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Did Delta's SkyMiles update for 2021 get lost in the mail?

Dec. 18, 2020
5 min read
Delta Jet Taking Off
Did Delta's SkyMiles update for 2021 get lost in the mail?
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The holiday season is upon us, and Delta frequent flyers still have a big-ticket item on their holiday wish-lists.

The carrier has yet to update its Medallion elite-qualifying criteria in light of the depressed demand for travel.

Of course, the Atlanta-based carrier could deliver customers a last-minute holiday surprise, but the window of opportunity is rapidly closing.

In fact, both American and United — Delta's two largest competitors — have already reduced the qualifying thresholds by as much as 33%. That's an apparent recognition that 2021 won't be the year when we see passenger volumes return to pre-pandemic levels.

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Additionally, Delta's Big 3 rivals have also made it easier to fast track to elite status in the new year. American will roll over all elite-qualifying activity earned from Oct. 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2020 into 2021, giving flyers an early-year boost to achieving status.

United, on the other hand, is incentivizing first-quarter travel, with a promotion offering up to double Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) for the first three qualifying trips of 2021.

Yet, without a peep from Atlanta, Delta passengers are left wondering if there's any news coming before the end of the year.

Is Delta dropping the ball? Or maybe the carrier thinks that its most loyal flyers will take to the skies in pre-pandemic numbers, despite the raging pandemic?

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For now, Delta says there's nothing to announce regarding reduced requirements.

"We’re extending current Medallion Status through 2021 and rolling over 2020 Medallion Qualification Miles to 2021 to give Medallion Members a head start on qualifying for Status in 2022," an airline spokesperson told TPG. "We’ll evaluate further adjustments to support the needs of our most loyal customers in the new year."

Though Delta hasn't yet reduced the qualifying criteria for earning status in 2021, it may not have much of a choice going forward unless it decides to significantly thin its elite ranks.

With international flying still largely off-limits for most Americans, earning 125,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) and $15,000 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) just isn't happening for many current top-tier Diamonds.

What's perhaps most interesting, however, is flashing back to earlier in the pandemic, when Delta led the way with elite status extensions for all its members.

In April, the airline extended all currently valid Medallion status through Jan. 31, 2022, meaning that flyers didn't have to step foot on a plane in 2020 to keep their status through the 2021 program year.

As part of the news, Delta also announced that it would roll over all MQMs earned in 2020 to 2021.

Sure, this move definitely makes it easier for some frequent flyers to earn status in 2021. However, there's still a large portion of the population that hasn't yet flown since the pandemic hit. For those, rolling over MQMs is effectively useless and doesn't make it any easier to requalify in 2021.

Even if you have taken to the skies in 2020 — and plan to fly enough in 2021 to hit the MQM threshold — you still need to hit the full Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) requirement in 2021, which could be a tough task with fares at historic lows and business travel still largely off-limits.

While Delta was the first major U.S. airline to announce status extensions in April, it now appears to be the last to reduce next year's qualifying criteria — if it ultimately does so at all.

Related: All of the elite qualification changes you need to know about for 2021

For years, Delta's been a trailblazer in the industry. But it's had a few recent stumbles, including a seemingly "rushed" decision to eliminate change fees and an usually poor operational performance over Thanksgiving, leaving at least some loyalists questioning what's going on in Atlanta.

"While the challenges of COVID has affected every airline, Delta has literally had all year to think about what changes it’ll make to SkyMiles," said Henry Harteveldt, president at Atmosphere Research Group, in an interview with TPG.

He continued to explain that "it's almost like the wax is melting in the wings of Delta Air Lines. I’m not sure what’s causing this, but between the lack of transparency on SkyMiles, the Thanksgiving meltdown, the spartan inflight experience and the lack of creativity in the route network, something is not quite right."

To be fair, Delta recently introduced a status boost offer for select cobranded cardmembers. Those eligible for the promotion can earn 25% more MQMs for all spend on the eligible cards in 2021.

Still, — like Delta's MQM rollover — this promotion doesn't help make it easier to earn MQDs, nor does it help those who earn status with butt-in-seat miles. Note that there is an MQD waiver based on eligible cobranded spend — $25,000 for Silver, Gold and Platinum and $250,000 for Diamond — but Delta hasn't lowered any of the thresholds for 2021.

So, with the holidays right around the corner, Delta frequent-flyers may be left hoping for a last-minute turn of events.

If not, many will enter 2021 with a fully reset status tracker — and a really far goalpost that likely won't be achievable for most.

Featured image by (Photo by Markus Mainka/Shutterstock)

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
3 / 5
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Rewards

1 - 3X points
3XEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
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Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Why We Chose It

Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.

Pros

  • Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
  • Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
  • First checked bag free

Cons

  • Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
  • SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
  • Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • New: 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.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees
Apply for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
3 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

3XEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
2XEarn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets.
1XEarn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • Intro Offer
    Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

    Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles
    50,000 Bonus Miles
  • Annual Fee

    $250
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

    670-850
    Excellent/Good

Why We Chose It

Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.

Pros

  • Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
  • Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
  • First checked bag free

Cons

  • Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
  • SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
  • Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • New: 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.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees