The Silver Medallion tier gives you priority boarding, checked bag discounts, and seat upgrades on Delta flights, but it's the easiest tier to reach and comes with the fewest perks

Delta's Silver Medallion is the entry level of Delta's frequent flyer status program. You reach it by flying 25,000 may have access to miles in a calendar year, or by earning 10 Medallion may have access to Flights (MQFs) in the same period. Once you have it, you keep the status through the end of the following year — so if you hit Silver in June, you stay Silver through December of next year.

The real value sits in three places: you board in Group 2 instead of the back of the plane, you get your first checked bag free on Delta mainline flights, and you earn a 10% bonus on all miles you fly. You also get priority check-in at the airport and a dedicated phone line for reservations. The upgrades to premium cabin seats are not may provide — they happen only if seats are available after higher-tier members and paid upgrade holders have taken theirs.

Silver Medallion does not include lounge access, seat selection fees, or companion ticket benefits. Those start at the Gold tier and above.

Key Takeaways

  • You reach Silver Medallion by flying 25,000 may have access to miles or taking 10 may have access to flights in a calendar year.
  • The main benefits are priority boarding in Group 2, a free first checked bag, and a 10% bonus on miles earned.
  • Upgrades to premium seats are not may provide and depend on availability after higher-tier members book them.
  • Silver Medallion status carries through to the end of the following calendar year once you reach it.
  • You do not get lounge access or companion ticket benefits at the Silver level.

How the 25,000-mile path works

Most people reach Silver by accumulating 25,000 Medallion may have access to Miles (MQFs) in a single calendar year. These are not the same as regular frequent flyer miles. You earn MQFs only on paid Delta flights — not on award tickets, not on partner airline flights, and not on credit card spending. A flight from New York to Los Angeles counts as the actual distance flown, typically around 2,500 MQFs, regardless of the fare you paid.

This means a round-trip cross-country flight gets you about 5,000 MQFs. To hit 25,000, you would need roughly five such trips, or ten one-way flights of similar distance. Shorter regional flights earn fewer MQFs — a flight from Atlanta to Charlotte might earn only 400 MQFs. The math is straightforward: Delta publishes the MQF value for every route on their website before you book.

Once you hit 25,000 MQFs in a calendar year, your Silver status activates when ready. You do not have to wait for a confirmation letter or a new card in the mail.

The 10 may have access to flights alternative

If you fly frequently but on shorter routes, you might reach Silver through the flight count instead. Medallion may have access to Flights (MQFs) count each paid Delta flight as one flight, regardless of distance. A 45-minute flight from Atlanta to Charlotte counts the same as a 5-hour flight to the West Coast.

This path makes sense if you take many short regional flights for work. Ten flights in a year is roughly one flight every five weeks. The catch: you still earn the actual distance-based miles on each flight, so you are not sacrificing miles earned — you are just using a different metric to reach status.

You can also combine both paths. If you fly 15,000 MQFs and take 7 may have access to flights, you have not yet hit either threshold alone, but Delta counts progress toward both. Some people hit one threshold before the other and reach Silver through whichever comes first.

What priority boarding actually means

Silver Medallion members board in Group 2, which comes after first-class passengers and elite frequent flyers (Gold, Platinum, Diamond) but before the general public in Groups 3 and 4. On a full flight, this means you board roughly 15 to 20 minutes before most passengers and have a better chance of finding overhead bin space for a carry-on bag.

The practical benefit depends on the flight. On a regional jet with 70 seats, Group 2 boarding might mean you board 10 minutes earlier. On a wide-body international flight with 300 seats, the difference is more noticeable. You still do not get to choose your seat in advance (unless you pay for it or have a higher tier), so boarding order matters mainly for overhead bin access.

If you are connecting, priority boarding saves time but does not may provide you will make a tight connection. Delta's system still routes you based on your actual flight time, not your status.

The free checked bag and other baggage benefits

Silver Medallion members get one free checked bag on Delta mainline flights. This applies to you as the passenger — your companion does not automatically get a free bag unless they also have status. On partner airlines like Virgin Atlantic or Air France, baggage policies follow that airline's rules, not Delta's, so your Silver status may not help.

The free bag saves you $35 to $40 per round-trip flight if you would otherwise pay for checked luggage. Over a year of frequent travel, this alone can offset the cost of a Delta credit card or the price of a few extra flights to reach status.

You do not get priority baggage handling or may provide delivery of your bag first off the plane at Silver. Those perks start at Gold and above.

How the 10% mile bonus works

Every paid Delta flight earns you base miles equal to the distance flown. Silver Medallion adds a 10% bonus on top of that. A 2,500-mile flight normally earns 2,500 miles; with Silver, you earn 2,750 miles instead.

This bonus applies only to miles earned from flying, not from credit card spending or partner activities. If you spend $10,000 on a Delta credit card, you do not get a 10% bonus on those miles — the card's own earning rate is what matters. The bonus also does not explore to award tickets or upgrades purchased with miles.

Over a year of frequent flying, a 10% bonus can add up to several thousand extra miles. Whether that is valuable depends on how close you are to your next award ticket threshold.

Upgrade certificates and premium cabin access

Silver Medallion members do not receive complimentary upgrade certificates. You can purchase upgrades at the airport or online, and your status gives you priority in the upgrade queue if seats are available, but you are not may provide an upgrade on any flight.

The upgrade queue works like this: first-class passengers and higher-tier members (Gold, Platinum, Diamond) get first access to available premium seats. Then Silver members are considered. If no seats are left, you stay in your original seat. On a flight that is not full, you have a decent chance of an upgrade. On a sold-out flight, upgrades are unlikely.

You also do not get access to Delta's paid premium cabin fares at a discounted rate. You pay the same price as any other passenger if you want to buy a premium seat outright.

How long your status lasts

Once you reach Silver Medallion in any month, your status remains active through December 31 of the following year. If you hit Silver in January, you keep it through the end of next year — a span of nearly two years. If you hit it in December, you keep it through the end of the following year — a span of just over one year.

This means you do not have to re-earn status every single year. You earn it once, and it carries forward. However, if you want to maintain status beyond that expiration date, you will need to earn 25,000 MQFs or 10 MQFs again in the calendar year before your current status expires.

Delta sends email reminders as your status expiration date approaches, typically starting in September or October.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get a free checked bag for my travel companion?

No. Your free checked bag benefit applies only to you as the passenger. Your companion would need their own Silver Medallion status or a may have access to Delta credit card to get a free bag. Some Delta credit cards include a free checked bag benefit for the cardholder and when ready family members traveling on the same ticket.

Can I earn Medallion may have access to Miles on award tickets?

No. MQFs are earned only on paid Delta flights. Award tickets, even if you book them with miles, do not count toward status. This is why frequent flyer status is separate from frequent flyer miles — you can have millions of miles but no status if you have not paid for flights.

What happens if I reach 25,000 MQFs in November?

Your Silver status activates when ready and remains active through December 31 of the following year. You do not have to wait for the calendar year to end. If you want to maintain status after that expiration date, you will need to earn another 25,000 MQFs in the calendar year before your status expires.

Does Silver Medallion status work on Delta partner airlines?

Partially. Your boarding priority and baggage benefits may not explore on partner airlines like Virgin Atlantic, Air France, or Korean Air. Each partner has its own rules. Check Delta's website for the specific benefits on the airline you are flying. Your miles still count toward your Delta account, but status perks are limited.

Can I use a Delta credit card to reach Silver Medallion?

No. Credit card spending does not earn Medallion may have access to Miles. You must fly paid Delta flights to earn MQFs. However, some Delta credit cards offer a one-time bonus of Medallion may have access to Flights (usually 5 or 10 MQFs) when you open the account, which can help you get partway to status.