Delta Medallion Status is a frequent flyer program that rewards customers with perks when they reach certain milestones. Benefits include priority boarding, complimentary seat upgrades, free checked bags and increased SkyMiles per dollar spent. Participating passengers can enjoy a range of exclusive status benefits to enhance their travel experience.
How is Medallion Status measured?
There are three metrics that you'll need to know about when it comes to earning Delta Medallion Status:
- Medallion Qualification Miles
- Medallion Qualification Segments
- Medallion Qualification Dollars
Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs)
Medallion Qualification Miles, referred to as MQMs, are earned based on the distance you fly and the fare class of your ticket (excludes Basic Economy tickets). You will earn MQMs flying Delta and most airline partners.
MQMs are only used to determine your status in the Medallion program. These are not to be confused with Delta SkyMiles which is the currency you earn in the SkyMiles program that can be redeemed for award flights and more.
Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs)
Medallion Qualification Segments, referred to as MQSs, are earned based on the number of flights you take. This is measured based on "actual" flights as in when you've taken off from one airport and landed at another.
For example a flight in which you have one layover would count as two segments because you took a total of two flights to get to your destination.
Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs)
Medallion Qualification Dollars, referred to as MQDs, are earned based on how much you've spent on the base cost of your tickets with Delta and their partners.
This is usually the hardest qualifications for most travelers to meet when going for Medallion status as it requires you to spend heavy with Delta during the qualification year. You can get around the qualification by earning a MQD Waiver which requires you to run heavy spend on Delta's co-branded credit cards which can be easier for some.
How do you qualify for each tier?
In order to acquire Medallion Status, you'll need to meet two requirements:
- Hit the requirements for Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) OR Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) -AND-
- Hit the Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) threshold or get a MQD waiver using Delta's co-branded credit cards
The table below lists the requirements for each tier in the Delta Medallion program.
| Tier | Medallion Qualification Miles OR Segments Needed | Medallion Qualification Dollars Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | 25,000 MQMs OR 30 MQSs | $3,000 MQDs OR MQD Waiver |
| Gold | 50,000 MQMs OR 60 MQSs | $8,000 MQDs OR MQD Waiver |
| Platinum | 75,000 MQMs OR 100 MQSs | $12,000 MQDs OR MQD Waiver |
| Diamond | 125,000 MQMs OR 140 MQSs | $20,000 MQDs OR MQD Waiver |
What benefits are offered at each tier?
As you climb the tiers of Delta Medallion status, you'll start to be rewarded with excellent benefits that can enhance your travel.
Delta Medallion Silver
Delta Medallion Silver requires you to earn 25,000 Medallion Qualification Miles or 30 Medallion Qualification Segments AND spend $3,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars or acquire the MQD Waiver.
| Benefits | Description |
|---|---|
| Medallion Mileage Earnings | Earn 7 miles per dollar spent. |
| Rollover MQMs | Any extra MQMs you acquire beyond the threshold will rollover into the following qualification year. |
| Complimentary Upgrades | Eligible for complimentary upgrades. Can choose Preferred Seats (including Exit Row) complimentary. |
| Waived Baggage Fees | Enjoy your first checked bag free. |
| Priority Check-In | Check-in using the Sky Priority line and skip the wait. |
| Priority Boarding | Enjoy Main Cabin one boarding. |
| CLEAR Preferred Pricing | Pay only $149 per year for CLEAR Membership |
| SkyTeam Status | Enjoy SkyTeam Elite status which gives you benefits when flying SkyTeam Alliance airline partners around the globe. |
| Hertz Benefits | Earn 5 miles per $1 spent on qualifying rentals and enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star status. |
Is Delta Medallion Silver worth it? (Opinion)
Silver may not sound like much, but don't sleep on it. As a person who had Delta Medallion Silver status for 4 years, it is well worth it. The little things it offers adds up.
Being able to enter the Sky Priority line alone is one of the best benefits of status as it is generally way shorter than the normal check-in line. The free checked bag it offers is also great because it stacks with the free checked bag offered with co-branded Delta credit cards.
Delta Medallion Gold
Delta Medallion Gold requires you to earn 50,000 Medallion Qualification Miles or 60 Medallion Qualification Segments AND spend $8,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars or acquire the MQD Waiver.
Highlight rows in the table are new or improved benefits that you're receive when you move from Silver Medallion to Gold Medallion status.
| Benefits | Description |
|---|---|
| Medallion Mileage Earn | Earn 8 miles per dollar spent. |
| Rollover MQMs | Any extra MQMs you acquire beyond the threshold will rollover into the following qualification year. |
| Complimentary Upgrades | Eligible for complimentary upgrades. Complimentary upgrades to First Class and Delta Comfort+ begins up to 72 hours before flight. |
| Waived Baggage Fees | Enjoy your first checked bag free. |
| Waived Same-Day | Your Same-Day Confirmed Fees will be waived. |
| Priority Check-In | Check-in using the Sky Priority line and skip the wait. |
| Priority Boarding | Enjoy Sky Priority Boarding |
| Priority Security Line | Enjoy access to the Priority Security Line where available. |
| Expedited Baggage Service | Be among the first to receive your bags when you pick them up at your final destination. |
| CLEAR Preferred Pricing | Pay only $149 per year for CLEAR Membership |
| SkyTeam Lounge Access | Enjoy complimentary access to SkyTeam Lounges. |
| SkyTeam Status | Enjoy SkyTeam Elite Plus status which gives you benefits when flying SkyTeam Alliance airline partners around the globe. |
| Drink Vouchers | Enjoy four drink vouchers that you can use on-board Delta flights. |
| Hertz Benefits | Earn 6 miles per $1 spent on qualifying rentals and enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star status. |
Delta Medallion Platinum
Delta Platinum Medallion Status requires 75,000 Medallion Qualification Miles or 100 Medallion Qualification Segments AND $12,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars or the MQD Waiver.
Highlight rows in the table below are new or improved benefits that you're receive when you move from Gold Medallion to Platinum Medallion status.
| Benefits | Description |
|---|---|
| Medallion Mileage Earn | Earn 9 miles per dollar spent. |
| Rollover MQMs | Any extra MQMs you acquire beyond the threshold will rollover into the following qualification year. |
| Choice Benefits | Allows you to choose one benefit which includes Delta Sky Club Membership, Regional upgrade certificates, bonus miles, the ability to gift Silver Medallion to other members, Delta Travel Vouchers, and more. |
| Complimentary Upgrades | Eligible for complimentary upgrades. Complimentary upgrades to First Class begins up to 120 hours (5 days) before flight. Complimentary access to Delta Comfort+ and Preferred Seats. |
| Waived Baggage Fees | Enjoy your first checked bag free. |
| Waived Same-Day | Your Same-Day Confirmed Fees will be waived. |
| Priority Check-In | Check-in using the Sky Priority line and skip the wait. |
| Priority Boarding | Enjoy Sky Priority Boarding |
| Priority Security Line | Enjoy access to the Priority Security Line where available. |
| Expedited Baggage Service | Be among the first to receive your bags when you pick them up at your final destination. |
| CLEAR Preferred Pricing | Pay only $149 per year for CLEAR Membership |
| SkyTeam Lounge Access | Enjoy complimentary access to SkyTeam Lounges. |
| SkyTeam Status | Enjoy SkyTeam Elite Plus status which gives you benefits when flying SkyTeam Alliance airline partners around the globe. |
| Drink Vouchers | Enjoy four drink vouchers that you can use on-board Delta flights. |
| Hertz Benefits | Earn 7 miles per $1 spent on qualifying rentals and enjoy complimentary President's Circle status. |
Delta Medallion Diamond
Delta Medallion Diamond requires 125,000 Medallion Qualification Miles or 140 Medallion Qualification Segments AND $20,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars or the MQD Waiver.
Highlight rows in the table below are new or improved benefits that you're receive when you move from Platinum Medallion to Diamond Medallion status.
| Benefits | Description |
|---|---|
| Medallion Mileage Earn | Earn 11 miles per dollar spent. |
| Rollover MQMs | Any extra MQMs you acquire beyond the threshold will rollover into the following qualification year. |
| Choice Benefits | Allows you to choose three benefits which includes Delta Sky Club Membership, Regional upgrade certificates, bonus miles, the ability to gift Gold Medallion to other members, Delta Travel Vouchers, MQD Boosts, and more. |
| Complimentary Upgrades | Eligible for complimentary upgrades. Complimentary upgrades to First Class begins up to 120 hours (5 days) before flight with priority. Complimentary access to Delta Comfort+ and Preferred Seats. |
| Waived Baggage Fees | Enjoy your first checked bag free. |
| Waived Same-Day | Your Same-Day Confirmed Fees will be waived. |
| Priority Check-In | Check-in using the Sky Priority line and skip the wait. |
| Priority Boarding | Enjoy Sky Priority Boarding and be among the first to board. |
| Priority Security Line | Enjoy access to the Priority Security Line where available. |
| Expedited Baggage Service | Be among the first to receive your bags when you pick them up at your final destination. |
| CLEAR Preferred Pricing | Receive complimentary CLEAR Membership |
| SkyTeam Lounge Access | Enjoy complimentary access to SkyTeam Lounges. |
| SkyTeam Status | Enjoy SkyTeam Elite Plus status which gives you benefits when flying SkyTeam Alliance airline partners around the globe. |
| Drink Vouchers | Enjoy four drink vouchers that you can use on-board Delta flights. |
| Hertz Benefits | Earn 8 miles per $1 spent on qualifying rentals and enjoy complimentary President's Circle status. |
Medallion status shortcuts
Outside of flying Delta Airlines and their partners, there's a few options that you can use to make obtaining Medallion status a little faster or easier. These options require spending heavy across Delta's co-branded credit cards.
MQD Waiver
Medallion Qualification Dollars is one of the hardest requirements to hit if you don't spend a lot on Delta airfare. You can bypass this by earning the MQD Waiver which requires you to spend heavy across eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Credit Cards.
Here are the requirements for earning the MQD Waiver:
- Platinum, Gold, and Silver MQD Waiver: Make $25,000 or more in eligible purchases during the calendar year with an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Card.
- Diamond MQD Waiver: Make $250,000 or more in eligible purchases during the calendar year with an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Card.
In order to earn the MQD Waiver, you must have at least one of these eligible Delta SkyMiles credit cards:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Any combination of spending across these cards will count towards the MQD Waiver. This includes any spending on the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card as long as you also hold one of the six eligible Delta credit cards. You cannot earn the MQD Waiver with the Delta SkyMiles Blue AMEX Card alone.
As an example, you could spend $10K on the Delta SkyMiles Gold AMEX Card and $15K on the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business AMEX Card and earn the MQD Waiver since you spent a total of $25K across both cards.
Status Boost
Status Boost rewards you with bonus Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) for heavy spending across eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express credit cards. This benefit is available on the personal and business versions of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Reserve credit cards.
Here's the breakdown:
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card:Earn up to 20,000 MQMs every year. Earn 10,000 MQMs for every $25,000 that you spend on the card during the calendar year, twice per year.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card:Earn up to 20,000 MQMs every year. Earn 10,000 MQMs for every $25,000 that you spend on the card during the calendar year, twice per year.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card:Earn up to 60,000 MQMs every year. Earn 15,000 MQMs for every $30,000 that you spend on the card during the calendar year, four times per year.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card:Earn up to 60,000 MQMs every year. Earn 15,000 MQMs for every $30,000 that you spend on the card during the calendar year, four times per year.
If you really cherish Delta Medallion Status and have the ability to run heavy amounts of spend through Delta credit cards, you can basically spend your way to status.
For example, the table below details how you can obtain status with each tier using Status Boost combined with a few flights.
| Tier | Spend Example |
|---|---|
| Silver | Spend $50K on the personal or business Delta SkyMiles Platinum AMEX to earn 20K MQMs and earn 5,000 MQMs from flights. |
| Gold | Spend $90K on the personal or business Delta SkyMiles Reserve AMEX to earn 45K MQMs and earn 5,000 MQMs from flights. |
| Platinum | Spend $120K on the personal or business Delta SkyMiles Reserve AMEX and $25K on the personal or business Delta SkyMiles Platinum AMEX to earn 70K MQMs and earn 5,000 MQMs from flights. |
| Diamond | Spend $120K on the Delta SkyMiles Reserve AMEX and $120K on the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business AMEX to earn 120K MQMs, earn 5,000 MQMs from flights, and spend an additional $10K across any other Delta credit cards to earn the Diamond MQD Waiver (requires $250K spend). |
These are just one example for each tier. How many MQMs you need and how much you may need to spend on Delta credit cards for any given qualification year will depend on how often you fly Delta.
Learn more: Best Delta Credit Cards (+ SkyMiles Calculator)
Other ways to obtain Medallion-like benefits
There are a handful of credit cards that offers Medallion-like benefits including from free checked bags, Delta SkyClub Access, and even complimentary upgrades. So depending on what you're looking for when flying Delta, you may not have to even worry about earning status if you have the right credit card.
Free Checked Bags
All Delta Medallion members and those traveling with them on the same reservation receive waived checked bag fees.
You can also receive your first checked bag free for yourself and those traveling with you by just having an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Credit Card. You don't even have to use the card to pay for your flight... it just needs to be attached to your SkyMiles profile which is automatically done when you apply for the card.
Do note that the Delta Blue AMEX does not offer this benefit.
Priority Boarding
All Delta Medallion members and those traveling with them on the same reservation receive priority boarding.
If you own an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Credit Card, you will be able to board with Main Cabin 1 which is the same boarding group as Delta Medallion Silver. This allows you to board before Main Cabin 2 and Main Cabin 3 and usually allows you to lock in some overhead bin space.
Delta SkyClub Access
Those with Delta Medallion Gold, Platinum, and Diamond will receive complimentary access to SkyTeam Lounges.
While there's no credit card that can grant you access to SkyTeam lounge around the world, there are several credit cards that can grant you access to Delta Sky Clubs around the world. Those credit cards are:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Additional cardholders that you've added to your credit card as authorized Reserve Card and Platinum card users will also have access to Delta Sky Clubs—even when they aren't traveling with you!
Complimentary Upgrades
All Delta Medallion members receive complimentary upgrades, with higher Medallion status receiving priority and better access to upgrades.
There are two Delta credit cards that grant access to complimentary upgrades:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
The chance that you obtain a seat upgrade as a personal or business Reserve cardholder without Medallion Status is slim-to-none unless you're flying out of a non-Delta hub at unusual hours (e.g. red eye flight). Basically every single person with Medallion status will be in the queue to receive upgrades before you.
This benefit shines for those with status.
Personal and business Reserve cardholders with receive Priority for complimentary upgrades over those with the same Medallion Status who does not have a personal or business Reserve card. So this can be a great way to jump closer to the top of the upgrade waitlist which can score you a few additional upgrades per year.
Annual Companion Passes
The Companion Pass is not really a "Medallion" benefit, but it is something that should be mentioned as it adds significant value to Delta's higher-end credit cards. This pass allows one person to travel with you for just the cost of taxes, fees, and surcharges.
Basically it means that the Base Ticket price will be free for the second person. For example, if the base cost of a flight costs $733 plus $94 in taxes for a total of $827.10 per ticket, you would only end up paying $94 for the second ticket.
There are the four Delta credit cards that offer the annual companion pass:
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Receive a Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or domestic Main Cabin round trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Receive a Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or domestic Main Cabin round trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card.
These companion passes can offer hundreds to thousands of dollars in value depending on the flight. This basically offsets the annual fee (and some) while still giving you access to all the benefits these cards offer.
Another thing to note is that these passes stack in your SkyMiles account. If you have multiple credit cards that offer companion passes, you'll receive multiple companion passes.
They're very easy to use as long as you use plan out your trip in advance and use them months ahead of your departure date. If you wait until the last minute to use them, they become a little bit more difficult to use and you'll typically be stuck with "unfavorable" flights.
Delta Credit Cards
Delta offers a total of seven co-branded credit cards that you can use to earn additional SkyMiles on everyday spending. As previously mentioned, these cards can also grant you a wide range of benefits including free checked bags, the ability to spend your way to higher status, and annual companion passes.
Here is the full list of Delta credit cards:
| Credit Card | Highlights | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
Best For No Annual Fee
|
$0 | |
Best For Free Checked Bags
|
|
$0 introductory annual fee fee, then $99 |
Best Overall For Delta Travelers
|
|
$250 |
Best For Benefits & Medallion Status Chasers
|
|
$550 |
Best Business Card For Free Checked Bags
|
|
$0 introductory annual fee fee, then $99 |
Best Overall For Delta Business Travelers
|
|
$250 |
Best Business Card For Benefits & Medallion Status Chasers
|
|
$550 |
| View Best Delta Credit Card Offers | ||
FAQ
What are Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs)?
Medallion Qualification Miles are one of three metrics for determining Delta Medallion Status. They are earned based on the distance you fly and the fare class of your ticket.
What are Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs)?
Medallion Qualification Segments are one of three metrics for determining Delta Medallion Status. They are earned based on the number of flights you take.
What are Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs)?
Medallion Qualification Dollars are one of three metrics for determining Delta Medallion Status. They are earned based on how much you've spend on the cost of your airfare tickets with Delta and their partners.
What are the requirements for Delta Silver Medallion Status?
Silver Medallion Status requires 25,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or 30 Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) AND $3,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) or the MQD Waiver.
What are the requirements for Delta Gold Medallion Status?
Gold Medallion Status requires 50,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or 60 Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) AND $8,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) or the MQD Waiver.
What are the requirements for Delta Platinum Medallion Status?
Platinum Medallion Status requires 75,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or 100 Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) AND $12,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) or the MQD Waiver.
What are the requirements for Delta Diamond Medallion Status?
Diamond Medallion Status requires 125,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or 140 Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) AND $20,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) or the MQD Waiver.
How do you earn the Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) Waiver for Delta Medallion Status?
Spend $25,000 or more during the calendar year on an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Card to earn the Platinum, Gold, and Silver MQD Waiver and spend $250,000 or more during the calendar year on an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Card to earn the Diamond MQD Waiver.
Can you spend your way to Delta Medallion Status using Delta credit cards?
Yes. You can earn up to a total of 160,000 MQMs spending on Delta credit cards which is more than enough for Delta's highest status of Delta Medallion Diamond.
What benefits can you obtain using credit cards that are also offered by having Delta Medallion Status?
You can obtain free checked bags, priority boarding, Delta Sky Club access, and complimentary upgrades with select Delta and American Express credit cards.
Delta SkyMiles calculators
Check out all of our Delta SkyMiles calculators and calculate everything from how many miles you can earn with credit cards to the cash value of your miles based on redemption!
These calculators and guides are all about maximizing your spending and earning the most SkyMiles per dollar spent.
Use our Delta credit card calculators to estimate how many SkyMiles you can earn and the cash value of the card based on the spend amounts you enter, how much you value benefits, and annual fees.
Our calculators allow you to compare up to two additional credit cards side by side based on same or different spend. Plus, all spend amounts you enter in the Primary card's column rolls over to all credit card rewards calculators on the site!
Reminder: Don't forget that you can also transfer credit card points from partners to Delta SkyMiles!
In need of more SkyMiles? You can transfer rewards from several partner programs directly to your SkyMiles account!
Want to know what you can redeem your SkyMiles for and how much they are worth? Check out our Delta miles value calculators.
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