Delta makes Medallion earning on award tickets permanent, removes mileage earning cap
Delta is making a handful of positive changes for SkyMiles members -- particularly for elite status members and big spenders. These changes make it easier for members to earn elite status and earn SkyMiles on expensive tickets.
Let's take a closer look at these changes and what they mean for Delta frequent flyers.
Medallion earning on award travel now permanent
Last year, Delta started awarding Medallion Qualification Dollars, Medallion Qualification Segments and Medallion Qualification Miles on award flights. This was later extended through the end of 2022, but Delta just announced that this will be a permanent benefit.
As a refresher, you earn MQSs based on segments and MQMs based on the length of your flight in miles. On award tickets, MQDs are earned at a rate of 1 per 100 SkyMiles redeemed. This means that a ticket that costs 10,000 SkyMiles would earn 100 MQDs.
Do note that only Delta-issued and -operated award tickets are eligible to earn elite status metrics. This means that a Virgin Atlantic award ticket would not be eligible to earn elite status.
Related: How to redeem Delta SkyMiles for maximum value
No earning cap on paid tickets
Additionally, Delta is removing the 75,000-SkyMile earning limit on paid tickets, effective immediately. Members who exceeded the cap in 2022 will have the extra miles credited to their accounts retroactively.
That said, you will have to spend a lot to actually exceed this limit. Those without elite status earn 5 SkyMiles per dollar on paid tickets and top-tier Diamond Medallion elites earn 11 SkyMiles per dollar, before taxes. This means you'd have to spend $15,000 on a Delta ticket as a non-elite member or $6,818 as a Diamond Medallion to hit the maximum.
Related: Your complete guide to the Delta SkyMiles program
Bottom line
These two changes are great news for Delta frequent flyers. They will make it easier to earn or reearn status, especially if you spend on a Delta cobranded credit card and redeem your SkyMiles for flights. Likewise, those who often fly on expensive paid tickets will appreciate the ability to earn an unlimited amount of miles on flights going forward.
Despite Delta awarding elite status metrics on award tickets since 2020, no other airlines have yet followed suit. It's great to see Delta make this industry-first policy permanent. Delta is also the first airline to remove mileage caps on paid tickets.
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