Have you ever wondered how frequent travelers manage to get airline statuses and are being treated a bit differently as compared to normal passengers? This is where What Is Delta MQMs in short, comes into the picture.
If you’re a Delta Air Lines flyer, you might have heard about MMQs, aren’t you? Well if you don’t, you might be wondering, what exactly are Delta MQMs? How can I earn them to make my travel smoother and better just like them? Don’t worry though, you’re at the right place.
Stick around for just a few minutes, as we’re about to deep dive into the details. Through this article, we will help you understand and maximize the benefits of MQMs.
What Are Delta MQMs?
Many people find Delta Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) confusing, but they’re actually pretty simple. Unlike SkyMiles, which you use to book award flights, MQMs are all about qualifying for Delta Elite Status. Let’s break it down.
Understanding MQMs
MQMs are not like regular miles you use to book flights. Instead, they help you achieve Delta Elite Status, which comes with perks like complimentary upgrades, priority boarding, and waived baggage fees.
Earning MQMs
You earn MQMs when you book and fly on Delta flights. For every mile you fly, you earn 1 MQM. If you’re in a premium cabin, you earn even more.
For example, the distance between New York City and Los Angeles is 2,475 miles. If you book a Main Cabin ticket, you’ll earn 2,475 MQMs, regardless of how much you paid for the ticket. If you fly in a higher class, you can earn even more MQMs for the same distance.
Using Delta Credit Cards to Earn MQMs
Delta credit cards can also help you earn MQMs without even stepping on a plane. With the Delta Platinum Card or the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card, you can earn 10,000 MQMs for every $25,000 you spend, up to 20,000 MQMs annually.
The Delta Reserve Card or the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card offers even more – you can earn 15,000 MQMs for every $30,000 spent, up to 60,000 MQMs in a year.
Is It Worth Using Delta Credit Cards to Earn MQMs?
Using Delta credit cards to earn MQMs can be a great choice, but it depends on how often you fly with Delta and your spending habits. Below are the breakdown to help you decide:
Benefits of Using Delta Credit Cards
- Regular Delta Flyers: If you fly with Delta regularly, using their credit cards makes sense. You can earn MQMs without flying, which helps you reach higher elite status levels.
- Complimentary Upgrades: Elite status brings perks like complimentary upgrades, making your flights more comfortable and enjoyable.
Consider Your Spending
- Opportunity Cost: Using Delta credit cards means you’re not earning rewards from other cards. If you value rewards from other programs more, it might not be worth it.
- Comparison: For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express can earn more rewards on Delta flight purchases compared to Delta credit cards, giving you a higher return on spending.
Calculating Rewards
- Example: Spending $5,000 on Delta flights with a Delta Reserve card might give you $180 worth of Delta SkyMiles. Using The Platinum Card® could give you $550 worth of Amex Membership Rewards points for the same spending.
Elite Status Consideration
- Value of Elite Status: If you highly value Delta elite status or need extra MQMs for the next status level, using Delta credit cards can be beneficial.
- Spending Requirement: It’s important not to overspend just to earn bonus MQMs. Use your Delta card for everyday purchases and try to hit the spending requirement naturally.
Maximize Benefits
- Diamond Medallion Status: You can almost reach Diamond Medallion status by strategically using Delta Reserve cards and meeting spending requirements.
Final Consideration
- Evaluate Your Needs: Consider your flying frequency, spending habits, and the value you place on Delta elite status to determine if using Delta credit cards for MQMs is worth it for you.
Delta Medallion Status: Benefits and Qualifications
Are you a frequent flyer or just starting out with Delta? If you fly with Delta more often than not, you must know how to use your MQMs, because it can turn every flight into a first-class experience. But, how do I earn it?
Delta Silver Medallion Status
What benefits does Silver status offer?
- Earn 7 miles for every $1 spent on flights.
- Eligible for complimentary seat upgrades:
- Delta One on long domestic flights (day of departure).
- First-class or Delta Comfort+ (one day before departure).
- Note: Upgrades are not guaranteed and are subject to availability after higher-tier members.
- Choose preferred seats when booking.
- Enjoy priority check-in, one free checked bag, discounted Clear membership, and priority boarding.
How can I become a Silver status member?
- Earn $5,000 Medallion® Qualification Dollars (MQDs) or get an MQD waiver.
Delta Gold Medallion Status
What benefits does Gold status offer?
- Earn 8 miles for every $1 spent on flights.
- Eligible for complimentary seat upgrades starting three days before departure.
- First-class or Delta Comfort+ upgrades.
- No same-day confirmed or standby fees.
- Sky Priority® access for faster security lines and expedited baggage.
- All perks of Silver Medallion status.
How can I become a Gold status member?
- Earn $10,000 MQDs or get an MQD waiver.
Delta Platinum Medallion Status
What benefits does Platinum status offer?
- Earn 9 miles for every $1 spent on flights.
- Eligible for complimentary seat upgrades five days before departure.
- Delta Comfort+ upgrades are available immediately if seats are open.
- First-class upgrades five days before departure.
- One Choice Benefit, such as:
- Four regional upgrade certificates.
- Giving Silver Medallion status to someone.
- 30,000 bonus miles.
- $300 Delta travel voucher.
- All perks of Gold Medallion status.
How can I become a Platinum status member?
- Earn $15,000 MQDs or get an MQD waiver.
Delta Diamond Medallion Status
What benefits does Diamond status offer?
- Earn 11 miles for every $1 spent on flights.
- Top priority for complimentary upgrades, starting five days before departure.
- Complimentary Clear membership.
- Choose up to three Choice Benefits, such as:
- Delta Sky Club® membership.
- Four global upgrade certificates.
- Eight regional upgrade certificates.
- A combination of global and regional upgrade certificates.
- Giving Gold Medallion status to someone.
- 35,000 bonus miles.
- $350 Delta travel voucher.
- All perks of Platinum Medallion status.
How can I become a Diamond status member?
- Earn $28,000 MQDs or get an MQD waiver.
How Do I Earn Delta MMQs Without Flying?
With Delta credit cards, you can earn SkyMiles and Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) through the Status Boost feature on select cards. This means you can gain MQMs by spending a certain amount, which helps you achieve higher status without even flying.
Let’s understand with an example:
If you have the Delta Platinum Card or Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card, you can earn 10,000 MQMs for every $25,000 you spend. You can take advantage of this benefit twice a year which adds up to 20,000 MQMs annually.
Similarly, with the Delta Reserve Card or Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card, you can earn 15,000 MQMs for every $30,000 spent, up to four times a year. This can give you a whopping 60,000 MQMs in one calendar year. These miles help you reach Delta Elite Status faster, unlocking perks like free upgrades, no baggage fees, and priority boarding.
You can also combine these card benefits with other methods, such as promotional offers or spending with Delta partners, to earn even more MQMs. By using these strategies, you can maintain or boost your Delta Medallion Status more efficiently and enjoy a premium travel experience.
4 Tips to Maintain and Boost Your Medallion Status
If you’re looking to maintain and boost your Medallion status, what you need to is just follow the below points:
1. Monitor Your MQM Balance
Regularly check your SkyMiles account to keep track of your MQM balance and progress on Medallion Status. This helps you stay on track and plan any necessary trips or spending to meet your status goals.
Apart from that, you can set reminders to check your balance monthly so you can adjust your plans as needed and avoid any last-minute rush.
2. Plan Ahead
Plan your travel and credit card spending early in the year to meet the required MQM thresholds. This proactive approach can help you avoid scrambling at the last minute to earn MQMs. Book flights in advance, especially those with higher MQM yields, and schedule them throughout the year.
Plan your credit card spending to take advantage of bonus MQM offers and promotions to maximize your earning potential.
3. Use Delta Partnerships
Delta partners with various airlines, hotels, car rental companies, and other travel services. Using these partners can help you earn additional MQMs and boost your status progress. For example, when you book stays at partner hotels or rent cars through Delta’s preferred companies, you can earn bonus MQMs.
Additionally, flying with Delta’s SkyTeam partners or codeshare flights can also contribute to your MQM total. This helps you reach your Medallion Status faster than ever.
4. Take Advantage of Rollover MQMs
As you know, delta allows members to roll over any MQMs earned above their current Medallion Status level to the next year. For example, if you earned 60,000 MQMs and only needed 50,000 for Gold Medallion Status, the extra 10,000 MQMs roll over to the next calendar year.
This feature can help you get a good start on earning status for the following year. So, we recommend you plan your travel, especially at the end of the year with rollover MQMs in mind to ensure any excess MQMs from this year give you a solid foundation for maintaining or elevating your status next year.
Delta MQMs: Commonly Asked Questions
If you want to check your MQM balance, simply log into your Delta SkyMiles account either online or through the Delta mobile app. Once you’re logged in, you can check your current MQM balance and Medallion Status. Apart from that, your progress toward the next status level will also be visible on your account dashboard.
Your MQMs will not expire as long as you keep your SkyMiles account active. However, they reset at the end of each calendar year for Medallion Status qualification. For example, your status for 2025 is based on what you did in 2024. This status usually lasts until January 31st of the following year, which means your 2025 status will be good until January 31st, 2026.
Yes, it is possible to earn MQMs for Delta award tickets. You get 1 MQM per mile flown for Main Cabin and Comfort+ tickets, and 1.5 MQMs per mile for Delta One, First, and Premium Select tickets. Most importantly, when you use Delta Pay With Miles, you also earn MQMs at the fare rate, except for Basic Economy.
No, it isn’t possible to directly transfer MQMs to another account. However, Delta do offer limited MQM gifting as part of their Choice Benefits program for high-tier Medallion members (Diamond and Platinum). Please keep in mind that there are restrictions and fees, so you have to check Delta’s official website for deeper details.
You can earn Delta Medallion status faster with a Delta credit card by swiping it a lot. The more you spend, the closer you get to qualifying, and in some cases, you might even reach the status without ever needing to fly (good for big spenders, isn’t it?). Even if you don’t make it all the way in one year, your progress rolls over to the next one, which gives you a head start. And, if you ever lose your status, there’s a program to help you get it back more easily.
The Final Thought
That’s it, Delta MQMs are basically points you earn for flying Delta that unlock special perks. It is as simple as that, the more you fly, the more points you get. When you have more points, it comes with a better perks, which include:
- Free upgrades to better seats
- Faster check-in and security lines
- Bonus miles for future trips, etc.
In essence, flying more with Delta means you are treated better by Delta. So plan your next trip, earn those MQMs, and enjoy an unforgettable experience with Delta Air Lines.