Delta SkyMiles Overview
While Delta is often lauded for their flight performance and customer service, their loyalty program has long been the butt of jokes in the frequent flier community. Delta often charges far more miles for saver-level award flights than its direct competitors like AA or United. Delta’s elite program used to trail the pack as well.
Over time, Delta has steadily increased elite perks, especially for top tier elites. Today, I believe that Delta actually has one of the better elite programs among the major full-service airlines.
The story regarding redeemable SkyMiles isn’t as rosy. In 2015, Delta eliminated award charts. Since then, they’ve systematically stamped out most sweet-spot awards that previously made it possible to get fantastic value from your miles. That’s the bad news. The good news is that, today, you’ll usually get at least 1 cent per mile value compared to cash prices. The net result is that it’s much harder today to get far outsized value from your miles, but it’s also easier to avoid getting terrible value.
Delta SkyMiles Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free changes and cancellations for all awards originating in North America
- No fuel surcharges are included on awards originating in North America
- Miles don’t expire until you do (miles do not expire as long as you are alive)
- Elite program offers good perks, especially for top-tier elites
- Upgrade certificates available to high level elites can be used on award flights
- Miles can almost always be used instead of cash for any Delta-operated flight, regardless of how full it is.
- Delta cardholders get a 15% discount on award flights. This makes miles a bit more valuable.
- Award flights earn Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) towards elite status.
Cons
- No award charts: this makes it hard to plan for future award travel.
- Very high award prices: International business class award prices, especially, are usually far, far higher than with competing programs.
- Fuel surcharges are imposed on certain awards originating outside of North America. For example, an award from Europe to the U.S. will cost much more in fees than an award from the U.S. to Europe. This is true for both one-way and round-trip awards.
- Delta’s Global Upgrade Certificates (available as a Choice Benefit for Diamond elites) are no longer nearly as useful as they once were.
Delta Credit Cards
American Express issues seven different Delta credit cards in the United States. Click into any of the following credit card displays for more info about each card:
Blue Card
If you no longer want to pay the annual fee on your consumer Delta Gold, Delta Platinum, or Delta Reserve card, downgrading to the fee-free Delta Blue card can be a good way to preserve your account. If you later find that you need a feature of one of the other cards, you should be able to upgrade as needed.
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
10K miles ⓘAffiliateThis is an affiliate offer. Frequent Miler may earn a commission if you are approved for this offer 10K miles after $1000 spend in the first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)No Annual Fee Note an unusual restriction: Welcome bonus not available if you've had another Delta consumer card in the past 90 days. Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. FM Mini Review: This card offers an OK welcome offer for a no annual fee card, but many/most other cards offer better return for spend. Earning rate: 2X restaurants worldwide ✦ 2X Delta ✦ 1X on all other eligible purchases Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Noteworthy perks: 20% statement credit on in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and headsets Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees) |
Gold Card
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
50K miles ⓘAffiliateThis is an affiliate offer. Frequent Miler may earn a commission if you are approved for this offer 50K miles after $2K spend in first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 Alternate Offer: Dummy booking offer of 50K + $500 credit. See this for more details. Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. Recent better offer: 80K after $3K spend in 6 months [Expired 4/2/25] FM Mini Review: Priority boarding, and free checked bag make this a reasonably good option for Delta flyers who do not have elite status. However, those who can make use of an annual companion certificate would do better with the Delta Platinum card. Earning rate: 2X Delta ✦ 2x restaurants worldwide ✦ 2x US supermarkets Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: $200 Delta flight credit after $10K in purchases in a calendar year Noteworthy perks: 15% off when using miles to book an award flight (Delta metal only) ✦ Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit for prepaid hotels or vacation rentals booked through Delta Stays on delta.com/stays ✦ Priority boarding and first checked bag free on Delta flights. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees) |
60K miles ⓘAffiliateThis is an affiliate offer. Frequent Miler may earn a commission if you are approved for this offer 60K after $4K spend in first 6 months. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 Recent better offer: 90K after $6K spend in 6 months. [Expired 4/2/25] FM Mini Review: Priority boarding and first checked bag free make this a reasonably good option for Delta flyers who do not have elite status. However, those who can make use of an annual companion certificate would do better with the Delta Platinum card. Earning rate: 2X Delta ✦ 2X U.S. purchases for advertising in select media and U.S. shipping purchases (capped at $50k per year) ✦ 2x restaurants worldwide and US takeout & delivery Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: $200 Delta flight credit after $10K in purchases in a calendar year Noteworthy perks: 15% off when using miles to book an award flight (Delta metal only) ✦ Get up to $150 back per year as a statement credit for prepaid hotels or vacation rentals booked through Delta Stays on delta.com/stays ✦ Priority boarding, and first checked bag free on Delta flights. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees) |
Platinum Card
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
60K miles ⓘAffiliateThis is an affiliate offer. Frequent Miler may earn a commission if you are approved for this offer 60K miles after $3K spend in 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$350 Annual Fee Alternate Offer: Dummy booking offer of 70K + $400 credit. See this for more details. Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. Recent better offer: 90K after $4K spend in 6 months [Expired 4/2/25] FM Mini Review: Good choice for frequent Delta flyers who can make use of annual companion certificate Earning rate: 3X Delta ✦ 3X purchases made directly with hotels ✦ 2X restaurants ✦ 2X US Supermarkets Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: Earn 1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) per $20 spent Noteworthy perks: 15% off when using miles to book an award flight (Delta metal only) ✦ Annual $2,500 MQD Headstart ✦ US, Caribbean, or Central American economy companion certificate (subject to taxes & fees) each year upon card renewal ✦ Earn up to $150 as a statement credit each year after booking prepaid hotels or vacation rentals with your Card through Delta Stays on delta.com/stays ✦ Up to $10 per month in statement credits for US purchases with select rideshare service providers [enrollment required] ✦ Up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants [enrollment required] ✦ Priority boarding ✦ First checked bag free on Delta flights ✦ Complimentary Upgrade list: get added to the complimentary upgrade list after Delta elite members and Reserve cardmembers ✦ Cell phone protection ✦ Terms and Limitations Apply. (Rates & Fees) |
70K miles ⓘAffiliateThis is an affiliate offer. Frequent Miler may earn a commission if you are approved for this offer 70K after $6K spend in first 6 months. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)$350 Annual Fee Recent better offer: 100K after $8K in 6 months. [Expired 4/2/25] FM Mini Review: Good choice for frequent Delta flyers who can make use of annual companion certificate Earning rate: 3X Delta ✦ 3X purchases made directly with hotels ✦ 1.5X on transit, eligible U.S. shipping, and purchases of $5K or more (up to $100K per year) Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: Earn 1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) per $20 spent Noteworthy perks: 15% off when using miles to book an award flight (Delta metal only) ✦ Annual $2,500 MQD Headstart ✦ Domestic, roundtrip Caribbean, or Central American economy companion certificate (subject to taxes & fees) each year upon card renewal ✦ Earn up to $200 as a statement credit each year after booking prepaid hotels or vacation rentals with your Card through Delta Stays on delta.com/stays ✦ Up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible US purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants [Enrollment required] ✦ Up to $10 per month in statement credits for purchases with select rideshare service providers [enrollment required] ✦ Priority boarding ✦ First checked bag free on Delta flights ✦ Complimentary Upgrade list: get added to the complimentary upgrade list after Delta elite members and Reserve cardmembers✦ Terms and Limitations Apply. (Rates & Fees) |
Reserve Card
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
70K miles ⓘAffiliateThis is an affiliate offer. Frequent Miler may earn a commission if you are approved for this offer 70K miles after $6K spend in first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$650 Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. Recent better offer: 100K after $6K spend in 6 months. [Expired 4/2/25] FM Mini Review: Excellent choice for frequent Delta flyers who can make use of Delta Sky Club® access and companion certificate. Also a good choice for big spenders seeking Delta elite status. Earning rate: 3X Delta Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: Earn 1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) per $10 spent Noteworthy perks: 15% off when using miles to book an award flight (Delta metal only) ✦ Annual $2,500 MQD Headstart ✦ US, Caribbean, Mexico or Central America roundtrip main cabin companion certificate (subject to taxes & fees) after card renewal ✦ Delta Sky Club® access when flying an eligible Delta flight: 15 visits per year to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year (after 15 visits have been used, additional visits can be purchased for $50 each) or to earn an unlimited number of visits, spend $75K or more on eligible purchases each calendar year. ✦ 4 Delta SkyClub one-time guest passes ✦ Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta ✦ Earn up to $200 as a statement credit each year after booking prepaid hotels or vacation rentals with your Card through Delta Stays on delta.com/stays ✦ Up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants [enrollment required] ✦ Up to $10 per month in statement credits for US purchases with select rideshare service providers [enrollment required] ✦ Complimentary upgrades ✦ One statement credit every 4 years for the $120 Global Entry application fee or one statement credit every 4.5 years for the $85 TSA Precheck application fee ✦ Priority boarding ✦ First checked bag free on Delta flights. ✦ Hertz President's Circle Status [Enrollment required] ✦ Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees) See also: Delta Reserve complete guide |
80K miles ⓘAffiliateThis is an affiliate offer. Frequent Miler may earn a commission if you are approved for this offer 80k after $10K spend in first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$650 Annual Fee Recent better offer: 110K after $12K spend in 6 months [Expired 4/2/25] FM Mini Review: Excellent choice for frequent Delta flyers who can make use of Delta Sky Club® access and companion certificate. Also a good choice for big spenders seeking Delta elite status. Earning rate: 3X Delta ✦ 1.5X on eligible transit, U.S. shipping & office supply store purchases Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: Earn 1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) per $10 spent Noteworthy perks: 15% off when using miles to book an award flight (Delta metal only) ✦ Domestic, roundtrip Caribbean, or Central American economy or first class companion certificate (subject to taxes & fees) after card renewal ✦ Delta Sky Club® access when flying an eligible Delta flight: 15 visits per year to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year (after 15 visits have been used, additional visits can be purchased for $50 each) or earn unlimited visits after spending $75K/calendar year on the card ✦ 4 Delta SkyClub one-time guest passes ✦ Centurion Lounge access when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve card ✦ Earn up to $250 as a statement credit each year after booking prepaid hotels or vacation rentals with your Card through Delta Stays on delta.com/stays ✦ Up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants [Enrollment required] ✦ Up to $10 per month in statement credits for US purchases with select rideshare service providers [enrollment required] ✦ Complimentary upgrades ✦ $120 Global Entry fee credit every 4 years (or 4.5 years for TSA Precheck) ✦ Priority boarding ✦ First checked bag free on Delta flights. ✦ Hertz President's Circle Status [Enrollment required] ✦ Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees) See also: Delta Reserve complete guide |
Earn miles
There are a number of ways to earn Delta SkyMiles…
Flights
Base members earn 5 miles per dollar on Delta marketed flights. Elite members earn more, depending upon their status level, as follows:
- Silver: 7 miles per dollar
- Gold: 8 miles per dollar
- Platinum: 9 miles per dollar
- Diamond: 11 miles per dollar
Exceptions:
- Flights booked as part of vacation packages (other than Delta Vacations), cruise packages, consolidator fares, etc. are considered “exception fares”. With these flights, you’ll earn miles based on the distance flown. Details can be found here.
- Partner flights that are not marketed by Delta earn miles based on the distance flown. Details vary by partner. Details can be found here.
Delta credit cards
Miles can be earned from credit card welcome bonuses and from credit card spend. In general, earning miles through new-card welcome bonuses is a great idea, but earning from Delta credit card spend is not. There are many other cards on the market that offer much better rewards for everyday spend. One exception is if you use the Delta Reserve card to spend your way to elite status. More about this topic can be found in the elite status and credit card sections later in this post.
Transfer from other points programs
Amex Membership Rewards
American Express offers a number of cards that earn more Membership Rewards points per dollar than their Delta cards earn in SkyMiles. This is particularly interesting here because American Express Membership Rewards points transfer 1 to 1 to Delta. Even if your main goal is to earn Delta miles through spend, you would most likely be better off earning Amex Membership Rewards points first. Then, you’d also have the great benefit of being able to use points for other purposes besides Delta.
Unfortunately, Amex charges a small “excise tax offset fee” of $0.0006 per point (with a maximum fee of $99) when transferring to a U.S. based program like Delta. Here are some sample fees:
- 10,000 miles: $6
- 50,000 miles: $30
- 100,000 miles: $60
- 150,000 miles: $90
- 165,000 miles (or more): $99
For more details, see: Amex Membership Rewards Points Complete Guide
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott points can be transferred to Delta at a rate of 3 Marriott points to 1 Delta mile.
For more, see: Marriott Bonvoy Complete Guide.
Non-flight options for earning points
Airbnb
Earn 1 mile per dollar for each Airbnb stay. To enable this, book your Airbnb stay through the link found here.
Hertz
Earn SkyMiles for Hertz rentals. Elite members earn more:
- Base members: 4 miles per dollar
- Silver Medallion members: 5 miles per dollar
- Gold Medallion members: 6 miles per dollar
- Platinum Medallion members: 7 miles per dollar
- Diamond Medallion members: 8 miles per dollar
Details about linking your Delta and Hertz accounts can be found here.
Online Shopping
When shopping online, you can often earn additional miles, beyond those earned with your credit card, by starting your shopping with an online shopping portal. Skymiles Shopping is a portal that allows you to earn Delta miles.
Starbucks
Earn 1 mile per dollar spent at Starbucks. To enable this, link your Delta and Starbucks Rewards accounts here.
Other Earning Options
Delta lists other options for earning SkyMiles through partners here.
Spend miles
Booking flights with Delta miles is easy. On Delta.com, simply check the box to “Shop with miles” when searching for flights. Delta defaults to showing results for a week at a time, but you can then click “Price Calendar” to see results for 5 weeks at a time.
Award Booking Tips
Here are a few miscellaneous tips:
- Book round-trip. Sometimes Delta charges fewer miles for round-trip awards.
- Scroll down or sort. Delta won’t always show the best priced award at the top, especially when partner flights are involved.
- Beware of basic economy. Free award changes and cancellations do not apply to basic economy tickets. You can still save a lot by booking basic economy, but it’s not worth it if you’re likely to want to change or cancel the flight.
- Keep a Delta credit card. Cardholders of any Delta Gold, Delta Platinum, or Delta Reserve credit card automatically get a 15% discount on award flights (but only for bookings that are entirely flown by Delta).
15% Cardholder Discount (TakeOff 15)
Best Uses of Miles
Award flights average around 1.1 cents per mile in value, or 1.3 cents per mile after the 15% discount for cardholders. It is possible to do significantly better, though. For details, click one of the links below:
Great Value Options
- Delta Skymiles Flash Sales
- US to Canada via WestJet for 12.5K to 17.5K one-way, economy
- Flights that originate and end outside of the U.S. and Canada
Good Value Options
- 15% Off for Delta cardholders
- Fly within Europe for 10K/15K economy or 20K/25K business
- US to northern South America via LATAM for 25K one-way economy
- Delta Sky Club® Premium Drinks
Award Partners
Flights on partner airlines can be booked with Delta SkyMiles as long as the partner has saver-level award space available for the given flight. The following partners are available to book online with Delta SkyMiles:
- Aeroflot
- Aeromexico
- Aerolineas Argentinas
- Alitalia
- Air France
- China Eastern
- China Airlines
- China Southern
- Hawaiian Airlines
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
- Korean Air
- LATAM
- Mandarin Airlines
- Middle East Airlines
- SAS
- Saudia Airlines
- Shanghai Airlines
- Tarom Airlines
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- Virgin Australia
- WestJet
- Xiamen Airlines
Miles + Cash Awards
If you don’t have enough miles for a given award flight, Delta will sometimes let you choose Miles + Cash awards. Shown above is a standard award on top, with a miles + cash award below. Basically, this feature lets you indirectly buy needed miles for about 1.8 cents each. That’s not a great price considering that the per mile value for awards averages around 1.5 cents for Delta cardholders. On the other hand, it’s much cheaper than outright buying miles from Delta.
I recommend this only when you don’t have enough miles to book your flight (but you have almost enough).
Award Change & Cancellation Fees
For awards with travel originating in North America (including the Caribbean), award changes and cancellations are free. With changes, your award will be re-priced and so you may have to pay extra miles and/or taxes, but there is no fee for the change itself. With cancellations, your miles will be redeposited to your account and your form of payment will be reimbursed for any taxes and fees.
Use miles like money to book flights
There are two ways to use Delta Skymiles at a value of 1 cent each to book flights:
Pay with Miles
Delta's "Pay with Miles" feature is limited to primary cardholders of any Delta card (Blue, Gold, Platinum, or Reserve). This feature lets you pay for cash tickets in part or in full with Delta SkyMiles at a value of 1 cent per mile. You must pay in increments of 5,000 miles. Every 5,000 miles you apply decreases the ticket cost by $50. In other words, each mile is worth exactly 1 penny with this feature.
No miles earned: Only the portion paid in cash earns redeemable SkyMiles and MQDs (Medallion Qualifying Dollars). This reduces the value of the Pay with Miles feature.
Tip: Unless the full ticket amount is an exact multiple of $50, I recommend stopping short of paying the whole fare with miles since you'll get lower value from the last 5,000 miles. For example, if you want to use this feature and your ticket costs $228, I recommend paying 20,000 miles to decrease the cash cost to $28. Otherwise you would have to pay another 5,000 miles for that last $28 (which is a poor value).
Delta Vacations
Delta Vacations lets you pay for vacation packages (air+hotel or air+car) with Delta SkyMiles. Miles are worth exactly 1 cent each when used that way.
Non-flight options for spending miles
- Flight upgrades: This usually offers poor value
- Premium Delta Sky Club® drinks: Miles can be used to pay for top-shelf liquor at a value of 1.5 cents per mile.
- Delta gift cards: Don’t do this. You’ll get less than 1 cent per mile value.
Delta Elite Status
Most airlines offer extra benefits to their most valuable customers. This is usually handled through elite status. If you fly enough with an airline, you can become “elite”. Of course, not all elites are equal. Most airlines have multiple elite tiers to differentiate their valuable customers from their really valuable customers. And, of course, airlines offer the best perks to their highest tier elites.
Delta does the same. They offer elite tiers ranging from Silver status to Diamond status. Silver status perks are only slightly better than those you get from holding a Delta branded credit card. Diamond perks, though, can be extremely valuable.
Delta elite status requirements
To reach each elite tier, Delta SkyMiles members must earn the stated number of MQDs shown above. MQDs reset each calendar year. MQDs = "Medallion Qualifying Dollars." Medallion Qualifying Dollars are the sum total of your base-fare spend (e.g. doesn't include taxes) on Delta-marketed flights. Additional Details:
- Award Tickets: Flights booked with Delta SkyMiles for Delta's own flights earn MQDs. Award tickets earn MQDs at a rate of 1 MQD per 100 SkyMiles redeemed (e.g. 1 cent per SkyMile).
- Partner Flights: Paid flights booked on Delta partners earn MQDs as long as the member's Delta SkyMiles number is attached to the ticket. MQDs are calculated as a percentage of miles flown rather than the amount paid. Details, by partner, can be found here.
- Exception Fares: Flights booked as part of vacation packages, cruise packages, consolidator fares, etc. are considered "exception fares". With these flights, you'll earn miles based on the distance flown. Details can be found here.
Elite Benefits
| SILVER | GOLD | PLATINUM | DIAMOND | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles per dollar earned on paid flights | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 |
| Free domestic upgrades to 1st Class | Begins 24 hours before departure | Begins 72 hours before departure | Begins 120 hours before departure | Begins 120 hours before departure |
| Free domestic upgrades to Comfort+ | 24 hours before departure | 72 hours before departure | Shortly after ticketing | Shortly after ticketing |
| CLEAR membership discount price | $159 | $159 | $159 | Free |
| Dedicated phone line | Priority | High Priority | Higher Priority | VIP Line |
| Free companion upgrades |  |
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| Free preferred seat selection | |
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| Waived bag fees | |
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| Waived same day confirmed or standby change fees | |
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| Hertz elite status | Five Star | Five Star | President's Circle | President's Circle |
| Waived change & cancellation fees regardless of route | |
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| Choice Benefits | Choose 1: | Choose 3: | ||
| Upgrade certificates | 4 Regional | 4 Global (or 8 Regional or 2 Global & 4 Regional) | ||
| Statement Credits (for Delta Platinum and Reserve Cardholders) | $400 | $700 | ||
| Starbucks® Rewards Stars | 6,000 Stars | 6,000 Stars | ||
| Delta Sky Club® Individual Membership | N/A | Requires 2 Choices | ||
| Delta Sky Club® Executive Membership | N/A | Requires 3 Choices | ||
| MQD Accelerator | $1,000 MQDs | $2,000 MQDs | ||
| Gift medallion status | 2 Silver | 2 Gold | ||
| Bonus miles | 30K | 35K | ||
| Delta Vacations Flight + Hotel Cert | $400 | $500 | ||
| Sustainable Aviation Fuel Contribution | $250 | $250 | ||
| Delta Travel Voucher | $300 | $350 | ||
| Wheels up flight credit | $1,500 | $2,000 |
- Unlimited complimentary upgrades (when available, upgrade from coach to first class on domestic flights). Higher status leads to better chance of upgrades.
- Waived same-day confirmed fees and waived same-day standby fees (switch to different flight on same day as ticketed flight). Requires Gold or higher. Info about getting value from same day changes can be found here: Leveraging Delta’s Same Day Flight Changes.
- Complementary Preferred seat selection (choose exit row seats with lots of legroom)
- Complementary Comfort+ Seats (more leg room, free drinks, better snacks).
- Regional upgrade certificates. While these rarely confirm before the flight, waitlisting a regional upgrade puts you to the front of the line for upgrading at the gate. This is great to use for flights where upgrades are most important to you. For example, I use these for flights of about 3 hours or longer. This is a choice benefit for Platinum and Diamond status. Upgrade certificates can be applied to both paid and award tickets.
- Global upgrade certificates. Use these to upgrade from economy to Premium Select, or from Premium Select to business class on any flight when upgrade space is available. When you upgrade from economy to Premium Select, Delta will put you on the business class (Delta One) upgrade list 24 hours before your flight. This is a choice benefit for Diamond status only. Upgrade certificates can be applied to both paid and award tickets.
- Free award changes and cancellations. This used to be huge, but now all awards originating in North America are free to change or cancel for all members. With Platinum and Diamond status, that benefit extends to flights originating elsewhere. Requires Platinum or higher for free changes on awards originating outside of North America.
- Statement Credits (for Delta Platinum and Reserve Cardholders). Getting $700 cash back as a Diamond Choice Benefit is a really nice reward!
Elite earning on flights
On Delta marketed flights, elite earnings are straightforward:
Earn 1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) for each dollar spent towards the base fare (e.g. doesn’t include taxes).
There are exceptions where elite earnings are different from above:
- Flights booked as part of cruise packages, vacation packages (other than Delta Vacations), consolidator fares, etc. are considered “exception fares”. With these flights, you’ll earn MQDs based a percentage of the distance flown. The specific percentage depends on the cabin class purchased. Details can be found here.
- Partner flights that are not marketed by Delta also earn MQDs based on the fare class and distance flown. Details can be found here by partner airline.
Elite earning from credit cards
For more details, see: How to earn Delta elite status without flying.
Status Match Challenge
If you have elite status with another airline, you may be able to qualify for Delta’s excellent Status Match Challenge. This will give you three months of Delta Medallion status plus the ability to earn up to almost 2 years of status with far fewer MQDs than normally required.
Full details of Delta’s Status Match Challenge can be found here.
Reclaim Status
For those who lose elite status or get lesser status due to life events that temporarily led to less travel, Delta offers a program called “Reclaim My Status”. With this program, you can request to get your status back and, if approved, you’ll get back your status for three months. Then, if you meet MQD requirements within those 3 months, you can keep status for the rest of the current calendar year, all of the next year, and through January of the year after that.
What counts as a life event for reclaiming status?
Delta offers these examples of eligible life events: “becoming a new parent, changing jobs, going back to school, experiencing a medical issue, needing to take care of a friend or family member or another life event“.
How to submit your request:
Visit this Delta page and click “Enroll Now”
What are the requirements for extending status beyond three months?
You must earn enough MQDs (Medallion Qualifying Dollars) for your level of reclaimed status as shown in this graphic:
MQDs to meet the above thresholds can only be earned in the following ways:
- On Delta-marketed flights operated by Delta or by one of our partner airlines*
- With your eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Card
- MQD Boost: Earn $1 MQD for each $20 of purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum or Platinum Business Card or $1 MQD for each $10 of purchases on your Delta SkyMiles Reserve or Reserve Business Card and get closer to Medallion Status for the next Medallion Year
- Delta Vacations®**
More details can be found here: Reclaim My Status
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