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Happy New Year! We’re already several hours into 2025 — which means time is a-wastin’ for earning Delta SkyMiles Medallion status in 2026! (2024 was a Leap Year — we had a whole extra day. But there’s no such luck for the next three years.)
Even though we couldn’t earn Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM) last year, there was still a mad rush during November and December to rack up Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD).
The Medallion program is still MQD-based. Last year served as an introduction to “the new way.” But there are some differences this year that could affect how — or if — you earn Medallion status for 2026.
Quick Caveat: We’re Earning Towards 2026 Status
Before we get into the meat of today’s post, let’s (try to) make sure everyone is synched up to the Delta calendar.
- We’re still in the 2024 Medallion year. That ends on January 31, 2025. Your 2024 status is good through then. You also have until January 31 to select your Choice Benefits.
- The 2025 Medallion Year starts on February 1, 2025, and lasts until January 31, 2026.
- However, the 2025 Medallion Year earning period is over.
- The only exception we know of is for people who opened up new (or upgraded to) Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards featuring $2,500 MQD Headstarts. Amex says that accounts opened in November and December will receive those $2,500 in 6-8 weeks and be deposited retroactively. So, don’t panic if your Delta Amex MQD bonus isn’t yet in your account.
- However, the 2025 Medallion Year earning period is over.
- From now through December 31, 2025, we’re earning toward 2026 Medallion status.
Got it?
Also, the MQD thresholds remain the same (for now):
- Silver: $5,000
- Gold: $10,000
- Platinum: $15,000
- Diamond: $28,000
Rollover MQM: Gone
This isn’t a major problem for some. But it’s a big loss for others.
Delta’s final MQM rollover last year helped some people reach Medallions status this year — or extend their 2024 for multiple years. (I know of people who had enough MQM to extend Diamond Medallion status through the early 2030s!)
But MQM and their rollover option died around midnight Atlanta time on New Year’s Eve. This could be a challenging year if you didn’t extend your status and needed rollover MQM to make Medallion for 2025.
MQD Choice Benefit
Delta gives 2025 Platinum and Diamond Medallions an interesting option with their Choice Benefits: the MQD Accelerator.
Platinums can select a $1,000 MQD deposit toward 2026 status. Diamonds can choose a $2,000 deposit.
This is potentially quite tasty for year-to-year Diamonds.
According to the Choice Benefits terms and conditions, “This Choice Benefit may be selected more than once per Medallion Year.”
Diamonds can select up to three (3) Choice Benefits and one (1) Platinum Choice Benefit. (Sorry, Platinums. You’re still stuck with just one selection.) That means Diamonds could opt for up to $7,000 in MQD deposits through Choice Benefits alone. That’s 1/4 of the way toward requalifying for Diamond (unless Delta raises the MQD requirement this year, which I expect they will, though I’d love to be wrong in this instance).
If you’re chasing MQD, this is a far better return than the bonus SkyMiles (35,000 for Diamonds, 30,000 for Platinums), Delta Vacations Experience ($500 for Diamonds, $400 for Platinums), or Delta Travel Voucher ($350 for Diamonds, $300 for Platinums).
You might want to wait until later in the year to make your selection. If you reach Medallions status organically during 2025, then the MQD Accelerator does you no good and you’re wasting Choice Benefits.
Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards — But There’s a Wrinkle
This doesn’t change from last year. But I foresee something becoming a sticking point for some people (myself included).
Four Delta Amex cards give members $2,500 MQD deposits just for holding the cards. You can earn up to $10,000 MQD just through $2,000 in credit card annual fees.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Current annual fee: $650. Rates and Fees.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Current annual fee: $650. Rates and Fees.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Current annual fee: $350. Rates and Fees.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Current annual fee: $350. Rates and Fees.)
That’s great, right?
Well, sure. But there’s an anecdotal policy that you can’t hold more than five (or maybe six, depending on when you were approved for your sixth) Amex cards with preset spending limits. Examples are the Delta Amexes, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, the Hilton Honors American Express Cards, and the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Cards. That 5-6 limit is total across consumer/personal and business credit cards.
Meanwhile, there seems to be a consensus that you can hold up to ten cards with no preset spending limits (The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, American Express® Gold Card, American Express® Business Gold Card, etc.)
If you hold all four of the MQD Headstart Delta Amexes, you have room for one more preset spending limit Amex card.
I know someone who applied for a Delta Platinum Amex so they could get the MQD Headstart — but was denied because she holds too many Amex cards. And this is someone who wasn’t eligible for the welcome bonus (thanks, family rule). But she applied anyway just because of the MQD Headstart. She was like, Here, Amex! Take my money!
Alas, no.
So, unless Amex relaxes their card restrictions, keep that in mind when considering if you want a Delta Amex.
The Reserve and Platinum Delta Amexes still earn MQD for each eligible dollar spent on purchases on each individual card — not across cards.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Earn $1 MQD for every $10 spent on eligible purchases
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- Earn $1 MQD for every $10 spent on eligible purchases
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Earn $1 MQD for every $20 spent on eligible purchases
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Earn $1 MQD for every $20 spent on eligible purchases
Other Ways to Earn MQD
I think we’ve covered all the ways to earn MQD without flying. 🙂
Keep in mind these ideas:
Partner Trips
If you want to take international trips this year, consider flying a Delta partner (i.e., Air France, KLM, AeroMexico, SAS, Virgin Atlantic, etc.) and crediting the trip to your Delta SkyMiles number. You’ll earn MQD based on a percentage of distance flown — and that percentage is determined by which airfare class you purchase. (We just posted a Los Angeles to Dubai trip the other day. It earns $4,400 MQD on airfare just over $2,000.)
We highly recommend the point.me Mileage Run team. (Your trip doesn’t have to be a mileage run. Just tell them how long of a trip you want and for how many people. They’ll get to work.) They know the tips and tricks to book trips from your home airport.
Keep in mind that the Amex Business Platinum awards a 35% Pay With Points rebate on First and Business Class trips booked through Amex Travel. (Earn up to 1,000,000 rebated each calendar year.) Consider using that for Delta partner trips. You’ll still earn the MQD (as long as you credit the trip to your SkyMiles number) but spend far less.
Flying Delta (Points, Cash, Gift Cards)
Last and least, there’s spending money on Delta flights.
Keep in mind that upgrade buy-ups also earn MQD. So, if you buy Main Cabin and see what you think is a sweet deal for a First Class upgrade, that will earn you MQD.
In addition to cash, Delta SkyMiles and gift cards also earn MQD. Those are decent-ish alternatives to spending actual cash. (We try to blog Delta gift card sales when we see them.)
Plus, Delta flights booked through credit card travel services (i.e., Amex Travel, Chase Travel℠, Capital One Travel, etc.) using their miles/points or statement credits earn MQD.
Final Approach
Even though we’re in year two of the “new” Medallion program, there are a couple of changes that will affect how some people earn — or don’t earn — status for 2026.
What’s your plan? Please tell us in the Comments section below.
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 American Express® Gold Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please visit this link.
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.
Hypothetically, I’m a retired $1,000,000 mile member. I believe this gives me annual Gold Medallion Membership for the rest of my life. What incentives do I have to earn MQMs if I can’t travel as much as I did when I was working. It seems that there is little incentive to get a Delta Amex Card if It will be very difficult to make 75,000 miles ir 15,000 MQMs.
What an I missing?
And the heck of it is, you can’t even earn MQM anymore!
You still earn miles towards your MM status, which were the MQMs in essence. The thing that bothers me about Delta, once you hit $28k, you don’t get anything else for more spending (unlike AA and UAL). I spent $43.5k on Delta, no extra benefits. That is one thing they should do, since they have constantly degraded their FF program
Happy New Year Chris! Between travel and Delta c/c spend and boosts, I should be good getting to Platinum once again. However, like October 2024, once I hit Platinum, I will switch to another card and possibly other airlines to fly. I used the time frame to get to JetBlue Mosaic status. Very short sided by Delta not to rollover MQD’s earned after desired status level is achieved.
HNY, Jeff! How are you liking JetBlue?
I like it much more than American and same as Delta. We are in CT and JB has non stop flights to Florida and LAX in the summer. I like getting More Space Seats at time of booking and the 4 Mint upgrades as a Mosaic 3. We have been able to purchase more space flights to and from the west coast for around $150 and we purchase the middle seat. $450 all in for 3 seats for 2 passengers. 3 free drinks and good snacks. Is it Delta first class? No, but very comfortable and enjoyable crew.
I’m not sure if I agree that the MQD Choice Benefit is such a great value. At best, it’s a deferred reward and dependent on whatever you actually choose for your FUTURE status tier.
If you use those MQDs to obtain Diamond for 2026 and THEN select GUCs and are actually able to redeem them for a reasonable ticket, then you will have redeemed the value of those MQD selections.
Of course, being able to redeem GUCs is the big IF here. And dont forget the cost of sitting on hold for hours at a time while someone tries to determine if there’s any availability, how to issue the ticket, or god forbid, interact with a partner airline.
I tend to think that the AMEX statement credits represent some of the best value Choice Benefits these days.
Value is subjective for stuff like this. Some people behind the eight ball on their credit card payments might value the Amex credit more than other options. Some people might rarely travel intentionally and not give a flip about GUC. But I appreciate your response and take! Thank you!
British Airways recently announced that it is switching to a revenue-based tier status scheme. Importantly, the metric for lifetime tier status will be the same as for annual tier status qualification. For those with X number of lifetime tier points under the current scheme, a conversion factor will be applied to arrive at the number of lifetime tier points under the new scheme.
Delta ought to abandon MQMs in favor of an MQD-based lifetime tier status metric.
That being said, why does one seek Delta tier status? Cue – Rene
Hi Chris happy
New year to you and company!
Thank you for your informative new year news!
This year,
2025, I am Diamond as well as next year I’ll remain Diamond without having earned platinum before
…BUT I am 25,000 miles away from 2MM-=lifetime platinum status.. So I’ll be looking to
Attain those 25,000 miles via tush in seat.
Any suggestions will be Mighty appreciated!
Question…. Once I attain 2MM
= platinum for life, will I receive the single choice option for being platinum annually? I cannot
Quite Figure that one out. Always appreciative
Of your wonderfully informative posts! More soon! All of the very best to you and yours,
Nina
Nina, I got to 2MM last July and since then have traveled a lot but having the exact miles flown vs even rounding it out is causing me to never get to 3 MM at this rate… Jax-ATL is now 385 miles vs 500 the old way ( towards MM status) and only $35 $mqd’s From July till now traveling Coast to coast and International=25,000 MM status miles sad…
Hi Nina, Happy New Year! I’m glad you asked the question bc I’m approaching 2MM status as well. It’s a bit confusing regarding choice benefits and what’s next. Honestly I’m holding my breath bc I’m sure our beloved Delta will move the goalpost on us somehow ♀️
You should receive PM Choice Benefits. This post might help.
I need an attorney to explain all the choices. Does Delta pay for the attorney?
That’s funny!
@Elizabeth – You know Delta is not really an airline right? They are a southern law firm that flies a lot of jets! 🙂
I was sitting here trying to figure out what he was trying to explain to me. I have a bunch of Mike’s but it is so confusing how to get the most value using them and the most comfort
The post is about how earning status is slightly different in 2025 than it was in 2024. Sorry if it wasn’t clear. What exactly is your question?
A Delta chat representative stated they have internal resources that are more accurate than the official Delta website and stated that the status I earned in calendar year 2024 does not carry into 2025. ie. I was Silver status in 2024, earned $5000 MQDs in the 2024 calendar year, and in 2025 my SkyMiles dashboard says “SkyMiles Member” instead of Silver Medallion. Despite what the official Delta website says:
“2025 Medallion Status is earned by reaching the spending activity for the 2024 calendar year (January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024); 2025 Status is valid from the day it is earned until January 31, 2026.”
The chat representative says that his internal resources are more accurate than the official website and that he is sorry but I won’t be Silver in 2025. I asked them to quote or provide their reference and they said they could not, and that I would have to file a complaint.
Official websites are publicly published. That sounds like they’re tempting fate with lawsuits.
If by “chat” you mean the text message feature, please see if you can take a screenshot of the conversation. I’d love to get in front of Delta corporate people and get a response.
I am Gold for life because of MM status. Seems I should start at the gold level to start earning MQD for the new year.
Sadly, you don’t start at gold and then amass miles toward the next tier. You get gold whether or not you collect enough miles for silver or gold. For earn status you started zero and work your way up just like any other medallion member. Rather disincentivizing isn’t it? But, take solace, when I became a million mile or they told me I was silver for life. Not sure why all of these other people are gold for life… But I also got a really nice Tumi carry-on bag
Here is how I plan to meet the MQD Requirements for the 2026 Diamond Qualification (it is not that hard):
1) 2500 MQD Headstart from DL AMEX Reserve
2) 2500 MQD Headstart from DL AMEX Platinum
3) 2000 MQD Accelerator from my Choice Benefit
4) ~15000 MQD from 3 mileage runs (JFK-CDG-HND) roundtrip.
5) 4600 MQD from flying to various international destination to pickup reposition cruises.
Approximate MQD from the above=26,600. The total cost to obtain 26,600 MQD is less than $6000
One thing that Rene did not mention… One of the Choice Benefit is $700 worth of AMEX statement credit. My return rate from flying on a partner airline such as AF is 2X. Therefore, if I buy a $700 ticket on AF using my AMEX and let the choice benefit covers the cost of that ticket by meaning of the statement credit, then I just earned myself 1400 MQD with Delta’s money!
A word from those who are retired or don’t work anymore, meaning that you no longer have an expense account from work to pay for your Delta flight anymore… why not combine your hobby with flying because flying does not always have to be about mileage run. EX: I enjoy cruising and seeing the world; so I combine my international cruises with MQD earning opportunities. Yes, since this blog also covers “Frequent Floaters”, why not combine fun and mileage run with some of the inexpensive reposition cruises, which generally has the lowest cost per day cruise fare. For example, I recently booked a Royal Caribbean 14-nights cruise in 2026 from BCN to MIA as a solo traveler, my net cost is $38.95 per day (one can’t even dine out at that price.)
Chris here. I wrote the piece. No need to blame Rene 😉 .
You’ve spent $6k. How much are you getting out of Diamond tier status? The actual economic value?
I just used my Global Upgrade cert to upgrade my JFK-LAX-Brisbane flight from PS to DeltaOne for 2 PAX. Initially, I booked PS using 136000 miles=$1360 per pax. At time of applying my Global Cert, DeltaOne cost $6059 per pax; so my net Diamond benefit for this trip alone is $4699 per pax. Therefore, for 2 PAX, I ended up getting $9398 worth of benefits just from this trip alone, which by itself, have already paid for the $6000 that I put out. I still have 2 more Global Upgrade cert that I have not used yet; so they should worth something. I also fly about 10 flight domestic trips out of personal necessity such as visit family, see friends, leisure travel … etc. Those are not mileage runs. I usually book Main, but being a Diamond I get Comfort+ right away at time of booking. I estimate that this should also worth about another $1000. Net, net… I feel that I do get my money worth.
Are these annual boosts or one time upon approval for the card?
1) 2500 MQD Headstart from DL AMEX Reserve
2) 2500 MQD Headstart from DL AMEX Platinum
Annual. Check out this post for more info. You can earn up to $10k MQD each year just by holding one of each card.
SilverCruiser, this is helpful!! Thanks for the breakdown
How do you pay for the 3x mileage runs resulting in 15k MQD? 1.5M delta points?
@Caleb – We have posted about this many many times how to use Delta partners to earn many times MQD vs price paid. If you need help POINT.me can help you!
yeah in some strange ways, I feel that earning DM through the cards + organic card spend, choice benefit MQD booster, GUC upgraded KLM flights and some well timed/priced partner J mqd earning flights will in some ways make qualifying for DM easier. I’m not sure I need 4+ cards or anything to make it happen but as long as partner earning charts remain as they are (and you can go straight from main to J on KLM with GUCs/earn decent MQDs), there are still efficient and economical-ish ways to get to 28K this year. Time will tell, but I’m actually not terribly stressed about it for whatever reason and i’m flying WAY less for work than i did pre-covid
I’m dropping Delta altogether.
Probably some good information on this article but because of the insane amount of ads, jumping all over the screen, forcing my screen on my phone, my laptop and iPad to scroll automatically to the bottom every 10 to 15 seconds I’ll never know. And for that reason, I’m out.
If you have that many problems on all your devices and no one else has complained about it, that sounds like something is wrong with your devices.
I have the same issues. It’s your junk site full of ads – not our devices.
Sorry to hear that.
My same comment. Frustrating trying to read your content with ads flying the pages up and down
Thanks — I’ll bring this up at our next meeting.
Your website is impossible to use in a mobile browser
How so?
Hi. Great article. Can you pls breakdown how you can get 7K MQDs using choice benefits with one card? I’m building my strategy given 2025 is my first year as a Diamond and want to retain status next year as well but couldn’t follow the math. Thank you!
Hi, Diamond, and thanks for the kind words. $7k MQD is using ALL of your Platinum and Diamond Choice Benefits on the MQD option. Even though that’s possible, it might not be a fantastic choice. But it’s subjective. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The problem with holding so many of the credit cards is the same of annual fee. I have been able to get to platinum and have it for 2025. Will likely have some status in the future but I am still trying to figure out the best way for me since I have now retired and on limited income. Been playtime for a few years and skymiles for much longer. Most have come from using the reserve Amex for spending.
Honestly, I personally stop caring for getting status in 2026. Being Platinum in 2024/2025 and Gold 2022/2023. Having flown so many domestic and international flights each year. Here are some reasons why I don’t care for it anymore.
1- Barely upgraded to First class organically. I got upgraded twice (from having a Platinum status and a Reserve card) out of 10 trips. The others, I needed to use RCUs for First class.
2- When I was Gold, i got zero upgrade lol.
3- Delta onboard service, meal and amenities are mediocre.
4- Delta leases their aircrafts and flying some old ones like A330 and 757 for transatlantic flights, they don’t use A350 (for Asia Pacific only) shame.
5- choice of benefits. I got 4 RCUs but was able to use two only because the other two were waitlisted again and again and redeposited. It wasn’t able to utilize. Wasting 2 of it.
There are much better ones than Delta like KLM/AirFrance/Virgin Atlantic.
6- Tired of food and drink in their lounges and crowds same thing over and over. I better spend money on what I care to eat, relax and not free buffet style.
7- High annual fees. Total fees for all cards I have with Amex is over $2000.
8- Award tickets are so crazy. It requires a lot of miles for premium select and delta one suit. Airfrance opera seats suite are much better and high design and 50,000 points or less for one way.
I am now can fly United and Singapore Airplane to maintain Gold. As Star Alliance Gold, you can go to the United Lounge and Star Alliance partners lounge with one guess for free. Do not need to have an exclusive credit card to access the lounge like Delta. Again, i don’t care for the lounges but it is good to have this benefit available. There are more negative about Delta but this could be the main reason that you want to consider about your choices.
Be aware, I had $1700 over my gold status. At the beginnings of 2025 I lost the $1700 and my status start again as $0. Appear that I lost the MQD from last year and they are not transferred to 2025. In this case the $2500 receive from Amx is just $800 only. Do not spend $ on Amax. They are cards that gives yo 2-3 points per $1 or gives you cash back, and you are more flexible to select any air line you like!
Delta isn’t rolling over MQD.
I am a Diamond with 2 Choice Benefits remaining. I used one Choice Benefit on Global Upgrades which definitely was worth it as it save me $1600 (booked main and am now flying Premium Select (First Class). My question that I need help with how to best use my other two Choice Benefits. I always like the Delta Club but it is now two Choice Benefits so I’m considering buying the access for $695 and then choosing one of my benefits as the $700 credit which covers the Lounge Access cost and then use the last Choice Benefit for something else which puts me ahead. Does that make sense and do you agree?
If you plan to use the Sky Club more than 15 days a year, sure, that works. Otherwise, you might be better of just sticking to a Reserve card.
Looks like the only good benefit is earning miles for dollars spent. At the end of the day, for me anyway, having miles to use is more beneficial than status with Delta. If I’m in a jam and need to get a ticket, it’s nice to be able to use miles instead of putting more debt on the Reserve card.