Welcome to a regular feature on Eye of the Flyer! This blog series covers “rookie” topics about either a Delta or other travel-related theme (sometimes both!) and attempts to break down each topic to a basic level. You can read up on all the previous posts HERE. Now on to this featured subject!
Several readers emailed questions about the Delta MQD waiver feature of several co-branded SkyMiles American Express cards.
I figured other people might have the same concerns. So, here are the questions and my answers.
Quick Primer: Delta’s Amex MQD Waiver
Before we jump into the questions, let’s quickly explain the Delta Amex MQD waiver.
If you want to be a Delta Medallion (elite status) member, you must earn a prescribed number of Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM) or Medallion Qualification Segments (MQS).
But that’s only half the battle.
You must also earn a required amount of Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD). That’s how much you spend on Delta-marketed flights in Main Cabin or higher (so, Basic Economy flights do not count). MQD consist of your base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges. They do not include government taxes or fees.
The MQD requirements are:
- $3000 for Silver
- $6000 for Gold
- $9000 for Platinum
- $15,000 for Diamond
However, the Silver, Gold, and Platinum MQD requirements are waived if you spend $25,000 on one or across multiple qualifying Delta American Express cards during a calendar year. That number jumps ten times to $250,000 if you want to reach Diamond.
Plenty of people earn MQD by spending money on airline tickets. (Imagine that!) But others prefer the Delta Amex MQD method.
Which Delta Amex Cards are Eligible?
You must hold at least one of these co-branded cards to earn the MQD waiver on your Delta Amex spending:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, or Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card will not count toward your MQD waiver spend if those are the only Delta Amexes you hold. But if you have one of the four “premium” cards (a Delta Platinum or Reserve card), your Gold or Blue spending counts toward the MQD waiver.
Question: “Does all my spending need to be on one Delta American Express card so I can earn the MQD waiver?”
Nope!
It certainly can be. But you’re allowed to spread your required $25,000 (or $250,000 for Diamond) across multiple cards. I reached the $25,000 waiver several times over the years by “scattering” my spending on several cards. For example, one year it was something like $2,000 on a Delta Gold Business Amex, $1,000 on a Delta Platinum Amex, and $22,000 on a Delta Reserve Business Amex.
Why would you want to spread your spending?
As I always say, everyone’s personal needs, goals, and budgets are unique. So, it’s not a one-size-fits-all answer. But consider these factors:
First, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card earns 2X SkyMiles at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the US) and US supermarkets. That’s better than the 1X those purchases earn on a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. But you may hold both cards because of their respective Companion Certificates or because being a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card member is an upgrade tie-breaker.
Or perhaps you haven’t received a specific Delta Amex card’s welcome bonus and want to take advantage of a great promotion.
For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers new members 100,00 bonus SkyMiles after spending $5,000 in purchases within three months of approval. (Offer expires June 8, 2022, terms apply.)
The Reserve, Platinum, and Gold have increased promotional offers expiring on June 8.
Finally, some cards receive targeted Amex Offers and others don’t.
Question: “I heard spending $340,000 on my Delta Reserve card gives me Diamond Medallion status. Is that true?”
Do you have at least 125,000 MQM or 140 MQS? Then yes!
If you don’t? No. You must still accumulate those 125,000 MQM or 140 MQS.
That said, those four “premium” cards (the Delta Platinums and Reserves) also allow cardholders to achieve “Status Boosts.” Those are bonus MQM deposits once you reach certain spending thresholds:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- 15,000 bonus MQM each time you spend $30,000 on eligible purchases during a calendar year. A maximum of 60,000 bonus MQM may be earned ($120,000 in spending.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- 15,000 bonus MQM each time you spend $30,000 on eligible purchases during a calendar year. A maximum of 60,000 bonus MQM may be earned ($120,000 in spending.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- 10,000 bonus MQM each time you spend $25,000 on eligible purchases during a calendar year. A maximum of 20,000 bonus MQM may be earned ($50,000 in spending.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- 10,000 bonus MQM each time you spend $25,000 on eligible purchases during a calendar year. A maximum of 20,000 bonus MQM may be earned ($50,000 in spending.)
You can max out the Status Boosts on all of them each year.
Let’s say you do that on the Delta Reserve consumer card, a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, and one of the Delta Platinum cards. You’ll spend $290,000 in the process and earn 140,000 MQM. That’s Diamond Medallion status right there because you earn the prescribed MQM and surpass the $250,000 MQD waiver for Diamond.
(I’m guessing the reader’s $340,000 figure came from maxing out all four Delta Amex Status Boosts.)
Be aware that once you reach a card’s Status Bonus maximum (i.e., $120,000 in spending on a Delta Reserve), you won’t receive any more MQM from that card during the calendar year. Sure, you can keep spending on the card. But all you earn are SkyMiles. You’re better off switching to another Delta Amex card or something different.
Question: “Should I put all my spending on my Delta Amex and earn the $25,000 MQD waiver ASAP?”
Here is another question whose answer depends on the person.
First, keep in mind that reaching the $25,000 MQD waiver is an upgrade tiebreaker. It’s number five on the list, but I’ve personally seen it affect upgrade ranking. I reached the $25,000 in Delta Amex spending last year. My wife did not. There were times we’d travel on different reservations (my daughter always is on my wife’s), and I’d be three or four slots higher than her on the upgrade list. Same fare class, tickets booked within a couple of minutes of each other, and both my wife and I hold our own Delta Reserve cards. So, we deduced that my earning the $25,000 Delta Amex waiver spending kicked me higher up the list.
So, that’s one plus of knocking out the spending requirement sooner than later.
If you’re in a hurry to reach (or requalify for) Medallion status and choose to go the MQD waiver route, then yes. Spend away on your Delta Amexes.
What I don’t like about this, though, is that you potentially shoot yourself in the foot by missing out on great welcome promotions for other cards because you’re too focused on your Delta status. For example, I blogged about my new U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Card. I need to meet the minimum spending requirement, so all my business purchases go on that card. I’m fine with that and reasonably confident I can hit the $25,000 MQD waiver spending later.
But whatever works for you is just fine and dandy. I know people who hit their MQD waiver and Status Boosts by paying tuition and taxes — and they’re done a couple of weeks into the year. I know others who put every cent on their Delta Amex card during the year and barely cross the threshold in late December.
Also, keep in mind it might be more efficient to contact point.me and have them create a partner mileage run for you — and you’ll earn MQD for a fraction of their price. That may get you to status much faster than spending money on your Delta Amex cards.
Final Approach
People emailed us questions about the Delta Amex MQD waiver. Because some of the feature’s terms, conditions, and practices may seem complex and complicated, I wanted to share those questions and answers with you. (I hope it didn’t make things worse! 😉 ). If you have any questions or wish to add some data points, please do so in the below Comments section!
To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the card_name, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Question: Does Amex Send spending count towards the MQD waiver.
Answer: I don’t believe so. The terms and conditions say that person to person transactions are not eligible.
Ok so we have the Delta Amex Platinum and have 154,413 MQM’s so we have already met that I think. We have $1447 MQD’s with a card spend of $50-51K already. We (2 of us) do have an upcoming trip to Europe this summer in which we are flying D1 both ways. Will the MQD’s from that come in after we fly or are they already there? Trying to stay at least platinum but would love diamond! Should we gran another Delta card to make sure we can hot platinum/diamond this year?
Hi, Debbie! I believe you’re a new commenter on the blog — welcome and thanks for the question!
First, when you say “we,” I’m going to assume that’s the royal “we.” Those MQM and MQD totals are for one person, correct?
If that’s the case, you should be set for Platinum in 2023 — with a decent start toward 2024 status, too! The MQD will hit your account (or should…) after your flights.
Does that help answer your question?
One more caveat to consider with an MQD waiver: Having an MQD waiver will win the tie in upgrade priority (if all other things are equal).
I mentioned that in the post but thanks for the reminder!
Chris – thank you for this.
When you use your Amex Platinum, when do the miles and more importantly the MQD waiver credit and the MQM bonuses hit your Skymiles account? When you spend? Or when you pay your bill? Or some standard amount of time after you pay your bill?
The SkyMiles post when your monthly statement is issued. The spending levels are generally updated when charges post — and MQM are issued accordingly. But keep in mind this is Delta IT working in hand-in-hand with Amex and not everything always goes according to plan. But it usually works OK.
Thank you Chris! Very helpful!
Hi Chris, I’m more confused about the MQD. Earlier today while on the phone with Amex, I’d noticed my Skymiles points had increased with an outstanding balance of 4354 to post in June. I’d been spending on the card since the beginning of the year hoping to attain Silver status. I know I’ve spent over $3,000, yet no change in status, how do you suggest I attain the status? Thanks!
@Olu – As Chris pointed out, you need to spend $25,000 before the end of the year on your Delta Amex card(s) to earn the waver for Silver, Gold & Platinum (1/4 Million spend for Diamond waver). The $3,000 in spend is on Delta tickets (not counting fee’s or taxes etc). Also don’t forget the MQMs needed for Silver on top of the MQDs needed (or waver).
If you have the Amex Delta reserve card and spend 25 k and get the MQD waiver but then close that card at renewal, mid year and down grade to the Delta Platinum card. Do you still have the waiver for that year or do you need to spend 25k on the platinum card? What if you close the reserve and don’t get the platinum card. Do you lose the waiver for that year?
@Mark – As soon as the waver hits at Delta.com i.e. in your Skymiles account it is good for the year. You do NOT need to keep any Delta Amex cards at that point to maintain the waver.
Another niche piece of information: if you reside outside the US, all MQD requirements are waived. To do this you must change your address of record, and provide evidence to DL in form of proof of address such as an electric bill. Then you only have to hit the MQM which is much easier. I discovered this when I moved for an expat assignment. DL are alert for misuse, so I don’t recommend trying to fake it.
If I currently have a Delta gold Amex and upgrade it to platinum or reserve, do I get credit for my previous spend in the year? Or does the waiver only apply for spend after the upgrade?
You should. But keep in mind you’re dealing with Delta IT.
Also, I’d recommend applying for a new Delta Platinum or Reserve Amex card so you can enjoy the welcome bonus (MQM and/or SkyMiles) instead of upgrading your Delta Gold card — unless Amex gives you a great deal.
Hi there, if I get a MQD Waiver that, with my MQMs, qualifies me for Platinum, do any pre-existing MQDs I had before that Waiver hits count progressively towards Diamond status, or does the Waiver just ‘swallow’ those within my MQD bucket (meaning I’d start from zero to get to Diamond on MQDs?). As I’m unlikely to earn a 250K waiver this year, wondering how to leverage the best spending and travel combo to try to hit Diamond MQD.
Hi, Jen. All your MQD continue accruing through December 31. They aren’t zeroed out at any point in the year.
That’s great to hear. Thank you for responding!
Do you know if a skymiles member will get MQD credit for the money spent on a Delta ticket if they buy it through American Express travel (on a regular Amex card, not a Delta Amex card)? Or do you only get MQDs when you buy directly from Delta.com? Thank you
Doesn’t matter where you purchase a ticket or which card you use. It should earn MQD. I used one of my Chase cards to book a Delta flight through Chase Ultimate Rewards®’ travel service and everything (MQD, MQM, MQS, SkyMiles) all credited just fine.
Wonderful – thank you!!
Hey Chris. Thanks for the great article! Question on spend that is put on a “Plan It” with American Express. Do you know if this spend will immediately count towards the MQD waiver, or because it’s been put into a “Plan It”, where you pay the charge off over time, the MQD spend tracker will not count the spend until it’s fully paid off? Thanks again!
As far as I know, it should count immediately.
HI Chris,
I am trying to hit my MQD spend for the year to get to Diamond for next year. When I use my Amex Delta Reserve do all Delta ticket purchases qualify? More specifically, if I buy tickets for all my family to take a trip and pay for them all on the Delta Amex card do I get the matching MQDs for all the spend or only the spend for my ticket? So for example if I buy four tickets at $500 each do I get 2000 MQD’s or just the 500 for my ticket? I could not find the answer anywhere else online. Thanks for the help.
Any eligible purchase counts towards the MQD waiver — in this case $250k for Diamond. So, using your example, you’d earn $2,000 toward that $250k. Make sense?
Hey Chis –
He was specifically asking about the MQDs he would earn towards his yearly Delta “spend” option of $15,000, not the waiver of 250,000 in all money spent on his credit card.
I have the same question. Is the answer the same ?… Yes ?
In other words, Is he able to increase his personal MQDs on his eligible card by charging seats for the entire family on his card ? So 2000 vs 500 ? To meet his yearly Delta “spend” MQD option of 15,000 for diamond ? Or will he only get $500 toward his “spend” option ??
It’s become very confusing, and one must keep up to speed constantly to catch minute rules.
Thank you
First of all, thanks for asking for clarification! I realize now my initial answer wasn’t exactly as straightforward as it could’ve been.
The person flying earns the MQD (and MQM and MQS and redeemable SkyMiles). So, in this example, each of the passengers would earn $500 MQD. The purchaser would earn $2000 toward the Delta Amex Waiver — and earn $500 MQD toward his status.
Does that help?
Hello, thanks for the helpful article.
I am rookie-ish and pretty loyal to Delta (sort of by default, I live in Atlanta). To clarify – the MQD waiver is only good for the year in which you achieve it, yes? If I hit the spend in October, say, I’ll only get the benefit for the rest of the year and it resets on January 1?
I am lowly Silver medallion, and I know lots of people disparage it, but I’ve gotten C+ domestic and international or domestic first class upgrades on more than half the flights I’ve taken in the last three years. I’m also happy with being able to pick a free exit row seat. I’d like to keep my status and am halfway to Platinum with MQMs, but am probably going to have to do a mileage run for MQDs to reach Silver even though I have three upcoming flights on Delta.
I have the Delta Gold AMEX which has been fine for my needs so far but I’m racking my brain for ways to get MQDs and have been considering the Delta Platinum AMEX. We are not huge spenders – and big expenses like tuition charge fees for credit cards – so I’m not sure I could reach the MQD waiver in time to get much benefit if it resets every calendar year.
@Katherine – The MDQ waver is only for the current year and resets each year on 1JAN and there is no rollover for the waver.
You may want to spend some time reading up on ways to boost your spending without negative impacts. May are using creative spending ideas to reach the $25,000 needed and beyond.
Hi Chris,
Just to make sure I understand, if I have already spent $25,000 on my Delta AMEX gold card this year and open a new Delta AMEX platinum card now (and use it as my primary card), I can qualify for the MQD waiver? Is there more to this that I am not understanding?
Thank you,
Haru
That should do it.
Chris, here is a question I have that I have struggled to find info on.
If I have antother CC ( non AMEX) and i wish to use my preferred delta amex to pay it off, ( yes , with the full intention of paying off my amex bill when it comes due) does that count towards MQD waiver?
I know the T and C of the preferred card does state that persone to person, and cash advance ,etc does not count
Good question, larry. According to the card member agreement (linked here) balance transfers are not considered eligible purchases.
Does additional cardholder spending on a Delta Reserve or Delta Platinum Amex card count toward the primary cardholder’s MQD or the additional cardholder’s MQD? Thanks
@Jay O – All Authorized users spend counts towards the primary holders MQD waver total.
Great article. Answered several questions I had. One other is this: I am currently Silver with only 2438 MQM to Gold, which I will complete before Dec. 31. I don’t know that I will make the $6000 MQDs but I have already met the $25000 for the MQD Waiver. Does Delta apply that automatically at the end of the year or do I have to request it online or by phone? Thank you!
Hi, Daniel, thank you for your kind words. If you already hit the $25k waiver, you should be fine. Your status will automatically be updated.
great stuff! – I have Delta Reserve Amex – if I get family member set up as additional cardholder on that account, would the combined spend go toward my $250k diamond MQD waiver threshold, or is it only per cardholder?
The primary cardholder earns all the MQD waiver. The additional cardholders enjoy the benefit of having you foot the bill (if applicable, of course).
Hi
I have the Amex platinum SkyMiles card. I have hit both MQD status boosts and am 3845 mqm’s short of gold. I have a trip to Denver coming in February and will buy the tickets soon. I am assuming those mqm’s hit after the trip? I’m trying to figure out what’s best to get gold… do I wait to next uear an get the roll over and open a Amex business card to get extra boosts? It’s very confusing. Thanks
Hi, Scott. The MQMs won’t post until after your flights have landed (within an a few hours). Spending on non-Delta Amex Business Platinum Card won’t directly help you earn MQM or MQD. You’d have to do that on an Amex co-branded Delta SkyMiles card.
So, it sounds like you’ll be Silver going into next year — but have a decent leg up on Gold.
Hello. I am going to hit the $25,000 and get my waiver in the next few weeks. I noticed on my amex login they are promoting that if I reach $30,000 before year end I receive a 15,000 MQM bonus. I am not sure it would matter as a waiver puts me at Silver Medallion and the 15,000 Bonus MQM will reset to zero on Dec 31. Am I missing something? Or if I reach it should I gift it?
Those 15k MQM will roll over to next year.
Hey team! I’m a gold card member and want to upgrade to a platinum card. Will the purchases I’ve already made in the year on my gold card count towards my new platinum card, specifically toward the MQD Waiver for the year?
According to what Amex’s PR told me, yes.
Hi. I am a diamond now and trying to keep the status for 2023. I already have MQM and need MQD. I might end up the year with less than 100 short. Is it a way to get those last MQD without flying.? Can I pay? Thanks
Spend a lot of money ASAP on an Delta Amex card.
You’re better off taking an MQD run — or rolling over a bunch of MQM to next year while having lower status.
Great answer. If you have that amount of money to spare and feel the status is important enough to keep, then why wouldn’t you spend the money on something you love to do – like flying?
Hello, i hit my 25k spend on my Delta Amex platinum yesterday on December 28th. The Mqm bonus was posted almost immeadiatley. How long will wait take for the MQD waiver to post? I hit the spend before the end of the year but what happens if they do not post it until next year?
Hopefully in the next couple of days. I’d take a screenshot of your Spending Boost totals from Amex’s website, just so you have some backup.
Last time I looked, Delta.com was saying that the spend was as of 10 days earlier. It did take about 10 days before my 2023 status was confirmed after I had the target.
Thanks for the data point.
If only the technology existed for companies to update information in real time. 😉
Yes, interesting that they can update your miles and post the charge for a flight almost instantaneously yet they haven’t figured out how to track your progress towards status in real time. As another data point, it’s still saying December 10th was the last update for me so it’s possible they may stop updating once you reach the target.
To find this date, log in to Delta.com, click on your name at the top right, then click on the SECOND “My SkyMiles” link (the one in mixed case at the bottom of the menu).
I just checked and now spend is updated through December 25th. I did thale screenshots of the spend on Amex and the mqms posted as backup.
Do charity donations count as eligible purchases for the med waiver spend?
In my experience, yes.
Hello Chris,
I was wondering if you know whether charitable donations count towards the MQD waiver? I believe the terms state that eligible purchases are “goods and services” and arguably a donation (depending on the charity I suppose) is paying for goods and services for others. I have a fair chunk to go for my MQD waiver and it seems unlikely I will hit it without some big spending in very little time. I would rather that go to benefit others than buying big ticket items I neither need nor really want.
They should, yes.
I have a delta amex platinum and wondering about the mqd waiver.
I used the card today and just pushed above 25k spend for the year. However the transactions are still pending and I’m not able to pay off the balance as a result. Tried calling Amex and the reps said I had to wait another 1-2 days before the charges are fully posted and then I can pay the balance. Do you think I still have a chance at getting the waiver if the balance isn’t paid until the new year?
You should be just fine. You don’t need to pay the balance before the end of the year.
Great – fingers crossed!
Even if it takes a day or so into January for things to backdate, you should be OK. Been there, done that!
Following up on my previous comment. My spend on delta is now reflecting as of 12/31/22 but still not showing the correct amount. I received the platinum status boost of 10,000 MQMs but the waiver has still not hit. Do you know of the waiver is contingent on making payments? If that is the case, if I make a payment will it backdate for the waiver?
I am tracking spend toward my MQD waiver on the Amex site by looking at the “Track Your Status Boost” spend. I have 2 cards and won’t make the status boost on either, but my calculations show that I’ve crossed the $25K threshold ($13K on one card and $12K on a 2nd card).
I called Amex to confirm, and they said that eligible purchases toward the Status Boost spend won’t necessarily correspond to eligible purchases for the MQD waiver and that I’m actually only at $10K on the 2nd card, not the $12k shown on the Status Boost dialog.
My question is: what’s the difference, and how can you track spending toward the MQD waiver? With the exception of a list ordered differently, both show the same categories for eligible purchases.
Some of the spending might not be eligible (ineligible purchases, annual fees, interest, etc.)
Look at your annual totals on each card.
The most reliable way I have found to track eligible spending in real time is to look at the “Miles Earned for Eligible Purchases” in the latest statement(s), add them together if you have more than one, then look at the posted charges under “Statements and Activity” (remembering to deduct ineligible purchases from the posted charges). The “”Miles Earned for Eligible Purchases” is reliable, as it doesn’t include ineligible purchases. That was how I knew I had made status around 10 days before Delta acknowledged it.
Thanks!
Couldn’t find the answer to this, so apologies if I missed it!
I have both a business & personal Delta Reserve Amex, and have spent a lot this month, so much so that I have crossed the 250k waiver mark. However, as of today (12/31), it is only showing on Delta as 244k spend cleared.
It seems to take days/weeks for some of the Amex spending to show on the Delta Skymiles website/app. Since it has not crossed that threshold it seems today (even though the $ has been spent for days) am I going to miss out on Diamond? Have 165k MQMs so meet that all. Or will it update and then upgrade even after Dec 31?
It should (hopefully) update after December 31.
Hello, following up on my last post. My delta card spend is now updated as of 12/31/2022 and it is still showing short of the 25k waiver. I know o hit the 25k spend because received the platinum status boost and 10,000 MQMs. Does anyone know if this will refresh again. I am worried since it says as of 12/31/2022. Also if I make a payment will this help? I thought it was not contingent on payment.
It’s not contingent on payment.