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Update: Booking window closed on March 31. If you booked your flights by this date, you can travel through September 4, 2023.
Delta has taken a page out of AA’s playbook and is running a promotion allowing its members to earn Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQD) for activities other than flying or credit card spending. The latest promotion sees SkyMiles members earning MQDs for hotel stays and car rentals booked through Delta.
This promotion lets you earn 1 MQD per $1 spent on eligible car rentals and hotel stays. To qualify for the promotion, bookings must be made by March 31, 2023. However, the travel dates with the promotion are through September 4, 2023.
Key Terms of This Delta MQD Promotion
Here are the details of how you will earn Delta Medallion Qualification Dollars for hotel stays and car rentals:
- The promotion is valid for bookings and hires made through March 31, 2023.
- Travel dates with the promotion are through September 4, 2023.
- Bookings and rentals must be made through special travelextras-delta.com links to qualify. Use this link for hotels and this link for car rentals.
- Earn 1 MQD per eligible US $1 or equivalent in foreign currency spent on base car rental or hotel stay.
Fine print:
- Hotel qualifying spending includes the cost of hotel rooms but excludes taxes, fees, room service, and other booking charges.
- Car rental qualifying spending includes rental at participating locations, at eligible rates, excluding travel industry rates, tour package discounts, insurance dealer replacement rates, and corporate and government rates.
- MQDs will only be credited to the SkyMiles account of the member whose name is on the credit card used for the booking.
- Allow up to 8 weeks after completing your activity for the MQDs to post to your account.
- MQDs are not awarded in the case of cancellation, unpaid reservations, or no-shows.
Other Routes To Earn Delta Medallion Credits
If you are looking for shortcuts toward earning Delta Medallion status, your best option is through one of the many Delta cobrand credit cards. If you put enough everyday spending on your cobrand card, you can earn Medallion Qualifying Miles through Status Boost.
Plus, you can earn an MQD waiver at the following spending levels:
- Receive an MQD waiver towards Silver, Gold, and Platinum Medallion status when you spend $25,000 or more on any American Express Delta card.
- To receive a waiver towards Diamond Status, you must put a hefty $250,000 through your American Express Delta card.
You can even spend your way all the way to Delta Medallion elite status. Here's a breakdown of how:
| Earn Medallion Status using Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards | Credit Cards and MQM Required |
|---|---|
| Earn Silver Medallion Status (25K MQMs) | One-Card Strategy • 30,000 MQMs - $60K annual spend on Delta Reserve |
| Earn Gold Medallion Status (50K MQMs) | One-Card Strategy • 60,000 MQMs - $120K annual spend on Delta Reserve --- Multi-Card Strategy • 20,000 MQMs - $50K annual spend on Platinum Delta Amex • 30,000 MQMs - $60K annual spend on Delta Reserve Total: 50,000 MQMs/$110,000 spend |
| Earn Platinum Medallion Status (75K MQMs) | Multi-Card Strategy • 60,000 MQMs - $120K spend on Delta Reserve • 15,000 MQMs - $30K spend on Business Delta Reserve Total: 75,000 MQMs/$150,000 spend |
| Earn Diamond Medallion Status (125K MQMs) | Multi-Card Strategy • 10,000 MQMs - $25K annual spend on Platinum Delta Amex • 60,000 MQMs - $120K spend on Delta Reserve • 60,000 MQMs - $120K spend on Business Delta Reserve Total: 130,000 MQMs/$265,000 spend This would surpass the required $250,000 in spending to get the MQD waiver for Diamond Medallion elite status. Effective 1/1/24, the Status Boost benefit and MQD benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Delta cards - Learn more. |
Even though Delta has made it a little harder to earn elite status in 2023, it is still worth pursuing if you can take advantage of the status. However, you can check out our complete guide to Delta Medallion Status and learn all the shortcuts to status.
Our Take
If you are chasing Delta Medallion Status, this promotion can make a lot of sense. However, you need to ensure it’s not a wolf in sheep’s clothes in terms of value. Before committing to a car hire or hotel stay, check out the pricing vs. other options. That way, you can ensure that you are not paying an excessive premium simply to earn 1 MQD per dollar.
If the car rental and hotel pricing is reasonable, competitive, and works for you. Then this promotion is the perfect way for you to boost your MQDs if your travel plans allow it. On the other hand, if the pricing is too steep or your travel plans don’t work, you should look at other options for earning MQDs or even a waiver for the year.
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Just a note on the Delta offer. I’ve used reservations through this program for hotels all through March . You won’t earn points from your hotel programs such as IHG or HHilton Honors because the booking is through a third party (Expedia). You probably won’t get premium internet either. I have also had trouble getting a receipt from 2 of the hotels with detail charges that is needed for my reimbursement. Both claimed they couldn’t give a receipt because of the third party reservation. Bottom line you appear to give up your status when using the 3rd party reservation so be aware. I’m hoping it will all be worth it in the end.
Cheers,
Tim