings. That is going to be reduced to 100% of the distance across the board for MM status. In theory its good for normal passengers since before you could get as little as 25% of the distance on basic economy partner tickets towards MQMs but I always had my bonus which gave me a ton more MQMs.