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Your guide to Delta Million Miler lifetime status

also contributed to this story
Dec. 28, 2024
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4 min read
Delta Airbus A330
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Editor's Note

This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

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.

Delta cabin
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

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 lifetime miles toward Million Miler status
DELTA.COM

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.

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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.

Woman using a laptop
MINISERIES/GETTY IMAGES

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.

Delta economy
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY

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.

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.