Is American or Delta better for status?

Lower status thresholds Accounting for the 10x multiplier difference between Loyalty Points and MQDs reveals that reaching status with American is easier than it is with Delta. For top-tier Executive Platinum status, you could spend $200,000 on American Airlines credit cards to earn it.



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When comparing the experience between Delta Air Lines versus American Airlines, American wins in more categories, including the ability to achieve elite status more quickly. Although it doesn't have as many flight routes, Delta makes up for it with its superior in-flight experience and operations.

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How to Reach Medallion Status. Medallion Status is earned for U.S.-based Members through a combination of flying and spending (retail and Award Travel) with Delta and our partner airlines each year. On retail tickets, MQDs are earned based on your annual spend on Delta flights and on many partner flights.

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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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Delta, American, and United all offer between 30 and 32 inches of legroom depending on the aircraft, with Delta typically sticking closer to a full 32 inches of legroom.

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American Airlines is considered to be a safe airline and has excellent mileage redemption options. It offers flights to many destinations worldwide and has a variety of ticket types for travelers of all budgets. Before booking a ticket, be sure to join the AAdvantage loyalty program for added benefits.

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You can access Delta lounges with a paid Delta Sky Club? membership, with Delta elite status or if you're flying in a premium cabin with Delta or an eligible partner airline (in certain situations).

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Amex cards with Delta lounge access Centurion Lounge access is only available when the flight is booked with a U.S.-issued Amex card. Delta SkyMiles? Reserve Business Card*: Unlimited access to Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge locations (when traveling on a Delta-operated or marketed flight).

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You can access Delta lounges with a paid Delta Sky Club® membership, with Delta elite status or if you're flying in a premium cabin with Delta or an eligible partner airline (in certain situations).

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For most people, it probably won't be worth going very far out of your way to chase airline elite status. You can easily replicate many of the perks that a low- or even mid-tier elite traveler would enjoy by holding the right credit cards and buying the occasional upgrade to first class.

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Executive Platinum status Although ConciergeKey is American's highest elite status level, it includes all the privileges of Executive Platinum, which is the airline's highest published elite tier.

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Complimentary drinks and snacks We offer fresh coffee, tea, juice, water and soft drinks, as well as complimentary snacks on board. AAdvantage Executive Platinum® and ConciergeKey® members also get a complimentary alcoholic drink and food menu item during their flight.

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AAdvantage Platinum status is the second tier elite status within American Airlines' loyalty program. Members must earn 75,000 Loyalty Points by the end of February each year to reach this level.

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To qualify for Delta Gold Medallion status, you must fly 50,000 MQMs or 60 MQSs. Miles earned are a combination of the total miles flown and your fare class. Segments represent the number of flights flown.

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For example, if you rolled over 20,000 MQMs from 2020 to 2021 and earned an additional 20,000 MQMs in 2021, your final balance on December 31, 2021 will be 40,000 MQMs, and all 40,000 will be rolled over and counted toward earning 2023 Medallion Status.

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