Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM) died around 12:00 AM on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. The feature was a casualty of the new SkyMiles loyalty program (bonus points if you didn’t laugh when reading the oxymoron “SkyMiles loyalty program”). Medallion members could convert their rollover MQM to Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD), redeemable SkyMiles, or a combination of the two before midnight on New Year’s Eve. To be fair: Delta didn’t need to throw Medallions a bone with their MQM, status-wise. They could’ve just said, “Here are a bunch of SkyMiles, which we consider a very valuable currency. See you on the planes, in the Sky Clubs and maybe at a Knicks game!”
But many of us had a fondness for MQM. We’ll miss them. So, before we lower the MQM casket into an Atlanta-area cemetery, I’d like to share my goodbye. This is going to be difficult. Please forgive me if I need a few minutes to gather my emotions.
Dear MQM,
Ever since your death warrant was signed in September 2023, I knew that I would miss you. But I finally rolled you over one last time. I converted you to MQD. You’re officially gone from my SkyMiles account.
The pain is raw and real.
You were so brave and graceful during those final 15 months, even though both you and your black sheep cousin, Medallion Qualification Segment (MQS), had dates with the reaper.
I remember what a fun challenge it was to earn you. I’d generate a bunch of spend on my Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards — just so I could meet the MQD Waiver and score tens of thousands of bonus MQM.
We sometimes gifted you to friends and family after spending $30,000 on our Delta Reserve cards.
My wife, other family members, friends, and I would take trips just to spend time flying on Delta and SkyTeam planes and earning as many of you as possible. Japan, Europe, crisscrossing the United States during a weekend — such great memories.
But on January 1, 2024, our relationship changed. That’s when the new, revenue-based program kicked in. I devoted less money and time flying Delta than in prior years. Instead of going out of my way to fly Delta, I started flying other airlines.
In 2024, I spent a few dollars here and there on my Delta Amexes — mostly on auto-renewals I forgot to switch to other cards. But the tens of thousands of dollars I would’ve spent now go on various Chase, Capital One, and Amex cards.
But gone are the days when frequent customers meant something. I simply can’t compete with the new fiercely loyal customer: perhaps someone who has never flown Delta and might not ever again.
Your rollover feature was something uniquely Delta. Even after we earned our status goals for a given year, we’d still sometimes continue taking Delta trips for that same year. We’d continue racking up spend on our Delta Amexes. Why? We enjoyed the experience but also the pursuit of amassing MQM to roll over. Rinse and repeat the following year. But those are just distant memories now.
Farewell, MQM. It was a pleasure knowing you. Perhaps we’ll meet again someday. But probably not.
May your memory be a blessing. Or something like that.
If you’d like to share your memories of MQM, please do so in the guest book Comments section. (If this were in person, we’d invite you to join us afterward for Starbucks coffee, Biscoff cookies, and, of course, ham sandwiches.)
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.
I really do wonder if this new system will stick. Look at the pushback British Airways has received. I’m anxiously waiting for the second quarter to see if there is a drop in elites or a large number of AmEx cancellations.
@FNT – The ONLY thing that will change Delta is massive, and I mean massive, Amex cancellations. At this point that is not happening and they are still growing their cards.
Cancellation won’t be the barometer. I for now at least are keeping the card for BOGO first class tickets and 15% discount on awards. But I went from spending 90K in 2023 to spending $100 in 2024 which speaks just as much as cancelled cards.
Congrats on your $10 MQD in Delta Reserve spending! 🙂
Seriously, tho, I kind of agree, except Delta and Amex are still raking in annual fees if people don’t cancel.
If it were going to change it would have changed by now.
Rene, you have a choice. You can vote with your wallet. I realize you are somewhat of a hub hostage at SBN but you can fly Allegiant, American, Breeze and United. It’s your money. It’s your sanity. It’s your choice.
@Steve – Oh I am now a free agent (see my old posts on the blog about giving up on the Delta status chase). In fact I am working on a post for the many, like me, who are now free agents and how we should enjoy the refreshing and reasonable priced flights vs. insane Delta SkyMiles awards.
Looking forward to seeing your new strategy. I am on the west coast so Alaska is an absolute no-brainer for loyalty – still distance based EQMs. Good luck to you.
Why fly Delta anymore. I am over a 2 million miles. The perks are awful. The mile needed for a flights nuts. You can’t upgrade from coach to first. They use to be a great airlines. It take more mile on Delta than any other airlines.
I don’t think the perks are awful. I can fly in a seat worth thousands of dollars more than I paid for it, for free, both ways. I know it can be challenging to find availability but I’ve rarely had a global upgrade go to waste. I also do get still get free upgrades from coach to first sometimes. The only thing I agree with this that the amount of miles needed for many flights has risen exponentially and unreasonably.
Should have added the ” Road Warrior” early career stage professionals to the RIP notice. If you don’t buy your tickets yourself( Corporations have their direct purchase programs) you get Nothing…… so much for building you your status through loyalty, Delta is a Baking company now. Thanks Eddy Bastion ( AKA “Shareholder over customers”)
Chris
What are your thoughts on gaming the Sky Club access now with the new changes?
Rod
2.9 Mil Miles, the last 100 thousand will be the toughest on my way to Lifetime Diamond !
Get elite status with a Sky Team partner and try to book all your Delta flights through that carrier?
I have three cards with Sky Club access (DL Biz Reserve, Amex Plat, and Amex Business Plat) and that should be more than enough.
But would you have skyclub access if you booked on partner airline?
And didn’t have your Delta SkyMiles number on the ticket? I believe you would. Check out SkyTeam Elite Plus (Non-Delta Members) on this page.
No longer rewarded for smart travel. Now it’s all money, the root of Delta falling down from the top. The lesson is, never forget who helped you get there. Rather than trample on them as greedy, selfish, king.
40,000 more to lifetime Diamond. What’s the fastest and least expensive way to get there? Have lifetime clubs so that is no concern. Self plus 2 anytime purchased more than 20 years ago at a great price. Still think global upgrades are worthwhile. Have been Diamond for many years but for last few platinum. Wife is now lifetime platinum. One of best deals was RTW fare in business for about 400,000 SM last offered in 2014 allowed 6 stops. My route included HKG SIN DXB Dubai FCO Rome LGW London EZE Buenos Aires with only flights on DL were SMF LAX at beginning and end of trip. Itinerary covered about 40,000 miles. Took a month to make trip as I had speaking engagements at every stop except Rome. Biggest problem was booking ticket with long wait 4+ hours to get to correct desk and than 2+ hours to book itinerary. Was worth it and would do again if fare were available. Should get my 40,000 in next few months as I need to make a few trips to Asia.
Have a Happy Blessed and Prosperous New Year to all and safe travels on the airline of your choice!
Sam
“What’s the fastest and least expensive way to get there?”
Fly a lot. Find good deals. Pay with points or miles. Use discounted gift cards. It’s now strictly miles flown — no more bonuses.
If you have flown that many miles to be lifetime Diamond, and want to be lifetime Diamond after all that flying, I would imagine that the thought of flying 40000 miles would be an exciting one although it may not be affordable. I know I would enjoy it if I could afford it – think of all those interesting places you could visit!
For 50 yrs I’ve been loyal to Delta. I spend $100k -$150k a yr on the $650. A yr reserve card. Now most restaurants & small shops add 3-4% up charge for using AMX. AMX says … they’re not supposed to do that but nobody’s stopping them. So Delta AMX makes $$ off me & kicks me to the curb. Jan 1 when I saw I’m
Not even silver for 2026 … holy s….! Loyalty means nothing to Delta. I’m looking for another card that has more reward pts. Then I’ll stop using my AMX card ….. fools run Delta!!!!!
I still like Amex Membership Rewards cards. Also a fan of Chase Ultimate Rewards® cards. This handy-dandy little CardMatch tool can help you find cards. (Affiliate link.)
Bottom line…it sucks! As a military or government traveler the gov purchases your tickets for official travel. That means as a loyal Delta member for 40+ years I get nothing for my loyalty other than the miles for which there are more than I can count. I always fly delta on my personal travel because hey I have miles ans status, but now after having status for countless years I will have no incentive and am starting to travel on other airlines at every opportunity. AMA, UNITED etc. And bailed on my Amex reserve. Why should I have any loyalty for a company that just screwed there most loyal customers. Feels like a bad divorce!
The article was well written and funny.
It’s unfortunate what Delta has done to its loyal customers. I have been a devoted Delta customer since the late ’80s, holding status from Diamond to Platinum Million Miler for over 10 years. However, for the past two years, I have been flying American Airlines, where I also hold Platinum status.
The miles required for award tickets are drastically different between the two airlines. Additionally, I can purchase a Basic Economy ticket on American and still receive all my baggage and upgrade benefits. I can also select extra legroom when booking, which used to be available with Delta Economy Comfort.
This year, I’ve dropped to Gold status from my Million Miler lifetime benefit. Since I didn’t earn Platinum for the first time in over a decade, I’m considering surrendering my Delta Amex Platinum card. To maintain Platinum status now, I would have to spend $300,000 to earn the required 15,000 MQDs, which is a significant amount at $20 per MQD. I find I am doing much better with my American Airlines Advantage Card.
Its a dance: I will now 1) try to secure elite status with a Sky Team partner, 2) try to book all Delta flights through that carrier, and 3) cancel my Delta AMEX cards, and secure Sky Club access with Amex Plat.
Overseas customers weren’t subject to MQD at all. Also, when Delta pushed up the Reserve card spending requirement from $25K to to $250K it pushed it out of reach for many if not most Reserve holders. Furthermore, it was frustrating to see a spending amount and an MQD amount which, if combined, would have allowed someone to reach Diamond, but since they couldn’t be combined, both “achievements” were lost.
With the new system, both of these annoyances went away, replaced by a new annoyance that the bar had been raised to a point where it was almost impossible to reach Diamond even with the ability to combine Amex spending and flying dollars. When they lowered the amount to 28K and gave a 2.5K head-start per card, as well as allowing choice benefits to plug the gap, I feel they addressed this issue. Compare this with a certain hotel chain that has a large spending requirement to reach its highest Ambassador status in addition to staying 100 nights. There are people that have stayed more than 300 nights that still haven’t made that status because of careful use of their or their company’s money. That hotel chain doesn’t currently have a way to get status through credit card spending and I’m sure that many of those 300 nighters would be happy if they did.
I know some of you feel that Diamond status shouldn’t be attainable just by spending on your card. When that does happen, it’s because of an off year in travel. Nobody would try to reach Diamond level purely by spending unless they planned to fly again and benefit from that status. Also credit card spending does contribute towards Delta’s profit. Companies survive by evolving and Delta has chosen to evolve into an airline and credit card company. I have no issues with that if it helps them to be a viable company that doesn’t have to cut corners to stay in business.
Ugh! The rinse and repeat and carryover miles just to see how quickly you could gain status for the next year. and no words. Taking a long trip just for the miles o the places you will go. What a time to be alive. MQMs will be missed! Just know that you were loved.
MQMs are still required for lifetime status. Delta needs to convert the metric for lifetime status to MQDs (with a conversion factor as BA is doing). Delta needs to credit all revenue channels towards both annual tier status and lifetime tier status.
It’s now miles flown — not MQM (unless Delta is still calling them MQM). But MQM could be earned through card spend and cabin bonuses, too.
A rose by any other name. Delta needs to use a common metric for annual and lifetime tier status. Credit card spend counts for annual tier status but not lifetime tier status? I’m not enticed.
I am just sad. Ok a little disgusted too. I never aapired to diamond but platinum has been a real benefit. I do not have the budget to spend $150,000 on my reserve card. So while with my rollover miles I made Platinum this year is the end. I like the ease if reaching a human on the elite line and the ocassional upgrade. I like Delta’s website and ability to access receipts etc. Oh well. 40 years. I have liftime Gold but that amounts to zero I think. Adios. Too bad. I will use my Chase Sapphiere more going forward.