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If you want to earn elite status in the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program, you'll want to familiarize yourself with Medallion Qualification Dollars, or MQDs for short. MQDs are Delta's only status-earning metric, and you won't find yourself among the airline's elite ranks unless you earn a lot of them.
Here's everything you need to know about Medallion Qualification Dollars and how to earn them.
What Is a Medallion Qualification Dollar?
Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) are Delta's sole status-earning metric. MQDs track how much you've spent on Delta flights, vacation packages, and select co-branded American Express credit cards.
The only path to Delta elite status is to earn MQDs.
Travelers used to have an option of earning Delta status via Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs), but not anymore. These metrics were removed in 2023's overhaul of the SkyMiles program.
Medallion Qualification Dollar Requirements
To earn Delta Medallion status in 2026, you need to meet the following MQD requirements:
- Silver Medallion: $5,000 MQDs
- Gold Medallion: $10,000 MQDs
- Platinum Medallion: $15,000 MQDs
- Diamond Medallion: $28,000 MQDs
How to Earn Delta MQDs in 2026
Delta SkyMiles members have a handful of primary ways to earn MQDs. Here's an overview.
Earn by flying Delta and partner airlines
Flying earns you $1 MQD per dollar spent on the ticket price for Delta-marketed flights operated by Delta or one of its many partner airlines. Unfortunately, Delta basic economy fares do not earn any MQDs.
Partner-marketed flights earn Delta MQDs based on the distance of the flight, fare booking class, and applicable earning rate. This rate varies between Delta partners.
For example, take an Aeromexico business class ticket from Seattle (SEA) to Santiago, Chile (SCL) via Mexico City (MEX). This routing covers a total of 12,833 flight miles, and Delta uses a 30% MQD earning rate for non-full-fare (also known as “discounted”) business class tickets. That means you'll earn around 3,850 MQDs round-trip — regardless of how much you pay for the ticket.
Flying is still the most straightforward way to Delta MQDs and elite status. However, if you book a lot of travel through Delta, you'll want to hold a co-branded credit card. It'll expedite your path to status immensely.
Delta credit cards
Select Delta American Express cards offer bonus MQDs for spending plus a “headstart” just for holding the card. Presently, you can earn MQDs on the following Delta cards through the so-called “MQD Boost”:
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn $1 MQD for every $20 spent on the card.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn $1 MQD for every $10 spent on the card.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: Earn $1 MQD for every $20 spent on the card.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Earn $1 MQD for every $10 spent on the card.
And if you hold one of the aforementioned Delta credit cards, you'll also receive $2,500 “MQD Headstart” per card you carry in your wallet. The MQDs earned from the headstart will count towards the current status qualification year, and you get them each year you hold the card.
For example, if you carry the Delta Platinum Amex or its small business equivalent, you'll be 25% of the way to Delta Gold Medallion when the head start posts to your SkyMiles account — assuming you haven't earned any MQDs elsewhere. Or, if you happen to have both of the Platinum-level cards, you'll be halfway there.
$350Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar at hotels
- 2X miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
$650Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
$650Rates & Fees
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1.5X miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after spending $150K per calendar year
- 1 mile on every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Related: Can I Receive Welcome Offers From Multiple Delta Amex Cards?
Earn on award redemptions
If you don't want to pay for a revenue fare, you can still earn MQDs on award tickets. You'll earn 1 MQD per 100 miles redeemed on Delta- or partner-operated award flights.
To illustrate this, if you book a flight for 100,000 SkyMiles, you'll earn 1,000 MQDs. This method of earning MQDs is only helpful if you have enough SkyMiles in the first place.
Need more SkyMiles in a hurry? Remember that you can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio to top off your redemption — or fund your account with a Delta miles headstart.
Just note that basic economy award tickets do not earn any MQDs.
Related: Earn While You Burn — Airlines That Offer Elite Status Credits on Award Travel
Book travel through Delta Vacations
When booking Delta Vacations packages, you'll earn $1 MQD per dollar spent on the total package value, excluding taxes, fees, and basic economy fares. If you're after Medallion status and in need of a vacation, booking through Delta might be the way to go.
Take advantage of MQD promotions
Delta occasionally runs promotions that let you earn bonus MQDs on hotel, rental car, and vacation rental bookings. Depending on the offer, you'll earn these bonus MQDs on top of the standard $1 MQD per eligible dollar spent.
These promotions only come around a few times each year, so they're worth taking advantage of when they do.
Final Thoughts
Although some argue that Delta's elite status has declined in value in recent years, Delta Medallion Status still offers plenty of worthwhile benefits for loyal travelers. If you want to enjoy those perks, it's important to understand the qualification requirements — including how to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs).
After all, MQDs are the only way to earn Delta Medallion Status.
(Terms apply)
- You may be eligible for as high as 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Resy Credit: Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card for eligible purchases.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: With your $120 Rideshare Credit, earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment Required.
- Check your first bag for free on Delta flights worldwide and get a second bag free when flying domestically.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee every 4 years, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.§
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $350 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar at hotels
- 2X miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
