Delta Gift Card Offer: Bonus SkyMiles (and MQD?)!

Select credit card holders can earn bonus Delta Air Lines SkyMiles– and maybe Medallion® Qualification Dollars (MQD) — when purchasing Delta gift cards — thanks to a new, targeted promotion.

Delta Gift Card American Express Offer

Delta SkyMiles American Express Card members can earn 2,500 bonus SkyMiles after spending at least $500 on one or more eligible purchases of Delta gift cards at the US website delta.com/giftcards/amex.

The offer expires on July 14, 2026. As with other Amex Offers, terms apply, and manual enrollment is required.

It appears only Delta SkyMiles cards are targeted.

The terms say both physical and electronic gift cards are eligible. Purchases must be made in US dollars and the offer isn’t valid on purchases shipped outside the US. (That’s not a problem for most of us.)

Again, you must purchase these through delta.com/giftcards/amex. The offer won’t work if you buy the Delta gift cards from grocery stores, big box stores like Target or Best Buy, or an online gift card vendor such as eGifter or MyGiftCardPlus.

What’s This About Bonus MQD?

If you hold one of four certain Delta Amexes, you might earn MQD for these purchases. Remember that four Delta credit cards earn bonus MQD for certain spending thresholds.

• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
  • Earn $1 MQD for each $10 in eligible purchases
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
  • Earn $1 MQD for each $10 in eligible purchases
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
  • Earn $1 MQD for each $20 in eligible purchases
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
  • Earn $1 MQD for each $20 in eligible purchases

Whether gift card purchases count as a “cash equivalent” may technically be a question mark. But I’ve never had a problem, so I think it’s a safe bet to assume you’ll earn the MQD. (That would be a horrible move of Delta and Amex to penalize people for that.)

Are These Considered Delta Purchases?

When I visited the gift card website, I noticed that CashStar is the merchant. So, these purchases should not code as Delta Air Lines spending. In other words, you won’t earn your card’s 2X-3X for Delta purchases. You’ll get the 1X for “all other eligible purchases.”

Do Flights Purchased With Delta Gift Cards Earn SkyMiles and MQD?

Yes! You’ll still earn applicable MQD and redeemable SkyMiles on flights purchased with your Delta gift cards.

The big upshot with the Delta gift card Amex Offer is earning the bonus SkyMiles and MQD on your gift card purchase. Whether or not that’s worth the time, effort, and floating your money until you use the gift card is up to you.

Happy shopping, earning, and traveling!

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.