It's also possible to earn MQMs if you hold one of the premium Delta SkyMiles American Express cards through the card's status boost benefit: Delta SkyMiles? Reserve American Express Card: Earn 15,000 MQMs after making $30,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year, up to four times per year.

As of 2024, Delta Air Lines completely eliminated "MQMs" (Medallion Qualification Miles) in favor of a simplified, spend-based system called MQDs (Medallion Qualification Dollars). Therefore, in 2026, you can no longer earn MQMs with a Delta Amex. Instead, you earn MQDs toward elite status through two main methods on the cards. First, the MQD Headstart provides an automatic $2,500 MQD deposit at the start of each year for holders of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Reserve cards. Second, the MQD Boost allows you to earn status through daily spending: Platinum cardholders earn $1 MQD for every $20 spent, while Reserve cardholders earn $1 MQD for every $10 spent. This shift in 2026 means that "butt-in-seat" miles are no longer the only path to status; heavy spenders on Delta Amex cards can now achieve Diamond or Platinum Medallion status without ever stepping foot on a plane, provided their annual card spend is high enough.