Reader Question: Do You Earn Delta MQD and SkyMiles If You Don’t Book Through Delta or With One of Their Credit Cards?

A reader relatively new to the points-and-miles world emailed me a question that I’m sure other people — even some seasoned travelers — may have.

It pertains to Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, the Medallion elite status program, and Medallion Qualification Dollars (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. All information about the Chase products below was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was neither provided nor reviewed by the card issuer.)

Do You Need to Book Through Delta and Use Their Co-Branded Cards?

Here’s what reader “Bob” asked me:

Will I get MQD and SkyMiles even if I don’t book my flights directly through Delta and use my (Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card)?

Yes. Just make sure to add your SkyMiles number to the reservation. You can do that when the tickets are purchased or after. Heck, you can even do it up to nine (9) months after a trip is taken. But I recommend getting your SkyMiles number applied to the reservation ASAP.

Does Delta want you to book all your trips through them? Absolutely. Do they and American Express want you to use Delta Amex cards? Oh, heck yes.

But you don’t need to.

Here’s an example. One of my clients uses Egenica, a corporate travel agency, to book my Delta flights (or did, before COVID). They pay with a corporate Visa card. My client rep sends me my itinerary. I find the Delta confirmation number buried in the email. Then, I go to Delta, use the Find My Trip (or whatever it is) function, punch in the confirmation number and my name, then add my SkyMiles number. Voila. I then request my upgrades, pick my seats, etc.

I always received my MQM (may they rest in peace), MQD, and redeemable SkyMiles.

Think about how many people fly Delta for business travel. Not all of them book through Delta. They might use Amex Travel, the aforementioned Egencia, SAP Concur, and other companies. Most of those flyers make darn sure they’re getting their miles and elite credits.

Should You Book Through Delta?

Sometimes, you don’t have a choice. Someone else (employer, client, generous friend or family member, or other third party) might pay for your trip. You’re literally there just for the ride. How and where they book the ticket is not up to you. (Oh, well.)

To be 100% honest, I usually find it easier to book and manage Delta flights through Delta than online travel agencies (OTA). There are times when a Delta fare goes down. I want to rebook at the lower price and get an eCredit. But Delta tells me to pound sand and go ask my OTA that I used instead of them. The OTA is like, Yeah, we can book but you lose the difference. So, there’s that.

But I do that for maybe 50% of my Delta trips. Very rarely do I use a Delta Amex.

I use a Chase Sapphire Reserve® for most of my Delta flight purchases because it offers exceptional trip cancellation and interruption benefits. (I also usually apply some eCredits, too.) When I redeem Delta Amex Companion Certificates, I pay with my The Platinum Card® from American Express because it earns 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year).

Stop Being Afraid of NOT Booking Through Delta

I know some people who will always purchase Delta trips directly through Delta. Nor will they pay with anything but an American Express card. Chase who? Capital what?

I get it. I’m very set in my ways about certain things.

But you can sometimes get much better bang for your buck using other credit cards and their travel programs to purchase Delta travel.

Longtime readers of this blog know that I love The Business Platinum Card® from American Express simply because of its Pay-With-Points rebate feature. Cardmembers can earn back 35% of Membership Rewards points they use to pay for all or part of an eligible flight booked with American Express Travel. (A maximum of 1 million rebated points per calendar year applies.) An eligible flight is a First or Business Class ticket with any air carrier — or any class on an airline you select from a list of select carriers. At least, through September 17. Starting September 18, the benefit applies only to one eligible carrier you select.

Let’s say you select Delta as your preferred carrier. You find a Delta Main Cabin Classic fare for $500. You could apply 50,000 Membership Rewards points to pay for the entire trip (one point = one cent). Amex will deposit 17,500 points back into your Membership Rewards account within a few weeks. The trip only costs you 32,500 points. You still earn the full MQD and SkyMiles. (You don’t have to pay the full amount using points. You can do half and half, etc. But you’ll earn back 35% of the points you use. Rinse and repeat, use them again for another trip.)

That’s one reason I love using my American Express® Gold Card and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express. I can accrue a bunch of points and then use the Pay With Points rebate when I want.

Consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Members can apply points at between 1.25-2 cents each, depending on the Points Boost level offered. You can combine your points from cards such as the no-annual-fee Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Chase Freedom Flex® and still get those elevated rates.

Maybe you hold a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card — the card that pretty much pays you to hold it. Use the card’s annual $300 Capital One Travel statement credit to purchase a Delta ticket. Throw in some Capital One Miles, too.

Remember, too, that Virgin Flying Club and Flying Blue (Air France-KLM) sometimes have better Delta One award prices than Delta does.

Call me crazy. But using points and miles is usually better than paying cash. Not always. But usually. So get over your fear of leaving the Delta and Delta Amex tether!

A Word About Rookie Questions

We love getting “rookie” questions. News flash: others probably have the same question you do, too. Feel free to drop it in the Comments section below. Or email me if you’re too shy.

Final Approach

As long as your SkyMiles number is attached to your Delta ticket, you’ll earn MQD and redeemable miles (although you don’t earn SkyMiles on an award flight). Unless there’s some wonky loophole that a reader will point out, it doesn’t matter where your ticket is booked or which credit card is used.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, 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 Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please visit this link.