Confirmed: Delta will leave Medallion qualification requirements unchanged in 2026
Two years ago, Delta Air Lines sent its frequent flyers into an uproar when it made sweeping changes to its SkyMiles loyalty program, hiking qualification benchmarks for Medallion elite status and tightening its lounge access rules.
There will be no such upheaval this year.
Delta will leave its Medallion qualification requirements intact next year, a spokesperson for the airline confirmed to TPG this week.
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That means customers will see no changes in the number of Medallion Qualifying Dollars they'll need for the airline's four elite tiers.
As a reminder, those benchmarks are:
- 5,000 MQDs for Silver
- 10,000 MQDs for Gold
- 15,000 MQDSs for Platinum
- 28,000 MQDs for Diamond
These current MQD requirements will remain in effect in 2026, for SkyMiles members seeking status in 2027.
While those thresholds were a sizable jump for many customers when they went into place last year, the carrier has at least given members a couple of years, now, to catch up to the new requirements.
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How to earn Delta MQDs
SkyMiles members earn 1 MQD per $1 spent on the ticket price for all Delta-marketed flights operated by it, or one of its partners.
Plus, certain Delta-American Express cardmembers can get a jump-start on status qualification with a 2,500 MQD head start each year.
That includes cardholders with the four following cards:
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Notably, the 2,500 MQD head start that comes with each of these cards will get you halfway to Medallion Silver status, which comes with entry-level benefits like a free checked bag, priority boarding, complimentary access to Comfort seats within 24 hours of departure and (when available) complimentary upgrades to first-class seats.
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Plus, Platinum-tier Delta Amex cards (consumer and business) earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent on eligible purchases. Reserve-level cardholders get 1 MQD for every $10 spent.
If you carried the Delta Reserve Amex, for instance, you'd need to spend $25,000 to reach Silver status if you didn't fly at all (and if you didn't earn miles and MQDs any other way).
What are other airlines doing about status?
Delta's decision to leave its Medallion qualification benchmarks in place come as some top competitors have hiked qualification requirements. Most notably, United Airlines this year implemented changes that made Premier status harder to reach for many travelers.
Last week, Alaska Airlines announced it would raise the status thresholds for its two highest tiers for 2027 status, as part of the rollout of its new Atmos Rewards program launched in conjunction with merger partner Hawaiian Airlines. However, the carrier also offered its top elites a one-time head start on status for next year, and its new premium credit card provides a sizable boost toward elite status, too.
We should also note, a big portion of Delta's Sky Club access crackdown only just went into effect this year, including annual caps on annual visits for Reserve cardholders, and members who carry The Platinum Card® from American Express.
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