Plenty of readers and I had questions about Delta Air Lines’ changes to their Medallion earnings and Sky Club airport lounge access.
A Delta spokesperson graciously answered several questions I sent. (When I say “graciously,” I genuinely mean it — don’t take that with my usual dash of snark.) Here are the answers!
(Some questions and answers were edited for clarity and context.)
Question: Will spending on the Delta Gold Amex and Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card count toward MQD earnings?
Answer: No. Only money spent on the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve Cards will count.
Question: Will MQD earned above and beyond a Medallion tier threshold rollover from 2024 to 2025?
Answer: No. MQD will not roll over.
Question: Can Delta Reserve, Delta Business Reserve, Amex Platinum, and Amex Business Platinum cardholders purchase Sky Club entry after exhausting their respective card’s complimentary visits?
Answer: No. A few points to keep in mind:
- Reserve card members will still get two guest passes per year
- The visit allotments are for the named cardholder and cannot be used for companion guests.
- Diamonds can get club access through their Choice Benefits selections
- Once a member spends $75,000 on Delta Reserve Amex, they get club access for the rest of that Medallion year, and the following Medallion year.
- Individual and Executive Sky Club memberships can still be purchased with cash or SkyMiles
Question: Do PAID authorized users on Delta Reserve, Delta Business Reserve, Amex Platinum, and Amex Business Platinum cards still receive Delta Sky Club access?
Answer: Paid, authorized users with cards in their own name will get their own visit allotment for their use.
Question: Being a Million Miler is now the third tie-breaker in the complimentary upgrade hierarchy. How is the priority based? For example in a tie-breaker scenario, if “Bob” is a Three-Million Miler and “Steve” is a lowly Million-Miler, will would “Bob” get the upgrade priority?
Answer: Yes.
Question: If people downgrade or cancel their Delta Reserve or Delta Platinum cards, will they lose their 2024 Medallion status earned through the $25,000 (or $250,000) MQD Waiver?
Answer: No.
Final Approach
I hope that helped answer at least one or two of your questions. It certainly did for me.
Regarding Sky Club access, I think my family’s play in 2025 will be to keep one Reserve card (my wife and I currently have separate accounts) and add the other one as an authorized user. That’ll be cheaper than holding two primary cards.
Our plan is to fly Delta when feasible and affordable — but shift more trips to other airlines. We certainly won’t come close to meaningful status and won’t have to worry about upgrades. We’re already spending on cards that will generate better returns for us. If we really want First Class, we’ll pay (or redeem) for it.
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I have been trying to figure out my plan as Delta is the only airline I can fly unless I drive 90 minutes each way to the next closest airport.
I wish Delta would have at least announced improved benefits for spending $35,000 for diamond.
I can easily be a diamond in 2025 with the MQM conversion to MQD. Assuming my 2025, which is a big if given the economy, is like 2023, I would come close to $35,000 MQMs in 2025 for diamond status in 2026.
At the same time, I could see Delta increasing the threshold every couple years. I think we have to assume it will be $37,000 or $40,000 within a couple years.
Alternatively, I could keep flying Delta and easily qualify for platinum. I book first-class and business-class on longer flights. So I would basically get the same benefits of diamond.
Another option is keep flying Delta but credit to Air France/KLM Flying Blue. I’ve completely switched to Air France for my Europe flights. Air France business-class is far superior to Delta. But if I did this I would have to purchase first on all domestic flights since I’d forgo upgrades.
@Chris your last paragraph sums up my plan starting in 2025 as well. At least we have a year. And, since I’ll be flying other airlines I’ll have shorter, direct flights to and from a number of my usual destinations.
If I’m reading this correctly, if I were to spend $75k on my Reserve card in February of 2025 I would have uncapped SkyClub access for the balance of 2025, all of 2026, and January of 2027. If so I’m starting to warm to the idea, even though no such ridiculousness is currently required for a card that has a steep annual fee for what has been uncapped SkyClub access and the ability to pick up soon to be extinct MQMs since the card entered the market.
Would this uncapped Skyclub access with the $75k spend also apply to the authorized users on my card?
Question on authorized users for the cards – am I understanding you right that an authorized user (the one that costs $175) on a Delta Reserve gets 12 SkyClub visits and the primary cardholder also gets 12 SkyClub visits?
Unfortunately, it’s 10 visits, not 12.
Next, yes, that’s what the Delta spokesperson told me.
Thank for this article but….nothing is going to make me change my mind. There were far better ways to address the SC issue than punishing the Reserve card with a ridiculously low number of visits. I’m off to United come renewal time next year. And, as I’ve said before, in the interim that purple card is never coming out of my wallet.
I 100% think the Amex Platinum card should’ve gotten the visit limits before the Reserve card holders were kicked where it hurts.
I read on Delta’s website that Amex Platinum cardholders will be limited to 6 SC visits per year. They will also be able to get unlimited access with $75,000 spending.
@Tim Quinn – Yes. See entry faqs on Delta.com here: https://www.delta.com/us/en/delta-sky-club/access#:~:text=Effective%20February%201%2C%202025%2C%20Platinum,2024%20and%20each%20calendar%20year
Quoting for a question:
————-
Question: Will MQD earned above and beyond a Medallion tier threshold rollover from 2024 to 2025?
Answer: No. MQD will not roll over
———————-
But can you clarify the situation for the current year:
Will MQD earned above and beyond a threshold rollover from 2023 to 2024? That seems a pressing issue to clarify.
Thank you for reaching out to Delta to obtain the information, Chris.
MQD don’t roll over now and won’t, unfortunately.
On the AU and their visit allotment for their use, does that mean or did DL say that when the primary Reserve cardholder exceeds $75K spend the AU gets the same club access for the rest of that Medallion year, and the following Medallion year?
Delta did not say if that would apply to AUs. My guess? No.
Doesn’t it work that way now for Centurion Lounges? Why would it work differently?
AU’s don’t accumulate their own spending, it goes toward the primary cardholder…(that said, AU’s obtain MR points for the primary without anything for themselves…yet they obtain pre-identified Platinum Card benefits)
“Why would it work differently?”
Because we’ve never seen a cap placed on lounge visits — so we weren’t sure if the rules would be different. Please forgive all of us who wondered.
“AU’s don’t accumulate their own spending, it goes toward the primary cardholder…(that said, AU’s obtain MR points for the primary without anything for themselves…yet they obtain pre-identified Platinum Card benefits)”
Yes, I’m aware, thank you.
Does anyone know what the mqm conversion will be. I think we can exchange our rollover MQMs for either skymiles or MQD early next year. But what is the “exchange rate”?
Check out this post.
20 MQM = 1 MQD
2 MQM = 1 redeemable SkyMile
Individual and Executive Sky Club memberships can still be purchased with cash or SkyMiles – Does this mean if I pay the Regular fee, NOT Executive Membership, of $695.00, I get “UNLIMITED” access?
I see no limitations on the number of visits for Sky Club members.
Thank you. Whew!
Chris: I too am forgoing trying to maintain my Diamond status with DL (2024 will be my 10th year – 2024 already qualified). Since I am in my own business and semi-retired, trying to keep up with DL seems ridiculous.
NOTE: I just found out I have to fly out to SFO the first week in October and bought my 1st class ticket on UA. DL prices were astronomical compared to both UA and AA. For a similar flight schedule DL was almost double price. And, I went far enough into DL booking to see if they were almost sold out – they were not. 1st class is more than 1/2 empty. I guess they think their Biscoff cookies are worth that much!
I am now considering cancelling my DL Platinum Card once we get well into 2024 (just in case DL makes additional customer friendly reversal changes). Can you recommend a web site that best compares credit cards, or recommend another card(s) (i.e. Chase Saphire) which is good for accumulating points which can be used on multiple carriers/providers?
A few different posts to which I’ll steer you.
First, there’s Which Travel Programs Are Transfer Partners for BOTH American Express and Chase Points?
This post features which partners are part of Capital One’s program.
Finally, this post about the Citi Premier card gives a little insight into Citi’s program.
I’m working on a post comparing all four.
Can we get a definition of Visit to a Sky Club. I’m assuming they are keeping the same definition as today so each entry to a unique sky club counts as a visit.
I fly out of PBI so pretty much always have a connection in ATL. So a typical business trip for me would be:
PBI (Sky Club visit) –> ATL (Sky Club visit) –> PHX
PHX (Sky Club visit) –> ATL (Sky Club visit) –> PBI
This would be 4 visits in a single round trip if I’m counting correctly. But hopefully they might change it to multiple entries on the same travel day (wishful thinking).
@Michael K – You are correct. 4 visits with your example. So with Amex Plat card you are using 66% of years visits in one trip!
Unless I missed it, have the Centurion lounge visits been capped when accessing with the reserve card?
No change to Centurion Lounge visits.
Question…do I understand if you have a paid SkyClub membership there is no limitation on visits, no matter your ticket class or status? Is that correct?
That’s my understanding. I didn’t see any language in the terms and conditions that limits access.
For me, being from Seattle, I preferred Delta over other airlines but now, Im out too. Going to drop both Delta platinum cards and one Delta reserve. Already switching travel to other airlines. Mostly Alaska….
I prefer to stay independent on my rental cars and hotel stays so that part of Delta’s message doesn’t work for me.
Chris, will reserve card holders still be able to pay $50 for companions to get club in 2024? What about 2025 when visits are capped? If yes, will those visits count towards the ten allowed for the cardholder? Thank you!
“…will reserve card holders still be able to pay $50 for companions to get club in 2024?”
After the two guest passes are exhausted, yes.
“What about 2025 when visits are capped? If yes, will those visits count towards the ten allowed for the cardholder?”
Visits are only for the cardholder. Again, once the guest passes are used, you should be able to pay $50 each for up to two guests. Once your 10 visits are exhausted, you’re SOL until the next year — or if you spend $75k.
Biggest loss is the MQM Bonuses on my DL AMEX Reserve. Why would AMEX allow the removal and thus does not reward me to spend more?
Oh, they’ll reward you for spending more. If you spend $350,000, you can get Diamond status!
One thing I have not seen mentioned in your posts or any of the comments is that the MQD will only be earned on the actual flight charge by Delta. On their site, Delta says, “Earn $1 MQD per $1* spent on the ticket price for a Delta-marketed flight operated by Delta or by one of our partner airlines. *Excludes taxes, fees (including government-imposed fees), Basic Economy and similar fares, gratuities, rooms service, other booking charges, and insurance, as applicable.” Many times the taxes & fees can exceed the actual flight charge. That significantly reduces the MDQ earned in 2025. I believe that currently the entire ticket price (including taxes & fees) is credited as MDQ. (I wonder if Basic Economy ticket is currently given MDQ. I do not know since I do not fly that class.) I hope my interpretation of the MDQ value is wrong since I have seen no one else reference this.
Taxes and fees do not count toward MQD. Only the base fare and carrier-imposted surcharges.
Chris, did the Delta rep happen to discuss any further on the conversion MQM to MQD or RDM? Specifically as it relates to the MQD will they only be able to be used for the 2025 Medallion Year? I know there will be no rollover MQD moving forward but wasn’t sure about during the conversion process.
Check out this post.
20 MQM = 1 MQD
2 MQM = 1 redeemable SkyMile
One thing nobody has talked about are the Delta One lounges that are supposed to start opening in 2024. If the Delta One lounges open, the normal Sky Club lounges should be significantly reduced at key airports. Makes you wonder if the Delta One lounges are being held back.
I also wonder what this means for 360. Delta already used 360 to reward its top spenders. What happens to 360 going forward? It still doesn’t appear codified as a status officially higher than diamond.
I have the Delta AMEX Reserve card. How much do I have to spend on that to maintain my Platinum status and does that amount have to be spent on Delta or is it any spending?
@Dottie – This year? You need $25000 for the MQD spend for waver plus 75000 MQMs.
If you’re looking ahead to 2025 status (based on what you do in 2024), you’d need $180,000 in spending on your card if you never bought a plane ticket. $1 MQD = $10 spent on Reserve card.
I abandoned the ham sandwich romper rooms called lounges long ago. Nothing special about them any more. Delta loves to fly now it blows. Been doing cheapest business class or premium economy I can get regardless of airline. They all stink nowadays.
As ATLanta residents, my wife & I have been loyal Delta customers since prior to the launch of ORIGINAL Frequent Flyer program in 1981.
Gradually, we have both “earned” Platinum Medallion AND Million Miler “status” through combinations of flights and Delta AMEX Reserve Card spending.
We almost exclusively flew Delta knowing we were likely paying more, but the benefit seemed to outweigh the cost difference.
NOW, all that has changed.
Delta has given us The Finger, so we are prepared to reciprocate since our loyalty was not reciprocated by Delta.
We’ll use up our skymiles this year but once our Platinum status expires, we’re gone. We’ll also dump the expensive Reserve Card (unless program adjustments are made).
This may be Delta’s “BUD LIGHT” moment.
Stay tuned…..
Exactly what we’ll be doing. Cancel the Reserve card and start looking at whoever has the best price. I haven’t flown anything but Delta in decades. Platinum Medallion this year, but looks like it’s not worth the trouble any more.
Bud Light: Top this!
Delta: Hold my beer…
Disappointed in Delta for the first time ever.
If you hold two Reserve cards (personal and business) will the combined spend count toward the $75K threshold for unlimited Skyclub visits? Thanks!
Not as far as I know.
I disagree. I hold both reserves and my combined spending on them count towards the $250k DM exemption. Why would DL/AMEX hold it against me if I spent $37,500 on each? The right answer is no one needs 2 Amexes any longer. I got both to maximize my MQD boosts which are no longer relevant. One Amex will be perfectly fine going forward.
I have a lifetime Skyclub membership from 22+ years ago from Northwest airlines long before merger with Delta and cost was $1050 which brings my cost to <$50 a year and I have unlimited access and can bring in 2 guests and as far as I know that should remain the same. Also have access to KLM AIR France Korean Air and other afiliated Sky team members. Am happy with that purchase. Have been Diamond since beginning up until this year and am only Platinum. Will see what happens with crowding in clubs. Happy Flying to all and we still have lots of Sky Miles to enjoy. Blessings to all!
Sam
It looks like spend with Delta Vacations counts toward MQD’s, correct? So, how about spend with Delta Cruises (https://cruises.delta.com/)? If that counts, I’m in.
@ELeeLiam – Here is your answer: https://eyeoftheflyer.com/will-cruise-bookings-earn-delta-mqd/
One thing I would like to add that the PAID authorized user of the Delta AMEX Reserve Card (aka the additional card holder) can also have unlimited SC access once the primary card holder fulfilled the $75,000 charge; and the $75,000 charge is the combined charges from both the primary and the additional cards. EX: BOB is the primary card holder of a Delta AMEX Reserve card. He gave Tom an additional card. Bob spent $40,000 in 12 months on his AMEX card, and Tom spent $35,000 on his additional card. Since their combined spend is $75,000 in BOB’s Delta AMEX Reserved Card account, both BOB and TOM will have unlimited SC access the following year with their Delta AMEX Reserve card. That is my understanding.
Great article. I fly a lot of partner airlines and recently noticed that either the SkyMiles earned or MQD’s earned have dropped in a few categories starting 1/1/24.
I flew SkyTeam about 75% of the time this year. That will likely drop by a considerable amount depending on how next year goes.
Just buy an executive Sky Club membership, use it for business purposes, and expense the cost on your taxes.
Living in SLC I am challenged by UA and others not having the deep schedules Delta provides for business travel but these changes and the insanely predatory pricing I have been seeing from Delta make it not feel like that big a loss. A bit of a bummer giving up on Diamond but I bit the bullet and status matched on United and I am Gold for life since I have 3.5m mikes so there will be some limited good treatment. I also fly to Merida, Mexico quite often and UA through Houston is a better route then DL and AM through Mexico City. Looking for the silver lining….
Question on the FREE authorized users for AmEx Platinum. Assuming my wife ($175 additional fee) and I (primary holder) meet the $75K annual spend, would the two free authorized users (our children, in this case) also have unlimited SkyClub entry? If not, any recommendations as to how a family of four can all enter a SkyClub?
Free users are SOL and don’t have access.
If your kids are 13 or older, they can be added as AUs for $195 each and get their allotted six visits.
Wow, paid AUs don’t qualify for unlimited visits if the cardholder spends $75K? If I’m understanding you correctly, that’s a major annoyance. What’s a family of 2+ supposed to do??
Chris,
Any information on whether award tickets will continue to earn MQD under the new program at 1/100 of the Skymiles used?
For example, starting in 2022 they would credit 385 MQD on an award redemption requiring 38,500 Skymiles, etc
thanks in advance
I have a question in to Delta.
I decided to check for myself on Medallion line (only as a last resort, no details in the fine print that I could find, and I don’t like calling the reps for general info.)
Rep said they would continue the 1/100 MQD for Skymiles charged for award travel in 2024
So for my 300K residual MQM (net after subtracting 125K MQM for diamond for 2024) I can get either
no travel + 15,000 MQD
150,000 Skymiles worth of travel, roughly $1500-1800 cash value + 1,500 MQD at 10:1 for award travel
Per the conditions I have until Dec 31 2024 to decide, or my MQM automatically convert to MQD at 20:1. Being able to defer the final decision is going to be helpful.
I have lifetime Silver for 1MM but it’s going to be tougher to hit 2MM for lifetime GOLD with about 200K distance miles left to go … Lifetime Plat is a never event now.
Others have heard different from the Medallion line. What a mess!