With Status Boost, you can get closer to Medallion Status by earning up to 20,000 Medallion^® Qualification Miles (MQMs). Here's how: You can earn 10,000 MQMs after you spend $25,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per calendar year.

To get a status boost—officially known as MQD Headstart and MQD Boost—on your Delta SkyMiles American Express card, you need to hold one of the premium versions: the Platinum or the Reserve card. As of the 2024-2026 program rules, Delta shifted to a "Medallion Qualification Dollars" (MQD) only system. By simply holding the Delta Platinum or Reserve card, you receive an automatic $2,500 MQD Headstart deposited into your account at the beginning of each calendar year; if you hold both, you get $5,000, which puts you instantly at or near Silver Medallion status. Beyond the headstart, the "Boost" comes from your spending: for the Delta Reserve card, you earn $1 MQD for every $10 spent on the card. For the Delta Platinum card, you earn $1 MQD for every $20 spent. There is no limit to how many MQDs you can earn through spending, allowing big spenders to "buy" their way to Diamond Medallion status without ever stepping foot on a plane. This makes the cards incredibly powerful for business owners or individuals with high monthly expenses who value airline elite status.