The above is my current elite qualifying totals for the 2023 Delta Medallion year. As you can see, thanks to ALL MQMs rolling over for the past two years due to the pandemic I have a sizable total and this even included over 160,000+ that rolled over from the year before the pandemic (how long ago was that – forever?).
So that begs the question: Will Delta Air Lines rollover all your MQMs again this year into next year? While not official yet from the airline I can with 99.99% certainty tell you NO they will not once again rollover ALL your MQMs.
What does that mean for us who care about Delta elite status? Just to bring everyone back up to speed you need 25,000 MQMs or 30 segments and $3000 in MQDs to reach Silver Medallion. 50,000 MQMs or 60 segments and $6000 in MQDs to reach Gold Medallion. 75,000 MQMs or 100 segments and $9000 in MQDs to reach Platinum Medallion. 125,000 MQMs or 140 segments and $15000 in MQDs to reach Diamond Medallion. For the first 3 tiers if you hold a Delta Gold, Platinum or Reserve (personal or business flavors) and spend at least $25,000 (not including annual fees) on the card or across many cards you have a waiver for the MQD part of qualifying. For Diamond you have to spend $250,000!
Why am I so sure Delta will not rollover all MQMs again?
There is no need.
If you have not noticed jets are really full this year. Not only that but staffing and other issues are restricting schedules. Oh, and there is one other little thing.
Delta is trying to make money again!
Oh yeah, that part. Take all that into account and you had better expect that in the early days of January rollover will happen but ONLY for the MQMs over (and or under) the elite level you have reached.
- (reminder: if you do not have at LEAST $3000 MQDs or the Amex waiver likely ZERO MQMs will rollover into 2023)
Since my math is so simple let’s look at my situation above. I have north of 230,000 MQMs right now (I will get more before year end as well as reaching over $15,000 in MQD spending). Let’s say I end the year with 250,000 MQMs. When rollover hits Delta will deduct 125,000 MQMs and then rollover 125,000 to start 2023. My MQDs will reset to ZERO as well as any Amex spend waiver (currently I hold no Delta Amex cards but will likely get one in 2023 again).
Your situation may not be as straight forward as mine. As an example you may be MQM rich i.e. also have 250,000 MQMs but only say $4,000 in MQDs and no Amex waiver. In this situation you will rollover 225,000 MQMs be Silver Medallion as of February 1st 2023.
With all of that said I DO expect Delta to once again let you buy MQMs, MQSs and MQDs sometime in Q4 with the “Elevate Your Status” program. I also think, since Delta after all needs cash, the prices to be beyond “Bat Crazy” numbers this year. I mean take a look at the price back in 2018 for a comparison (yuck) as well as in in 2017 as well as 2016, and in 2015, and in 2014, and in 2013, and in 2012!.
If you are struggling to keep your breakfast down after reviewing those numbers I do apologize but I hope that wake-up call makes you consider your options NOW if you are someone who cares about Delta status into 2023.
Once again getting back to “normal” (whatever that is as the pandemic continues) means simple choices to save your hard earned MQMs at a reasonable cost. Getting Delta Amex cards and before year end spending $25,000 on them is a very good option if you can not fly. IMO the better option is looking at some of the stunning Mileage Run options Chris has been posting about over the past week or so. I have done almost all of the runs he has posted over the past few years and all yield a ton of points and MQDs for very little money.
As regular readers know, I plan to be done chasing Delta status after this year. Next year I will get a Delta Amex card and reach the $25,000 spend waiver and thus be Platinum for 2024 and likely again for 2025 and then be done as I am finding myself flying other airlines as much if not more than Delta and it looks like this trend will continue for me. – René
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WOW!!! Its all about do-re-mi?! Not the customer……
Making money is important otherwise there wouldn’t be an airline or customers.
Yeah Elise, excellent logic. Let’s let everyone get diamond regardless of miles or spend. Let’s see how much sense that makes on board.
Sure expect so, toughest year I’ve had for upgrades even as a diamond who earned status in 2021 (rather than the rolled forward status that many received). This might be my last year as a Delta Diamond as I moved to Chicago this year which limits my opportunities to fly Delta conveniently without a stop in MSP SLC or DTW. Never been a fan of United which has a hub out here in ORD so it’s a bit of a tricky situation for me if I just become a free agent, continue pursuing Diamond, or go with United.
I wish they would allow MQDs and MQD to work together to gain Diamond status. If, say, someone earns 14K MQD and, say, $200K waiver I think that ought to qualify. I believe that with United it would.
And why should you? Earn it the real way like I did each year through the pandemic without the help of rollover MQMs. Tired of all these fake diamonds crowding our premium cabins and SkyClubs….
[removed offensive attack], Russell and everyone with your attitude.
I think you should be more clear, AFAIK, Delta always rolled over any miles you earned past your medallion status. (E.G. You earned 150,000 MQM and you spent $25,000 on an amex card, you would have 75,000 MQM rolled over)
I do agree they will not roll over all of your miles, but I see no indication that they will not return to the pre pandemic policy that any miles you earn over the medallion threshold will be rolled over to the next year.
@John – Did you read the post?
@John Must have missed the word in the title 🙂
@Jack – LOL yeah well…