What Delta Medallion Membership Is and How You Earn It
Delta Medallion is Delta Air Lines' frequent flyer status program. You earn Medallion status by accumulating Medallion may have access to Dollars (MQDs) — money you spend on Delta tickets — or by flying a certain number of segments (flights) in a calendar year. Once you reach one of four status tiers, you unlock benefits like priority boarding, seat upgrades, and lounge access for the remainder of that year plus the following year.
The four tiers are Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion, and Diamond Medallion. Each tier requires more spending or flights than the last. You do not have to choose which tier to pursue — you straightforward earn status at whichever level your activity reaches first.
Delta resets your progress each January 1st. Status earned in 2024 carries through the end of 2025, so you have roughly 13 months to use your benefits before they expire.
Key Takeaways
- You earn Medallion status by spending money on Delta tickets (Medallion may have access to Dollars) or by flying a set number of Delta flight segments in a single calendar year.
- A Delta credit card can count toward your status requirements and often comes with a one-time status boost when you first open the account.
- The four tiers — Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond — each require different spending thresholds, ranging from $1,500 to $14,000 in annual MQDs.
- Status earned in one year extends into the following year, so benefits you unlock in December 2024 remain active through December 2025.
- You can check your progress toward the next tier in your Delta SkyMiles account online or in the Fly Delta app at any time.
The Four Medallion Tiers and Their Requirements
Each tier has two paths to reach it: spend a certain amount on tickets, or fly a certain number of segments. You hit the tier as soon as you meet either requirement.
| Tier | Medallion may have access to Dollars | Flight Segments |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Medallion | $1,500 | 10 segments |
| Gold Medallion | $5,000 | 25 segments |
| Platinum Medallion | $9,000 | 50 segments |
| Diamond Medallion | $14,000 | 70 segments |
A segment is a single flight, regardless of length. A round-trip counts as two segments. Flights booked with miles do not count toward segment requirements, but they do count toward MQD requirements if you paid cash for the ticket originally.
Not all tickets count equally. Basic Economy fares earn MQDs at a lower rate than Main Cabin or First Class tickets. A $200 Main Cabin ticket might earn $200 in MQDs, while a $200 Basic Economy ticket might earn only $100. Delta publishes the earning rate for each fare type when you book.
Using a Delta Credit Card to Speed Up Status
A Delta credit card accelerates your path to Medallion status in two ways. First, the card typically comes with a one-time status boost — usually 10,000 or 15,000 Medallion may have access to Dollars — added to your account when you open it. This boost can push you partway or all the way to your next tier without a single flight.
Second, every dollar you spend on the card counts toward your MQD total for the year, whether you are buying Delta tickets or groceries. This means you can earn status progress without flying at all. A card that earns 2 MQDs per dollar spent means a $5,000 annual spend on the card translates to 10,000 MQDs toward your status.
Delta offers several co-branded cards at different annual fee levels. The card with the highest annual fee typically offers the largest sign-up MQD boost and the highest earning rate on all purchases. Compare the cards on Delta's website or through your credit card issuer to see which fits your spending habits.
Tracking Your Progress and Staying on Pace
Log into your Delta SkyMiles account at delta.com or open the Fly Delta mobile app. Your dashboard shows your current MQD total and how many dollars or segments you need to reach the next tier. This counter updates within 24 hours of each purchase or flight.
If you are aiming for a specific tier by year-end, subtract today's date from December 31st to see how many months remain. Then divide your remaining MQD requirement by the number of months left. This tells you how much you need to spend per month to hit your goal. Many frequent flyers use this math to decide whether to book premium cabin tickets or to increase credit card spending in the final quarter.
Delta also sends email updates when you cross certain milestones — for example, when you reach 50% of the way to your next tier. These notifications can help you stay aware of your progress without logging in constantly.
Benefits You Receive at Each Tier
Silver Medallion members receive priority boarding (boarding group 1 or 2 instead of the standard group), a 10% bonus on miles earned, and a free checked bag on Delta flights.
Gold Medallion adds complimentary upgrades to First Class or Comfort+ (Delta's premium economy), access to Delta Sky Club lounges, and a second free checked bag. You also earn a 25% bonus on miles.
Platinum Medallion increases your upgrade priority, grants access to more exclusive lounges, and bumps your miles bonus to 50%. You receive a third free checked bag and priority customer service phone lines.
Diamond Medallion is the highest tier. You receive the most generous upgrade priority, unlimited First Class upgrades on may be able to access flights, access to all Delta lounges worldwide, and a 100% miles bonus. You also get a fourth free checked bag and concierge-level customer service.
All tiers include benefits like priority boarding and lounge access only on flights you personally take. Family members or companions do not inherit your status unless they hold their own Medallion membership.
What Counts and What Does Not Count Toward Status
Only tickets purchased with cash or credit count toward MQDs. Award tickets (flights booked with miles) do not earn MQDs, though they do count as segments if you are pursuing the segment path. Tickets purchased through third-party sites like Expedia or Kayak may not earn MQDs unless you booked them directly through Delta.
Flights on partner airlines — even if you booked them through Delta or earned miles on them — do not count toward Medallion status. Only Delta mainline flights count. Flights on Delta Connection partners (regional carriers operating under the Delta name) do count.
Taxes and fees are not included in the MQD calculation. A ticket that costs $500 total, with $50 in taxes, earns MQDs based on the $450 base fare only.
Refunds and ticket cancellations reverse your MQD progress. If you earned 5,000 MQDs and then cancel a $3,000 ticket, your total drops to 2,000 MQDs.
Maintaining Your Status Into the Following Year
Status earned in 2024 automatically carries into 2025 at no cost. You do not have to re-earn it or pay a fee to keep it. However, your 2024 status expires on December 31, 2025. If you want to maintain Medallion benefits into 2026, you must earn status again during 2025.
Many members plan their spending to earn status in November or December, which gives them a full 13 months of benefits before needing to re-earn. Others spread their spending throughout the year to maintain status continuously.
If you fall short of your target tier by year-end, you do not lose all progress. Your MQD total resets to zero on January 1st, but any status you have already earned remains active through the end of that year. For example, if you reach Gold Medallion in November 2024, you keep Gold status through December 2025, even if you earn no MQDs in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I combine MQDs from multiple credit cards or accounts?
No. Each SkyMiles account is separate. If you have two Delta credit cards, both earn MQDs into the same account if they are linked to the same SkyMiles number. But you cannot merge progress from two different SkyMiles accounts. If you have multiple accounts, contact Delta to consolidate them before pursuing status.
Do flights I book for other people count toward my status?
Only if you are the passenger on the flight. Buying a ticket for a family member or friend does not earn you MQDs or segments. The person flying must be the one earning the status.
What happens if I reach a higher tier mid-year?
You when ready jump to that tier and receive all its benefits. You do not stay at a lower tier for the rest of the year. For example, if you reach Platinum Medallion in June, you have Platinum benefits from June through December 2025.
Can I lose my status before the year ends?
No. Once you earn a Medallion tier, it cannot be taken away during that year or the following year. Even if you cancel your credit card or stop flying, your status remains active through the end of the extended period.
Do I earn miles faster as a Medallion member?
Yes. Each tier includes a miles bonus — Silver gets 10% extra, Gold gets 25%, Platinum gets 50%, and Diamond gets 100%. This bonus applies to all miles you earn on Delta flights, whether you are a Medallion member or not. The bonus is one of the most valuable long-term benefits of the program.