Your guide to Delta Million Miler lifetime status
Editor's Note
If you're an avid business traveler or an enthusiastic globe-trotter, achieving Delta Air Lines Million Miler status demonstrates your unwavering loyalty to the Delta SkyMiles program and rewards you with lifelong Delta Medallion status.
Only a small fraction of Delta SkyMiles members will attain Million Miler status, but that doesn't mean it's not worth striving for. So, let's delve into the details of Delta Million Miler status.
Delta lifetime flight miles
Up until Jan. 1, 2024, it was possible to earn Delta Million Miler status based on your Medallion Qualification Miles. However, now you'll earn Delta Million Miler status based on your lifetime flight miles (excluding basic economy fares). Any MQMs you earned before 2024 will still count toward your Million Miler balance, though.
To check your lifetime flight miles, log in to your SkyMiles account, click on your name in the upper right-hand corner and select "My SkyMiles." Within the "SkyMiles Overview" section, you'll see your lifetime miles flown.
Delta awards Million Miler status based on your lifetime flight miles (excluding basic economy fares):
- Gold Medallion for life: 1 million
- Platinum Medallion for life: 2 million
- Diamond Medallion for life: 3 million
- Annual invitation to Delta 360: 5 million
It's great that Delta offers more than just its entry-level elite status to Million Miler travelers. Once you reach Delta Million Miler status, you'll have at least lifetime Gold Medallion status. Gold Medallion members enjoy various benefits, including:
- 8 miles per dollar spent on qualifying flights
- Complimentary space-available upgrades on qualifying Delta-operated and Aeromexico-operated flights
- First checked bag free on Delta and select airline partners for you and up to eight travel companions
- Waived fees for same-day confirmed flight changes
- Sky Priority check-in, priority security line access, expedited baggage service and Sky Priority boarding
- SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits
- Five Star status in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program
Of course, lifetime benefits get even better as you reach higher Delta Million Miler status tiers.
Related: Things you need to know about Delta SkyMiles
Delta Million Miler gift selection
Once you achieve a new Delta Million Miler threshold, you will receive a congratulatory email within 24 hours. This email will guide you to the Delta Million Miler gift website.
The website provides a personalized menu with various gift options based on your Million Miler tier. If you don't make a selection within 90 days, Delta will automatically send you a preselected gift.
Delta will also mail Million Miler bag tags to the address on your SkyMiles profile within four to six weeks of when you reach a Million Miler milestone.
Related: Is it worth pursuing lifetime elite status?
How long does it take to earn Million Miler status?
Earning 1 million lifetime flight miles is not easy. Even if you earn 100,000 lifetime flight miles per year, it'll take you a decade to earn 1 million lifetime flight miles.
If you qualify for lifetime elite status entirely on one-way flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — a distance of 2,579 miles — here's what it would take to secure status for life:
- Gold Medallion: 388 flights
- Platinum Medallion: 776 flights
- Diamond Medallion: 1,164 flights
- Delta 360: 1,939 flights
Of course, if you frequently travel on long-haul routes, you can achieve Delta Million Miler status with fewer flights. However, remember that basic economy fares won't accrue any lifetime flight miles toward Delta Million Miler status.
Related: How to redeem your Delta SkyMiles for maximum value
Bottom line
For Delta loyalists, it's worth checking your Million Miler balance to gauge your progress toward the lifetime tiers. After all, achieving Delta Million Miler status remains the way to lock in lifetime Medallion status and eliminate the need to requalify each year.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations 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.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve 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.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees