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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 — 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.
Page Contents
What Is a Medallion Qualification Dollar?
Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) are Delta's sole status-earning metric. In short, MQDs track how much you've spent on Delta flights, vacation packages, and select co-branded American Express credit cards. The only way 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, 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
Delta increased its Medallion status requirements for 2024. Delta Diamond Medallion now requires a mind-boggling $28,000 MQDs. Just a year ago, you only needed $20,000.
How To Earn Delta MQDs
If you're trying to earn MQDs, there are three primary ways you can do so.
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 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 Platinum Delta 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.
Related: American Express Shakes Up Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Lineup, Changing Perks and Fees
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.
You can also leverage MQD promotions when Delta releases them. Depending on the promo, you could earn bonus MQDs on hotel, rental car, and/or vacation rental reservations. These earnings come on top of the $1 MQD per dollar you'll already earn.
Final Thoughts
Although some argue Delta's elite status has declined in quality over recent years, Delta Medallion Status still offers plenty of benefits to loyal customers. If you want to enjoy these benefits, you'll want to understand the requirements to get them — including being familiar with earning Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). After all, MQDs are the only way to get Delta status.
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