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Delta Air Lines is giving Medallion members another year to breathe a little easier.
The airline extended Medallion elite status through January 2023 — and all MQM will roll over to next year. And it’s adding an incentive to earn Medallion status this year.
Those were just some of the announcements made today by Delta CEO Ed Bastian.
Medallion Status Extended, MQM Rolling Over
At long last, we know the answer to a question many Delta elite flyers have wondered: “Will Delta status roll over again to next year?
Delta will, in fact, extend Medallion status to the 2022 Medallion year, which expires on January 31, 2023.
Plus, any and all MQM — regardless of whether or not a person holds Delta elite status — will roll over into next year and count toward 2023 status.
Award Tickets
Plus, award tickets will continue to earn MQD, MQM, and MQS for travel through January 31, 2023.
Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates
GUC and RUC are extended for travel through January 31, 2023.
Delta Amex Benefits Extended
Unused Companion Certificates as of July 31, 2021, or Companion Certificates issued between August 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, can be used to travel through January 31, 2023.
Plus, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card members with unused SkyClub guest passes can use them through January 31, 2023.
New Upgrade Priority for Status Earners
Here’s an interesting twist:
Starting Feb. 1, 2022, those who earned 2022 Status will clear for Complimentary Upgrades ahead of those at the same tier level whose Status was automatically extended
So my plan, for example, was to get enough MQD to earn Silver status to start 2022 — and then hit partner mileage runs ASAP so I could reach Platinum or Diamond relatively quickly.
But if I earn Silver this year — will I still clear as a Platinum in 2022? I’ll have to dig deeper on that one.
Plus, it looks like those whose status rolls over to next year will not be able to select Choice Benefits.
Final Approach
Well done, Delta. Well done.
Extending status is, I think, a #KeepClimbing move. The Delta variant of COVID-19 is getting uglier by the day — making travel worrisome for people. Plus, Delta itself noted that business travel will take a while to return to something resembling pre-pandemic levels. So this is a great way to keep the airline’s most frequent customers happy.
What do you think?
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Great News !!!
How about bringing back service in first-class and Delta One business-class to pre-pandemic standards? Otherwise, I’ll just fly JetBlue Mint until sometime next year when I need to focus on 2023 status.
And why isn’t the upgrade priority being rolled out right away? I’m already re-qualified for 2022 on my own as a diamond without the enhancement or status extender.
Great News! The Award Travel earning MQM and MQD is great news. Did Delta extend the Status Boost Program as well? Award Traveling earning MQM and MQD is a part of that but I can’t find anything about Status Boost
I didn’t see anything about Status Boost, either. It’d be great if they did!Delta says, “SkyMiles Members will continue to earn at an accelerated rate on most tickets through Dec. 31, 2021.”
So I’m guessing that’s a no.
I noticed that right away, but didn’t want to contradict you!
I like that status is rolling over and that those of us that will earn status will get something extra. What is really like to see is the MQD and MQD waiver rolling over. I would consider giving up the choice benefits of I could qualify for 2023 based on my 2021 MQD and/or waiver.
So let’s say I have 85,000 MQM and enough MQD to get Silver by end of this year. Will Delta deduct the 25,000 MQM for Silver status or are they going to let me keep those?
I read ‘any and all’ as I would get to keep them.
That’s how I read it.
There is a god.
Now to clear things up…For those of us that earned Diamond this year by time in the seat… we WILL get choice benefits!?! Where as those that get it by rollover won’t. Now, I would imagine if we do get the Choice Benefits they will also deduct the MQM’s for diamond ( or not??) Just wondering ?!?! Thanks!
As far as I can tell, the only people who will receive Choice Benefits are those who earn PM or DM status during this year (for 2022). If all MQM roll over, then it should be ALL MQM. I’m putting together a list of questions and will add this.
My favorite part of all of this will be “trusting” Delta IT to in some way reliably implement this cobbled together upgrade priority mess (#ProTip – Not gonna happen)!
Now as we all know, using the right browser like Firefox, you can see you RAW data numbers that Delta will use (see THIS post). But…
Then we have to hope that a gate agent does not SHENA us from all the tech telling them to upgrade us.
Biggest news to me today is BE tickets are no longer wasted but can be turned into ecredits.
I think this is a good thing for Delta is doing for their frequent flyers. Also, it will be good for me because I have already earned silver status and should hit gold by the fall.
For those who are trying to earn the 15,000 MQD for this year, will that roll over, or we have just wasted our time and money? Should we cancel all mileage runs already booked on partner airlines while trying to earn MQD’s
@Tony – MDQs never roll over. As to should you dump current year runs to earn status this year? Your call. You will get a selection of Choice Benefits that the free push status folks (like me) don’t get. Also, next year, you get upgrade priority over other Diamonds but I have real doubts how truly valuable a carrot this will be (more later).
This is a big change and there are many words to share in coming blog posts.
Delta didn’t say anything about MQD rolling over. But I highly doubt they’ll roll over.
Keep in mind it may be too late to cancel partner mileage runs.
Am I correct that MQDs will NOT carry over into 2022?
I’ve far more than 125,000 MQMs right now, but have not reached the MQD Diamond level. Prior to today’s news, my plan was to not go for MQD this year, but attain it very early in 2022, along with MQM (which would essentially give me 2 years of Diamond). With the new program, I’m unclear about something. If I don’t achieve MQD this year, I will remain a Platinum going into 2022. Since I would be at the same tier as 2021, does that mean that I didn’t “earn” it and as such not clear an upgrade with a higher priority? If I attain Diamond after Feb 1 2022 will I then have a higher Diamond priority, or, does Diamond status need to be attained by the end of 2021 for this benefit?
@Mike – Oh boy. You are in a much similar position as me (Rene). MQDs never roll over.
As to the rest of your question… I will work on a post. I have paid and booked runs in JAN 2022 to reach Diamond by the end of the month for 2 years of status. However, the medallion math has changed things and I will cover that as well.
Thanks René, look forward to your post on the subject. Regarding clearing an upgrade with a higher priority due to “earning” a tier, my guess is that rollover MQMs are taken out of the calculation. So for example if I earn 110,000 MQM in 2021, and had 15,000 MQM rollover from 2020 – I will have achieved Diamond tier MQM for 2022, but only Platinum tier MQM for the higher priority clearing calculation. One thing that’s unclear to me is if someone “earns” Platinum due to 2021 flying, will they get a higher priority upgrade clearing than a Diamond that only achieved 50,000 MQM in 2021 but had 75,000 rollover MQM? That’s a key factor in mileage runs in 2021 vs January of 2022.
@Mike – So all MQMs are rolling again. All. If someone had no status starting 2021 and they earn Platinum they will have upgrade priority over someone who gets the gifted Platinum status (in the EXACT SAME fare class). A Diamond will trump a Platinum with earned status. Now, at this points, I will earn enough MQDs in JAN 2022 to earn my 2023 Diamond status but will still not have higher upgrade priority than someone who earned Diamond now in 2021.
Maybe it is time for Chris and I to do a podcast about all of this?
@René – thanks again, and a podcast would be awesome!
If I gift someone Gold status today using a 2021 Diamond choice benefit, will they have Gold status until January 31, 2023?
@Layla – No. Through Jan 31st 2022. If you now earn 2022 CB and gift Gold to someone that would run the rest of this year, all of next year, and end JAN 31 2023 (well technically 1 FEB but you get the idea).
I like those news. Status extension alone wouldn’t help me a bit because I had already requalified for Silver last year (for this year). With the rollover of all MQMs to this year I was already requalified for the upcoming medallion year. But what really helps me is that MQMs roll over again, so I will be at least Silver through Jan 31, 2024.
And if I won’t be able to travel this year (don’t know yet) at least I’ll be able to profit off these rollovers next year to work on my status.
Until now Ithe US hasn’tt allowed us living in the Schengen Area to make any use of what Delta already had done.
Okay, that I like these news is because of my own egoistic viewpoint. But I also like that those who are able to fly this year and earn their status may enjoy some elevated benefits. The little advantage when it comes to upgrade priority may be marginal but for those qualifying for Platinum or Diamond I think it is only fair that they will receive their Choice Benefits while those who got their status solely by extension don’t receive them.
If I were in that situation (Platinum or Diamond instead of Silver) I would say “Tough luck” to myself 😉 But definitely fair.
@Chris / @Rene – So, I have rolled over Diamond status and I’ve achieved Gold status and am only $5K away on my Delta Reserve from getting a status boost to get to Platinum. That will also give me MQD waiver of $25K.
I can’t see any reason not to get that status (and the Plat Choice benefit). It seems that I’ll have earned Plat status, but Diamond roll-over status through Jan 2023, right?
Finally, any reason not to pile on the MQMs for the rest of the year to help with 2023 status as long as I don’t get to Diamond. Any downside to that approach?
Thanks!
@Dale – I like your thinking this far in. You will get DM next year “free” and Platinum CB and only miss out on the DMs earning DM this year as upgrade priority.
I want to make sure I completely understand the announcement. I have 58K MQMs now (which would qualify me for Gold on its own in 2022). So, this announcement means they will roll over ALL 58K MQMs, not just the 8K MQMs that would remain if Delta deducts the 50K MQM that would have been used to get me to Gold status (as in the past). Thanks!
@Dale DM – If you were GOLD last year (or the year before that) you will be GOLD again and rollover all your MQMs. However, if you are EARNING GOLD now they will take away 50,000 MQMs and you will roll the rest. At least that is how they did it in the years past.
@Rene – I forgot that important detail. I am a DM now. So, then all 58K MQMs will roll over?
@Dale DM – Yep. All rollover.
You reaching whatever level this year means nothing unless you make it all the way to Diamond again (then you will have MQMs deducted as you will have earned that status).Rene – this isn’t right. Everyone rolls over all miles into 2022, regardless of whether you earn a Medallion level or not. Dale DM will roll over all 58K. This is the same way it worked for 2021
@Anthony – My understanding was, last time, if you earned the status they will (and did) suck away the MQMs for the earned status. I can not see them giving you “free” status i.e. you can keep all your MQMs if you reach whatever level. The 100% rollover only applies to those who are not earning a new higher status right now this year.
If I am wrong, i.e. you can earn Diamond and they give you the 125,000 MQMs back – that is nuts!
Rene – last year, no MQM were deducted for anyone. It will be the same this year. If you end this year with 125,000 MQM and earn Diamond, you start next year with 125,000 MQM. All MQM rollover for everyone.
@Anthony – I don’t think this is correct but total shocker if that is so.
It also makes me go…. humm…. 🙂
Chris and I will confirm you are correct with Delta. Thanks!
EDIT: Welp the FAQS page on Delta.com sure seems to indicate you are correct that ALL rollover no matter what: https://www.delta.com/global/en/skymiles/program-resources/extending-skymiles-benefits
Yes, that is what it says, doesn’t seem to be any ambiguity there, It’s good that the question was asked.
I’m guessing for many or even most folks, the 2021 status was an extension of our 2020 status. That is, I qualified during 2019. Am I still qualified for the status extension for 2022? I’m not seeing the new extended date to Jan 31, 2023. I received the email announcement, but profile doesn’t look changed. Others?
@Catherine – It will take a while to update.
I get Diamonds that actually qualified at the Diamond level for 2022nwill have priority over Diamonds that roll forward but will there be any further segmentation? Will Diamonds who roll forward but qualified as Platinum for 2022 have priority over those who only qualified as Gold or Silver or nothing at all? I am guessing it will be a very small pool of actually qualified Diamonds in the top tier and everyone else in the rest.
@Neil – The priority will be very very minor IMO. So much has to line up for an earned flier to have priority that I doubt the impact will matter. Oh and don’t forget at the gate the gate agent can toss it all out the window and do as they please.
I have Diamond Medallion status currently, I’m about $80k away from the $250K spend on the Reserve card. Is there any point in hitting that $250K spend or try and get United Status on another card.
Consider that Diamonds who earn 2022 status (i.e. spend the $250k or hit $15k MQD) will have upgrade priority next year.
For that 80K spend, you get 80,000 SkyMiles, upgrade priority over extended DMs and Choice Benefits for 2022. What would putting that 80K in spend on one of your other credit cards get?
I’m wondering if the rollover of MQMs and status extension will wind up taking business away from Delta. I am DM. I’d planned to put to do some flying on Delta to hit Platinum before the recent announcement was made. Now wondering if I should put those miles on Alaska or United instead.
@Catherine – You are not the only one thinking this way.
@Rene and @Catherine, for people only interested in status, I agree. I personally will continue to fly Delta because there is no point in working hard to earn the status if I don’t use it. If that isn’t a good enough reason, then I wonder why we are bothering to chase after the status in the first place! Another good reason to continue flying Delta is that it builds the mileage, which I know doesn’t build as fast as it used to, but it’s still something. I also thought about this in regard to whether to continue using my Delta Amex when there are no more MQM to be had or after reaching the MQD Waiver. I’m continuing so that I can earn more miles.
I fly Alaska on some routes that Delta doesn’t do (nonstop) – and having even MVP status w/them is nice to have. Yes, for my regular transcon flights, I prefer to fly Delta.
I am lifetime Platinum with American (long story about why I switched my allegiance) so I know what you mean about wanting status with another airline.
There’s another scenario where Delta could be losing business, by not rolling over MQD. I’m taking coast to coast flights this week and would have paid for the upgrades either in cash or with miles, even though there’s a good chance I would get free upgrades, if I felt that the MQD were going to be of any use.
Great post. Did you have any updates on this: “Plus, it looks like those whose status rolls over to next year will not be able to select Choice Benefits.”
No update. I’m thinking that people who want Choice Benefits will have to “earn” their status again this year.
I think the announcement made it clear that choice benefits would only be given those of us that have earned it.