All the legacy airlines' frequent flyer programs offer the chance to earn elite status. With SkyMiles, this is known as Medallion status. Increasing levels of status can be earned from flying, credit card spending, hotel stays, and much more, unlocking valuable benefits along the way. As a member of the SkyTeam alliance, your status includes equivalent benefits with all alliance members.

Medallion status

There are four levels of Medallion status offered - Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond (excluding the unpublished level). In theory, the more you fly, the higher your level will be. Understanding how this is implemented in practice, however, is complicated.

Delta Air Lines has a system of Medallion Qualifying Dollars, Miles, and Segments (abbreviated as MQD, MQM, and MQS). These are used to determine each level. We will look in more detail later at how these are calculated.

To earn each level, you need a minimum amount of MQDs (reflecting how much you spend) plus meet an MQM or MQS target (reflecting how much you fly). In summary, you need the following:

• Medallion Silver: $3,000 MQD, plus either 25,000 MQM or 30 MQS
• Medallion Gold: $8,000 MQD, plus either 50,000 MQM or 60 MQS
• Medallion Platinum: $12,000 MQD, plus either 75,000 MQM or 100 MQS
• Medallion Diamond: $16,000 MQD, plus either 125,000 MQM or 140 MQS

Photo: Vincenzo Pace / Simple Flying

There are two ways to qualify to avoid paying the full MQD. The first is by being a foreign resident, i.e. your primary residency is outside the US, which allows you to skip the MQD requirements altogether. The second is to score an MQD waiver, this can be done by spending $25,000 for Silver, Gold, and Platinum, or spending $250,000 for Diamond status on select Delta co-brand American Express cards.

Each status level gives the corresponding status with the SkyTeam Alliance:

• Medallion Silver: SkyTeam Elite
• Medallion Gold: SkyTeam Elite
• Medallion Platinum: SkyTeam Elite Plus
• Medallion Diamond: SkyTeam Elite Plus

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.

Medallion status tier benefits

The purpose of holding elite status in any airline program is to receive benefits and perks when flying. SkyMiles offers the following main benefits when flying Delta Air Lines, each tier adding new ones:

Medallion Silver:

• Earning level of 7 SkyMiles per dollar spent (40% bonus)
• Eligibility for complimentary upgrades to first class or Comfort+ seats (lowest priority level), starts clearing 24 hours before
• One free checked bag
• Complimentary preferred seating on select full-fare tickers

Medallion Gold:

• Earning level of 8 SkyMiles per dollar spent (60% bonus).
• Free same-day flight changes
• Priority security screening and baggage handling
• Delta Sky Club or other SkyTeam lounge access when traveling internationally
• Next highest complimentary upgrade priority, starts clearing 72 hours before

Photo: Delta Air Lines

Medallion Platinum:

• Earning level of 9 SkyMiles per dollar spent (80 bonus)
• No fee for canceling award tickets and re-deposit miles
• One Platinum benefit choice (a choice of four regional upgrades, 20,000 SkyMiles, a $200 Delta Air Lines voucher, gifting Silver Medallion status to another member)
• Higher complimentary upgrade priority, clears 96 hours before

Medallion Diamond:

• Earning level of 11 SkyMiles per dollar spent (120% bonus)
• Three Platinum Diamond choices (choices include an upgrade package of eight regional or four global upgrades, 25,000 SkyMiles, a $200 Delta Air Lines voucher, gifting Gold Medallion status to another member, and membership to annual Delta Sky Club pass)
• Highest complimentary upgrade priority, clears 96 hours before

Photo: Delta Air Lines

In addition, the corresponding SkyTeam status offers several benefits when flying any SkyTeam airline, which includes SkyPriority lanes for security and immigration, lounge access, and free checked bags.

Earning Medallion status

As we noted, status is earned through a combination of Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs), Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs), and Medallion Qualifying Segments (MQSs). These are earned from flights, but it is not as simple as just earning one mile or dollar per mile traveled or dollar spent. The following is a brief summary of how MQDs, MQMs, and MQSs are awarded on Delta Air Lines and on partner flights.

Flying Delta

When flying Delta Air Lines, MQDs are earned at the rate of one MQD per dollar spent on the ticket. This includes the base fare and airline-imposed charges but not any government taxes and fees. For the lowest priced economy fares, this earning can be very low.

MQMs are earned based on the distance flown and the fare class. Each flight will earn a percentage of the miles flown, with a minimum of 500 MQM. This excludes the lowest Basic Economy fares, which are not eligible for MQMs. MQSs are simply earned as the number of segments flown (each separate flight gives one MQS). Again, the lowest Basic Economy fares are not eligible.

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

Earning when flying partner airlines

With partners, Delta does not usually have access to the underlying ticket details and price paid. MQDs are instead therefore based on the distance flown. You can earn with all SkyTeam partners plus other partners such as LATAM and WestJet.

There is a conversion table for each airline, where MQDs are earned based on the flight distance and the booking/inventory code of the ticket. This can range from zero (some of the lowest booking classes earn nothing) up to 60% (for first class). MQMs are earned in the same way, with a percentage of the distance flown for each booking class – up to 200% MQM for some business and first class fares. Each carrier has a different table so ensure you look at your booking class before crediting over to Delta since buying a slightly higher fare may yield far more MQDs and MQMs.

Photo: Cristi Croitoru/Shutterstock

Earning on award tickets

Delta SkyMiles is unusual among frequent flyer programs in allowing reward flights to count for status. These can only be earned on Delta Air Lines flights, which earn MQDs at the rate of the total miles redeemed for the flight divided by 100. MQMs are earned at the rate of 100% of the distance flown for main cabin (none for Basic Economy fares) and 150% for premium cabins.

Earning through credit card spend

Credit card spending is not a standard contributor to status earning (in contrast to American Airlines AAdvantage, for example, where elite status can be earned through partner credit card spend and minimal flying). The best you can do is achieve the MQD waiver discussed above, by spending $25,000 for Silver, Gold, or Platinum status, or $250,000 for Platinum status. However, only personal Amex co-brand cards and select business cards qualify.

Photo: Delta Air Lines

Don't mix up

It's important to not mix up MQDs with any miles you mean. Delta awards miles on all flights taken with itself, SkyTeam airlines, partners, hotel bookings, cruises, Lyft rides, Starbucks purchases, and many other places. However, these do not qualify for elite status, only as miles that can be used to redeem for flights or other products.

Only going up

Every year, Delta increases the thresholds to earn Medallion status, and 2024 will see the latest increase including MQDs of $20,000 for Diamond status. Since status only lasts one year, you have to continue flying the carrier to enjoy benefits yearly, until you hit lifetime status.

Do you have elite Medallion status with Delta SkyMiles? What benefits do you find the most useful? Would you like to discuss or share tips on collecting MQD and MQM? Feel free to discuss further in the comments.