Do Delta miles roll over each year?

ROLLOVER MQMS – A DELTA EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT Each year, the MQMs you earn above your Medallion Tier qualification threshold will roll over to the next qualification year. General Members who don't reach Silver will not roll over MQMs.



As of 2026, Delta SkyMiles never expire, meaning your actual "miles" (the currency used to book flights) stay in your account forever regardless of activity. However, it is important to distinguish between "Miles" and "Medallion Qualification Dollars" (MQDs). MQDs are the metrics used to earn elite status (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) and these do not roll over; they reset to zero every January 1st. In 2024, Delta officially ended its famous "rollover MQMs" (miles) policy when they transitioned to an MQD-only status system. In 2026, if you earn more MQDs than required for your current tier but not enough for the next, those "extra" dollars simply vanish at the end of the year. The only way to "save" or roll over status-earning power is through specific high-tier "Choice Benefits" for Diamond and Platinum members, but for the average traveler, your "status progress" is a strictly annual race that begins anew every New Year's Day.

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Delta has four tiers of elite status: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. You can earn status by flying and spending enough within a single calendar year, and once earned you'll keep it through the following calendar year. So if you earn Gold status in February 2023, you'll keep it through the end of 2024.

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To give you a jump start on earning Status again, the Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) you earn above your Medallion Tier will roll over to the next qualification year. Plus, at each Tier, you earn more miles from your flights to help you get to your next vacation faster.

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If you are wondering “Do Delta miles expire?” we have good news: Delta SkyMiles do not expire. Per the Delta SkyMiles rules page: “Under the SkyMiles Mileage Expiration policy, miles do not expire. Delta reserves the right to deactivate or close an account.”

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If you are a frequent Delta flyer — especially someone who values upgrades, bonus miles and free checked bags — reaching Platinum Medallion is quite rewarding given its value estimated at over $6,000.

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Delta miles do not expire as long as the Delta account is open and in good standing. The only time Delta miles expire is when you or Delta closes the account without first redeeming unused rewards.

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Considering that Delta award flights start at around 6,000 miles, you don't need to accumulate many SkyMiles to be able to fly for free. In addition to free flights on Delta Air Lines and its partners, you can use SkyMiles for seat upgrades and Delta Vacations packages.

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Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business Basic and Additional Card Members (“Platinum Card Members”) have access to the Delta Sky Club at a per-visit rate of $50 per person when traveling on a same-day Delta or Delta partner airline flight.

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It's good to be Gold. Receive Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades, access to the full Sky Priority® suite of services, waived same-day confirmed change fees and benefits like a preferred rate on a CLEAR® Plus membership, Rollover MQMs and more.

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Delta Silver Medallion members do not get lounge access. This perk is reserved for Gold-level members and above flying internationally.

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The lowest round-trip main cabin tickets cost 50,000 SkyMiles. But, it's easy to pay up to 90,000 SkyMiles if your travel dates are not flexible. To avoid this unpredictability, see if you can transfer your points to Virgin Atlantic. A round-trip main cabin ticket on Delta can cost 60,000 miles.

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Delta SkyMiles members with Reserve miles or the American Express card are eligible for a free upgrade to first and comfort seats. Moreover, it also qualifies for unlimited updates to Delta One seat on the departure day for flights originating within the United States and Hawaii.

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For example, points and miles within Best Western Rewards, Delta SkyMiles, Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Southwest Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club don't expire. That being said, it's important not to hold onto your points for too long.

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This benefit allows Card Members to use their miles, starting at just 5,000 miles, to discount the price of Delta tickets. Regardless of ticket price, a Card Member can reduce the cost of their ticket by up to $50 for every 5,000 miles.

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To earn Diamond status, you'll need to bank 125,000 MQMs or 140 MQSs. You'll also need to spend $20,000 in MQDs or qualify for an MQD waiver by spending at least $250,000 on eligible purchases with your Delta co-branded American Express card.

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U.S.-based members earn Platinum Medallion status by reaching certain thresholds of both MQDs and MQMs or MQSs. These are the requirements to earn Platinum Medallion: Earn 75,000 MQMs or 100 MQSs in a calendar year. Earn $12,000 worth of MQDs within a calendar year.

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