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.

Yes, Delta Medallion status is earned on a yearly cycle and expires annually. To keep your status in 2026, you must meet the Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) thresholds between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year. For example, status earned in 2025 is valid through January 31, 2027. On February 1 of each year, the "status year" officially resets; if you did not earn enough MQDs during the prior calendar year to reach your current tier, you will either drop to a lower tier or lose status entirely. In 2026, Delta has made it easier to track this through the Fly Delta app, which shows your progress toward the next year's status. There is a "Headstart" benefit for certain Amex cardholders ($2,500 MQD boost), and "Million Miler" members can earn lifetime status that never expires. However, for the average traveler, the "Medallion Year" is a "use-it-or-lose-it" system where your flight activity and spending in one year dictate your benefits for the following year.