Booking a higher fare class can give you more MQMs, including qualifying premium Award Travel tickets. Purchased upgrades are also eligible for bonus MQMs based on class of service flown.
People Also Ask
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.
The MQM bonus on the Delta Reserve card and Delta Reserve Business card offers more potential. Currently, you can earn 15,000 MQMs after spending $30,000 in a year, up to 4 times per year. With 1 of these cards, you can earn 60,000 MQMs after spending a total of $120,000 per year.
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.
Yes, you earn Delta Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) and Medallion Qualifying Segments (MQSs) for tickets booked through Pay With Miles just as you usually would. This is one of the reasons the program is so popular, especially among elite members.
A Medallion Member and one traveling companion may both enjoy a Complimentary Upgrade when traveling on Delta and Delta Connection carriers, as long as that companion is a General SkyMiles Member, Medallion Member, or partner airline elite member*, and traveling on the same flight in the same reservation.
Basic Economy tickets purchased on or after December 9, 2021 for flights departing on or after January 1, 2022, are not eligible to earn miles in the SkyMiles Program or earn credit towards Medallion Status (meaning not eligible for MQM, MQS or MQD earn).
In short, Delta SkyMiles is the rewards currency you earn and spend to book award flights on Delta and its partners, while MQMs help you earn elite status with Delta but cannot be redeemed for flights.
MQMs reset each calendar year as you track toward a new year of Status. Delta follows the same policy as American for its “Medallion Year,” meaning that your status will be valid until January 31 two years after the calendar year in which you earned it.
Benefits While TravelingThe Platinum Card® from American Express doesn't offer Delta-specific benefits, but it does offer free elite status with two popular hotel programs—Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.
Diamond Medallion is the highest level of Delta Air Lines status available and therefore grants the most generous benefits. Diamond Medallions receive the highest complimentary upgrade priority, with upgrades clearing up to five days before departure and complimentary Clear membership.
Medallion Members are eligible for and rewarded with Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades to Delta Comfort+ and First Class on all routes where the products are available. They are also eligible for day of departure Complimentary Upgrades to Delta One® on all U.S. 50 flights – including flights to Hawaii.
On almost every flight, the passengers who get upgrades are either the ones who pay for them (whether in dollars or miles) in advance or frequent fliers with elite status who receive complimentary upgrades as part of their perks. There are very few exceptions, so don't expect to score a free upgrade by just asking.