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“I Need Delta MQD! How Can I Earn Them Right Now?”

Chris Carley by Chris Carley
October 14, 2024
in Airlines
14
a white airplane with red and blue tail fin

(©iStock.com)

Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.

We’re getting to that point in the year when some people scramble to meet their Delta SkyMiles Medallion elite status goals. Maybe their travel plans didn’t pan out during the year as planned. Others might have reached their desired tier level — but are close to the next level of Medallion status.

We’re hearing from readers and seeing posts online asking how people can earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD).

So, here are some ideas that might help you.

Delta SkyMiles Medallion status bag (brag) tags.

Flying

You can earn MQD by flying not only Delta Air Lines flights but also trips on Delta partner carriers.

The great thing about Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM), may they rest in peace, was you could earn bonus MQM if you purchased premium cabin tickets (Premium Select, First Class, Delta One). Even if the bonuses were 25%, those still added up on long trips.

Unfortunately, Delta doesn’t offer bonus MQD for flights. An MQD is an MQD is an MQD. There’s no real “hack” or way around gaming the MQD system. Remember, someone can earn at least Gold Medallion status from taking just one flight — regardless of any loyalty to Delta.

But let’s say you already have some Delta flights booked during the next two and a half months. Check your itineraries and see if Delta offers any buy-ups to Premium Select, First Class, or Delta One. Because you’ll spend more money (or upgrade using SkyMiles), you’ll earn MQD for those upgrades.

Remember that flights on Delta partner carriers earn MQD based on a formula: a percentage of the distance flown — and that percentage is based on which fare class you purchase. You want to shoot for business class or premium economy flights. The key to this is crediting the trips to your Delta SkyMiles number.

A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner, tail number PH-BHG and inscribed with "The Flying Dutchman," is seen parked at gate D3 during sunset at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Salt Lake City, Utah.
A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner

For example, the point.me Mileage Run department alerted us to this Dubai trip that costs just over $1,500 — but earns over $4,800 MQD. Here’s another example: this trip to Rome costs $2,250 and earns $4,774 MQD.

No, partner trips generally aren’t as lucrative as they once were. But there still are some good finds out there. We blog them whenever we get a chance to go mileage run huntin’. But the point.me Mileage Run department is dedicated to creating personalized mileage runs for you. Sign-up is free for a point.me account.

In a few minutes, we’ll talk about ways to perhaps save a few bucks on your trips.

Delta Air Lines' Airbus A321neo cabin

Convert Your MQM

If you haven’t yet converted your rollover MQM, remember to do that before the end of the year. That might give you a sudden MQD boost.

Delta rollover MQM conversion to MQD
Delta rollover MQM conversion to MQD

Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards

There are a few different ways certain Delta Amex cards can help you earn MQD. (Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.)

MQD Bonuses

First, four Delta American Express cards annually each give cardholders a $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) Headstarts:

  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Current annual fee: $650. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link. )
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Current annual fee: $650. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Current annual fee: $350. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link.)
  • Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Current annual fee: $350. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please visit this link.)

If you hold all four of those cards, that’s $10,000 MQD without stepping foot on a plane.

a hand holding a credit card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve

Here are the current welcome offers for each card:

  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on the card within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. (Terms apply.)  Learn here how to apply.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Earn 80,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending $10,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within six (6) months of being approved for membership. (Terms apply.) Learn here how to apply.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. (Terms apply.) Learn here how to apply.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: Earn 70,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new card within six (6) months of being approved for membership. (Terms apply.) Learn here how to apply.

Please note that if you’ve held the personal/consumer Delta Reserve Amex that you aren’t eligible for the personal/consumer Delta Platinum Amex’s welcome offer.

Spending

The Reserve and Platinum cards earn MQD for reaching various spending thresholds.

  • Delta Reserve Amex
    • Earn $1 MQD for each $10 in eligible purchases
  • Delta Reserve Business Amex
    • Earn $1 MQD for each $10 in eligible purchases
  • Delta Platinum Amex
    • Earn $1 MQD for each $20 in eligible purchases
  • Delta Platinum Business Amex
    • Earn $1 MQD for each $20 in eligible purchases

We recently blogged a targeted promotion awarding bonus MQD for credit card spending. That might come in handy.

a beach with buildings and blue water

Choice Benefits

Diamond and Platinum Medallions can select an MQD deposit as a Choice Benefit.

  • Diamond: $1,000
  • Platinum: $500

(Thanks for the reminder, Bill!)

Delta Vacations

I’ve never booked a trip through Delta Vacations but may consider giving it a go at some point.

Exclusively with Delta Vacations, you’ll earn $1 Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) per $1 spend on flights, hotels, rides and activities. Which means with just one vacation, you could earn Status! …

The primary passenger who books the package you will also receive MQDs on nonflight portions of the package, such as hotels, rides, cars, and activities.

You can read more here.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express against a swimming pool background.

Reduce Your Costs Using Statement Credit Opportunities

Several credit cards offer statement credits that can help you save money on your travels. These can come in helpful with purchasing airline tickets, upgrades, etc.

For example, Chase Sapphire Reserve®* holders may earn up to $300 in statement credits each cardmember year for eligible travel purchases.

The The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express both offer members up to $200 each calendar year for eligible incidental purchases charged to their cards. Consider applying Delta gift cards toward some of a trip’s cost and then paying the cash balance with your Amex Platinum or Business Amex Platinum Card. We’ve had great luck with the cash balance crediting back to our cards.

Final Approach

The race is on to earn MQD for Delta status (well, at least for some people). How are you earning MQD toward status?

 

 

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Business Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.
*All information about this card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was neither provided by nor reviewed by the card issuer.

Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.

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.

Tags: Delta Air Lines
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Earn $75 on Delta Stays Bookings! (And Maybe Stack with Other Statement Credit Offers!)

Chris Carley

Chris Carley

Chris Carley is the owner, editor, and lead writer of Eye of the Flyer (formerly known as Rene's Points).

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Earn $75 on Delta Stays Bookings! (And Maybe Stack with Other Statement Credit Offers!)

Comments 14

  1. Bill says:
    7 months ago

    One other way.
    You can garner MQD’s via a Choice Benefit Selection.
    For 2024 Diamonds get $1000 and Platinums get $500
    2025 levels are increasing. If you hit platinum for 2025 already you can get $1000 MQDS. Diamonds can get $200 for next year.

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      7 months ago

      Thank you for the reminder, Bill! I updated the post.

      Reply
  2. Glen Gronseth says:
    7 months ago

    The answer to this question probably is obvious but I’ll ask it anyway. I just used my AmEx Reserve for Business card to buy two Delta tickets (myself and wife) for flights next March. I assume that I’ll earn 2024 MQDs for the total purchase price and we’ll each earn 2025 MQDs for taking the flights. Correct?

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      7 months ago

      Correct!

      Reply
  3. Kathy says:
    7 months ago

    Are there any other ways to get the $75,000 Am Ex spend to attain the unlimited Sky Club access besides spending on the card?

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      7 months ago

      Nope. If you want to hit $75k on the card, you have to spend $75k on the card. FWIW, you can still enter the Sky Clubs after you burn through your visit rations. It’ll cost you $50 for a day’s worth of visits. Or you can get another card that comes with Sky Clubs access, too, and use both to give you extra visits.

      Reply
  4. Jim says:
    7 months ago

    If I open a Delta Biz Plat card now, will I get the $2,500 MQD Headstart now (for 2025 Medallion Year) and again next year (for 2026 MY)? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      7 months ago

      Yep, you should.

      Reply
  5. Rod Koch says:
    5 months ago

    If I buy a Delta vacation package which promises MQDs, do I get MQDs in the year I purchase it or in the year I complete the vacation?

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      5 months ago

      After you complete the vacation. Per Delta:

      Generally, posting of MQDs and miles to a SkyMiles Member’s account depends on when Delta receives information related to the qualifying purchase. For Delta Vacations miles and MQDs, please allow up to 8 weeks after completion of a Delta-marketed flight for flight miles and MQDs to be deposited in SkyMiles account and 8 weeks after completion of eligible car rental or hotel stay for miles and MQDs to be deposited in SkyMiles account. No MQDs will be awarded for any portion of the package not consumed by the passengers in the booking.

      Reply
  6. Lori says:
    5 months ago

    I am 220 MQDs short of keeping my current status for next year. If I book a flight for January 2025, will I earn MQDs now for the purchase price of the flight or not until the flight is taken? Trying to figure out how to keep my status and if I need to open a credit card.

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      5 months ago

      You’d earn the MQD after the flight. Your best options now might be to open a credit card or if your time permits, just take a trip and earn the $220 MQD. Treat yourself to a fun day!

      Reply
  7. D Rob says:
    5 months ago

    If you purchase a delta flight on your AMEX Reserve, how soon would you get MQDs for that Purchase of the delta flight?

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      5 months ago

      That purchase’s post date should be the date you buy the ticket, maybe a day or so later.

      MQD for the flight flown won’t post until after you’ve taken that flight.

      Reply

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