Do you keep medallion status forever?

Lifetime Delta Gold Medallion status (one million miler) Those who achieve one million miler status in the Delta SkyMiles program will receive Gold Medallion status for life (through 2023, this only gets you Silver Medallion status for life). On top of that, members receive a special gift for passing the threshold.



No, you do not keep Delta Medallion status forever; it is an annual achievement that must be "re-earned" during each calendar year. In 2026, status is determined solely by Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs)—a measure of how much you spend with Delta and its partners. Once you reach a tier (Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond), you enjoy those benefits for the remainder of the year in which you earned them and through the following "Medallion Year" (which typically ends January 31st of the year after). If you do not meet the MQD spending thresholds in the subsequent year, your status will "downgrade" or expire. The only exception is Million Miler Status; if you fly 1 million, 2 million, or more "Lifetime Miles" on Delta-operated flights, you are granted a specific Medallion tier for life (e.g., 1 Million Milers receive annual Silver Medallion status permanently). For everyone else, 2026 remains a "what have you spent lately" system, requiring consistent travel or credit card spend to maintain those coveted elite benefits year after year.

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Silver Medallion status does expire if you do not meet the required amount of flying and spend. That said, each year, you can roll over the EQMs earned beyond status to the next year so it can count for the next year's elite status.

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Plus, the Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) you earn above your Medallion Tier qualification threshold will roll over to the next qualification year to give you a jump start on earning Status again – this is known as “Rollover MQMs.”

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And customers who have MQM Rollover balances over 100,000 will be given special offers to extend their earned 2024 Status—one year for each 100K Rollover MQMs. Delta will also provide an option to convert MQM Rollover balances into MQDs at a more generous ratio of 10:1 (up from 20:1).

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Silver Medallion holders get SkyTeam Elite status, which offers a few limited benefits on most partners. Gold, Platinum and Diamond holders get SkyTeam Elite Plus status, which offers more robust benefits like lounge access. All Medallion holders get one extra free piece of luggage on partner flights.

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Delta SkyMiles has a million miler program, through which you can earn lifetime elite status: One million miler earns you SkyMiles Silver Medallion status for life. Two million miler earns you SkyMiles Gold Medallion status for life. Four million miler earns you Platinum Medallion status for life.

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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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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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You might even be able to use a Delta SkyMiles credit card to earn Silver Medallion status without ever flying if you're a big enough spender. For example, with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, you can earn 15,000 MQMs for every $30,000 you spend — up to four times annually through Dec. 31, 2023.

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The vast majority, roughly 80% of medallions (or about 2% of all accounts) are silvers. About 12% of medallions (or about 0.3% of all accounts) are golds. About 6% of medallions (or about 0.15% of all accounts) are platinums, and as noted about 2% of medallions (or about 0.05% of all accounts) are diamonds.

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As a Gold Medallion Member, you and a companion are eligible for Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades to First Class and Delta Comfort+®, beginning 72 hours (3 days) prior to departure and to the domestic Delta One® experience on the day of departure.

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Access to and use of Delta Sky Priority services are reserved for Delta One®, Delta Premium Select and First Class passengers, Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion® Members, and SkyTeam® Elite Plus members on all Delta and Delta Connection® flights.

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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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Earning Delta MQMs with Credit Cards Outside of actually getting on a plane, there's only one other way to earn Delta MQMs: Delta co-branded credit cards. And even though Delta a full suite different co-branded credit cards, only two of them will help you attain status through earning MQMs.

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