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Delta Air Lines announced several changes to its Medallion program as part of its SkyMiles overhaul that recently took effect.
However, some of them were changes to already announced changes. And there didn’t seem to be a lot of concrete information we consumers could find directly from Delta.
A lot of that led to confusion. I updated a post the other day with some added clarification from a Delta spokesperson. Some of that information is included below, aprpos of questions and comments we received.
Can You Still Earn Medallion Status for 2024?
As we all know, this is the year 2024. But we are earning status toward the 2025 Medallion year.
If you earn Delta status during 2024, you can enjoy it through the rest of this year, all of 2025, and January 31, 2026.
Eligibility to earn Medallion status for the 2024 Medallion year ended on December 31, 2023. Whatever status (if any) you held at the end of 2023 is yours through January 31, 2025. (Unless you earn 2025 status at some point this year.)
2024 Status Extensions: 100,000 MQM Per Year
Delta Medallion members have three options when it comes to converting their (final) batch of rollover Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM):
- Convert them to redeemable SkyMiles at a 2:1 ratio
- Convert them to MQD at a 10:1 ratio
- Extend their 2024 status for 100,000 MQM per year
That final one prompted a lot of uncertainty amongst many a Medallion.
People wondered when the status extensions would take effect — especially if they earned the same status again during 2024 (again, earning toward 2025 status).
For example, my colleague Clint Henderson at TPG extended his 2024 Diamond status through January 31, 2026.
One of my friends sent me this very helpful screenshot showing he, too, can extend his status through January 31, 2026. (Actually, he rolled over enough MQM to extend his status for two years, but I wanted to keep this as uncomplicated as possible. 🙂 )
A Delta spokesperson confirmed the status extensions are effective for only the 2025 Medallion year — whether or not you earn status organically this year.
In other words, you might waste 100,000 MQM extending your 2024 status now — only to earn the same status (or higher if you’re Platinum, Gold, or Silver).
Reader Keith commented:
Delta told me today that:
If you were to choose the extension now it would be for 2025 and then if you earned it the extension would be wasted. If you wait and earn DM status for 2025 on your own and then go in and make the selection the extension will apply to 2026.
The Delta spokesperson told me that the information was incorrect. (To be clear, I’m not calling Keith a liar or anything like that. Rather, it seems he was given the wrong information.)
My friend who sent me the screenshot pointed out, “We don’t even know yet what Delta’s going to do with the Medallion program later this year.”
He’s right. Delta loves tinkering with its programs and rules. They might do something in this fall that really cheeses you off — and you then want nothing to do with Medallion status. Or you take the SkyMiles deposit now because you don’t think you’ll want status past this year — only decide later in the year that you do.
These are a couple of the reasons I highly encourage waiting until late 2024 to convert your MQM. (Unless you don’t plan on flying Delta as much as you once did.) I know extending your status or pad your MQM and having everything locked up for however many years is exciting. But don’t end up shooting yourself in the foot (or another applicable body part).
The 100,000 MQM 2024 status extensions are pretty generous. But I don’t think Delta wants to give out more free status years than they “need” to. Hence, status extensions are kicking in next year, no matter what.
I created a calendar reminder to alert me I need to convert my MQM. Knowing my travel plans and habits, I figure that December 20 should be a good date to convert them, or reassess the situation and reschedule the reminder for a few days later.
What About Choice Benefits?
Another question mark is the topic of Choice Benefits that come with the status extensions and annual status that comes with being a Million Miler.
A Delta spokesperson sent the below verbiage this week.
Status that is extended from the Rollover conversion option is complimentary status. If a Platinum Medallion member who received Status through the Rollover conversion option earns $28,000 MQDs, they will also receive Diamond Choice Benefits due to their earned Diamond Medallion Status. Diamond Medallion members who received Status through the Rollover conversion option will receive Diamond Choice Benefits, but will not receive Platinum Choice Benefits unless $15,000 MQDs are earned in the Medallion Qualification Year. Medallion members are limited to select Choice Benefits one time per eligible year per qualifying Medallion Status (Platinum and Diamond).
It’s almost identical for Million Milers.
Status that is received through the Million Miler Program is complimentary status. If a Platinum Medallion member who received Status through the Million Miler Program earns $28,000 MQDs, they will also receive Diamond Choice Benefits due to their earned Diamond Medallion Status. Diamond Medallion members who received Status through the Million Miler Program will receive Diamond Choice Benefits, but will not receive Platinum Choice Benefits unless $15,000 MQDs are earned in the Medallion Qualification Year. Medallion members are limited to select Choice Benefits one time per year per qualifying Medallion Status (Platinum and Diamond).
In other words, if you receive Diamond Medallion through a status extension or annual status from being a Million Miler, you’ll receive “only” Diamond Choice Benefits. (#FirstWorldProblems) If you want Platinum Choice Benefits, you have to earn Platinum status each year.
So, when do the Choice Benefits show up?
Reader RTD told us:
I did my conversion and extended for a year. The 2025 (Choice Benefits) benefits did not show up, so (I) reached out. The (Delta) agent said that Delta will be waiting a ‘little bit’ for the extension (Choice Benefits) to show — maybe summer — so as to not confuse 2024 (Choice Benefits).
OK, that makes sense — if that agent is correct.
But I think everything is subject to change. The status extensions and Million Miler changes (especially given any applicable Choice Benefits) are a pretty big undertaking.
I think this is a work in progress.
UPDATE: To everyone curious if you receive Million Miler Choice Benefits and Medallion Choice benefits, I’ve requested an official comment from Delta.
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So mine is a very particular use case I’m curious about. As a 2MM, I have “lifetime” platinum status which grants me the platinum choice benefit. But I also have enough roll over MQMs for 7 years of diamond status extension. So will I get the platinum choice benefit for my MM status and then also the diamond choice benefits for my 7 years of extended diamond status? Or will my lifetime platinum essentially be negated (since it’s complimentary) by the diamond status?
This is my situation too. Chris… any insight?
I have a guess but don’t want to say because I think it’ll only add to the confusion. As I told @frankiemorgan, I’m trying to find out the answer. There’s an email in to Delta corporate. We’ll see if they know the answer.
Would love to know for sure when the Choice Benefits will be given for my DM status through rollover. I am going to gift Gold to 2 people and if I do it with those I can get an extra year out of it for them but they both need it soon due to multiple trips so I am running out of town. Chris or Rene, any sources at DL that could for sure tell us?
We’d love to know, too!
I’m in the exact same position. My kids can’t get an Amex and don’t spend $5,000 on flights per year but I would like to get them Silver or Gold status to make traveling easier with seat selection, etc. I thought by extending I would get my CBs immediately.
I’m trying to find out.
Still lots of info to consider and you never know when they will CHANGE the rules!!!
I’m in the same situation as Chris. Love to know the answer.
The one ‘give’ that was nice from Delta was the bar lowering for MM, where my ~2.3M moves me from lifetime Gold to Platinum. Being in Sales in my job world, and keeping in mind Ed’s comments and backpedaling after the new rollout of ‘I guess we made a little too much change’ (or whatever it was exactly) do you Chris (or Rene) see them in turn ratcheting back up the MM bar? Just like that Sale Comp plan where when you sold X million in the year you got Y thousand as commission and for the following year’s comp plan you have to sell double for the same or less commission, where here like Reno theorized the ‘slow boil’ back to all the changes…
I have just short of 500K MQM and didn’t give the Delta gods enough $s last year to maintain DM so I’m at the PM level now through the normal MQM rollover and the with the 2MM+ and the new rule of the lifetime PM then it seems it’s best to just spend the MQMs on the DM upgrade with the remaining Sky Pesos and ride that to 31Jan2026.
Any better options? As Sky Pesos are just that then cashing in the MQMs for all miles doesn’t seem to make $ sense to me.
“…do you Chris (or Rene) see them in turn ratcheting back up the MM bar?”
I wouldn’t be surprised if they do at some point. But it’s not keeping us up at night. I like your plan about getting DM through Jan ’26.
Am i reading this right – if i accrue the MQD’s required for a status level during 2024 calendar year – i will obtain that status for remainder of 2024 + all 2025?
Currently platinum for 2024, only ~1500 MQD shy of Platinum for 2025, but once i add my rollover, will be at 28K MQD. I’ll get Diamond for 2024 and 2025?
Correctamundo!
So earning any MQD’s over the 28000 for diamond is useless right? Nothing to achieve or any rollover beyond that?
How many MQD you have is the sixth priority in the new upgrade hierarchy. I honestly don’t know how often that comes into play.