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We’re getting lots of emails and comments from folks concerned about meeting their Delta SkyMiles Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) thresholds for 2025 elite status.
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About two months ago, I wrote a post called ‘”I Need Delta MQD! How Can I Earn Them Right Now?'” All of those methods are still valid, though time is ticking down very quickly for anything requiring you to take an actual trip you haven’t already booked.
One of the fastest and most affordable ways to load up on MQD is by taking advantage of “MQD Headstarts” offered by four Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards.
Each of the below Delta Amexs give cardholders a $2,500 MQD deposit every year:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Annual fee: $650. (Rates and Fees)
- Learn here how to apply.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- Annual fee: $650. (Rates and Fees)
- Learn here how to apply.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Annual fee: $350. (Rates and Fees)
- Learn here how to apply.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Annual fee: $350. (Rates and Fees)
- Learn here how to apply.
If you hold all four cards, that’s $10,000 MQD without leaving your house.
But When Do the $2,500 Hit Your Account?
Well, that’s literally the $2,500 question.
I checked the Delta Amex Reserve’s terms and conditions. According to Amex, it takes between 6-8 weeks for those $2,500 MQD to post.
Are you sweating? Don’t worry.
…if a New Eligible Card Account is opened during November or December of a Qualification Year, MQDs will be applied to the Qualification Year in which the Card is opened. MQDs earned during a Qualification Year are used to determine qualification for Medallion Status for the subsequent Medallion Year for the Basic Card Member.
(Bold mine.)
As we understand it, let’s say you open a new business or consumer Delta Reserve or Delta Platinum Amex card now. (Or upgrade from a Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express, Delta Gold Business American Express Card, or Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card to a Reserve or Platinum.) Expect those MQD to show up on your account in January or February, but apply retroactively as if it were 2024. In other words, they’ll count toward 2025 SkyMiles status. That’s what you’re trying to earn now. (Earning for 2026 SkyMiles status starts on January 1, 2025. I assume those MQD will show up sometime later in the year.)
Several years ago, I applied for a Delta Amex Business Reserve Card in October. But I didn’t meet the welcome offer’s minimum spending requirement until January. The Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM, may they rest in peace) bonus and SkyMiles bonus were awarded for the year prior. The MQM kicked me up another status tier and everything was fine.
Keep in mind this is the first year Delta featured MQD Headstarts. I won’t be surprised if there are a few hiccups at first. But there’s also the chance everything will work fine, too.
Final Approach
You can still take advantage of the MQD Headstarts for 2024 through the end of the year. I wouldn’t wait until the last minute. I’d rather upgrade a Delta Blue or Delta Gold Amex or apply for a new card ASAP just in case there are any hangups.
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® Platinum Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
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.
Chris, here’s an article request. Could you please compare the benefits of holding Delta Diamond tier status versus those of holding Flying Blue Platinum tier status? (You can exclude discussion of Delta’s choice benefits.) Thanks for the consideration.
In early Oct I opened a Delta Platinum card for my wife as she was about $2k short to make diamond. She had a couple of short flights scheduled and we are going to Japan as a family for the holidays. We needed 1 more upgrade certificate for all of us to sit upfront on the 14 hour flight. After about 4 weeks still no MQD credit; so I panicked and made a big charge on the card to get the needed MQDs – the card gives you 1 MQD per $20 charged, and those post within a couple of days. Sure enough, 2 weeks later the $2500 MQD posted, about 7 weeks from account opening.
Thanks for the data point, Michael. And have a great time in Japan!
Hi Chris,
I’ve made several flight purchases this month on my reserve card. My boyfriend has a SkyMiles account and my daughter does as well. I booked each of the flight with their skymiles number attached. When i look on my transactions list it doesn’t appear that I will get the MQD’s for their flights only for my own. Does Delta not give MQD’s to the cardholder and the mileage to the flyer?
Only the person traveling earns flight MQD and redeemable SkyMiles. You’ll get whatever MQD you earn from spending on the card — but not through them taking the trip.
I just carefully reviewed the Terms and Conditions of the Delta Skymiles Business Amex Platinum card that I applied for to meet my MQDs in late November. And it apparently DOES NOT offer the same policy of opening the card in November / December of the year. I’ve been sick about this issue since I realized it. Saw your article and was so relieved that it may work out. Now I feel sick again, and so disappointed. Is there anything you can to help shine the light on the inequity of these policies?! I’d be very grateful if you could!!!
I just read the terms and conditions for the Delta Business Amex Card and it says:
Effective February 1, 2024: Basic Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express Card Members (each, an “Eligible Card”), will receive two thousand five hundred (2,500) Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) which will be deposited into their SkyMiles account linked to an Eligible Card during each Qualification Year. Additional Card Members are not eligible.
Starting with the 2024 Qualification Year, MQDs will be deposited within 6 to 8 weeks after February 1 for existing Card Members. New Card Members and Card Members upgrading from another Delta SkyMiles American Express Card that is not eligible for the MQD Headstart benefit to an Eligible Card will be eligible for the MQD Headstart benefit. MQDs will be deposited within 6 to 8 weeks after an Eligible Card Account is opened, and thereafter every subsequent year within 6 to 8 weeks after February 1 while the Eligible Card Account is open; however, if a New Eligible Card Account is opened during November or December of a Qualification Year, MQDs will be applied to the Qualification Year in which the Card is opened. MQDs earned during a Qualification Year are used to determine qualification for Medallion Status for the subsequent Medallion Year for the Basic Card Member.”
I am short 2518 MQDs from Diamond, and have called both Delta and Amex. Both representatives have said that the bonus MQDs from opening an additional card will not be applied until 2025. Am I missing something from the information above? Do you have any suggestions?
If you don’t want to get a Delta Amex, then your only other options are to take a Delta partner run or take a Delta trip that earns you those $2,518 MQD.
The one thing I would remove is “If you apply in 2024 and are approved in 2025, my guess is you’d still get it for 2024”… If someone is approved in 2025 those MQDs would apply in 2025 onward. They would need to apply and be approved in 2024 in order for the $2,500 MQDs to apply for 2024.
Opened the a Platinum card account (already got a Reserve) in November. No sign of the MQD headstart yet. AMEX customer service is a mess; now they keep referring to the 2026 headstart that will be deposited starting Feb 1 2026; I have to explain everything again to them and get a response that they will check into the issue. Anyone facing the same problem?
I am waiting too. I specifically added the Delta Amex Platinum to kick me over to Platinum n 2024 for 2025. I applied and was approved in early December. Any news on this?
Haven’t seen or heard anything yet.
+1 – I got the Reserve on Dec 24, six weeks ago today, to hit diamond. Nothing yet. Delta told me to contact Amex, and Amex refused to act until it’s been eight weeks.
Urgent Alert to readers!
Chris, I applied for a second AMEX card on 12/20/24 in order o get the head start boost to elevate from platinum to diamond.
On Feb 1 2025, I received MQD head start of 2500 points on my old reserve card. Today, 2/2/2025, I received the head start for the new platinum I applied for back in December.
However, no upgrade to diamond. It was not retroactive. I’m on hold with Delta as I type, and will keep you posted.
Were you able to get your MQD boost for 2024? Having the same issue now and Delta doesn’t want to budge.
The Terms and Conditions says 6-8 weeks, so it could depend on when you were approved. We’re almost to the end of the fifth full week of 2025, so those MQD better start posting soon.
Thanks Chris & Parker!
I did end up getting the MQDs applied to the 2024 period (retaining status for the 2025 year). MQD’s posted on Feb 1st but my status was downgraded.
The first delta support agent I spoke with was unaware of them being applied to the calendar year the card was opened. I requested to be escalated to the next level of support and they quickly confirmed the MQDs would be applied for the calendar year. A few days after the change was reflected in my profile.
Hope all works out for everyone else! Happy Travels!
Thanks for the data point, Taylor.
“The first delta support agent I spoke with was unaware of them being applied to the calendar year the card was opened.”
Yeah, Delta needs to get a handle on their agents not being up to see on this. If they don’t, I can see it costing them credit card signups in November and December each year.