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Why Delta status challenges may have gotten a whole lot easier

April 01, 2022
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3 min read
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Why Delta status challenges may have gotten a whole lot easier
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Delta Air Lines has long offered a publicly-available status challenge. To enroll, all you have to do is upload proof of status with a qualifying airline and enjoy a three-month trial of Medallion elite status. You then must complete a set amount of flying and spending during that three-month period to extend the status.

Historically, only paid flights counted toward the challenge requirements. However, now that Delta is permanently awarding Medallion credit on award tickets, that may no longer be the case.

Delta has updated the terms and conditions of its Medallion Status Match Challenge, removing one major restriction: "Travel on award tickets does not qualify for this offer." This should mean that flights booked with miles will help you meet the challenge requirements. TPG has reached out to Delta for comment.

Like revenue tickets, you earn Medallion Qualification Segments on award tickets based on segments flown and Medallion Qualification Miles based on the distance of your flight. The main difference is how you earn Medallion Qualification Dollars. MQDs are earned at $1 per 100 SkyMiles redeemed on award tickets. This means a ticket that costs 10,000 SkyMiles earns $100 MQDs.

Related: Current airline elite status match and challenge options you should know about

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)

It's important to note that only Delta-issued and -operated award tickets are eligible to earn elite-qualifying credit. You won't earn credit on awards booked through or flown by partner airlines like Virgin Atlantic or Air France.

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As a refresher, here are the current requirements for Delta's publicly-available status challenge:

  • Silver Medallion: 6,250 MQMs or 8 MQSs AND $750 MQDs or MQD Waiver.
  • Gold Medallion: 12,500 MQMs or 15 MQSs AND $1,500 MQDs or MQD Waiver.
  • Platinum Medallion: 18,750 MQMs or 25 MQSs AND $2,250 MQDs or MQD Waiver.

Delta is offering an exclusive, limited-time Medallion status upgrade opportunity for targeted American Express cardholders. The offer lets you match your existing airline status with another airline to one tier higher on Delta and earn a set number of MQS or MQM to keep your status through the end of the year. There is no MQD requirement for this match. However, we're not yet sure if award tickets count toward this elite status challenge.

Bottom line

Although this change might seem insignificant, it would be very welcome. If award tickets are eligible for extending status challenges, it will be easier and potentially less costly to extend your elite status. We will update this post when we hear back from Delta.

Remember that in order to attempt a Delta status match challenge, you need to have an equivalent elite status at a qualifying, competing airline. You also cannot have received a status challenge or complimentary Medallion elite status in the past three years to be eligible.

As of now, no other U.S. airlines award elite-qualifying credit on award travel.

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)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 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.