10x Increase to Delta Diamond MQD Waiver Spending Requirement ($250k Instead of $25k)

Delta has just sent out an email to SkyMiles co-brand credit card holders and has utterly eviscerated the value of the Medallion Qualification Dollar waiver to achieve Diamond Medallion Status. Effective January 1, 2018, the spending requirement will increase tenfold from $25,000 per year to an utterly enormous $250,000 per year to earn the MQD waiver for Diamond Status.

What about Silver, Gold & Platinum Medallion?

Fortunately, if you are after Silver, Gold, or Platinum, you have escaped the Delta ax, and there is no change to the MQD waiver threshold. You still only need to spend $25,000 per year on Delta co-brand credit cards to earn your Medallion Qualification Dollar waiver.

Starting January 1, 2018, the Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) Waiver for Diamond Medallion Status is increasing. The MQD Waiver for Diamond Medallion Status is currently earned by spending $25,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year on a SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express. It is being adjusted to $250,000 in a calendar year.

Our Take

Well, this should come as no surprise for any SkyMiles members, Delta has a habit of devastating devaluations. While the norm is for Delta to spring these actions on everyone, this time the change is actually shocking since it is a tenfold increase in the spending requirement, which ultimately will leave quite a few people less than pleased. If you want to keep your Diamond status with Delta and you're unable to meet this credit card spend requirement, you'll need to make sure you hit your MQD requirement of $15,000.

Check out the discussion on our Facebook Group, Award Travel 101.