As the year draws to a close, Delta Airlines has introduced a promotion aimed at making elite status more accessible. With just four months left, SkyMiles members have a valuable opportunity to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) through the airline’s latest offer.
Promotion Details
Currently, SkyMiles members can earn 1 MQD for every dollar spent on car rentals, hotels, and vacation rentals booked through the Delta Travel Extras portal, after taxes and fees. To take advantage of this promotion, travel must be booked by September 30 and completed by October 31. This promotion offers a significant boost towards achieving Delta’s elite status levels.
Additional SkyMiles Benefits
While MQDs are the focus of this promotion, members will also continue to earn SkyMiles on all bookings through the Delta Travel Extras portal. For every dollar spent on eligible bookings, members will accrue a minimum of 2 SkyMiles, which can be used for future award flights. However, it is important to note that MQDs and SkyMiles may take up to eight weeks to be credited after travel completion.
Delta Medallion Status Levels and Requirements
Delta offers four tiers of elite status, each with its own MQD threshold. Achieving these levels provides a range of benefits throughout the remainder of the calendar year and the following year:
Silver Medallion: Requires $6,000 MQDs
Gold Medallion: Requires $12,000 MQDs
Platinum Medallion: Requires $18,000 MQDs
Diamond Medallion: Requires $35,000 MQDs
For example, a traveler booking a weeklong vacation rental costing $3,000 through Delta Travel Extras will earn 3,000 MQDs. This amount alone would cover half the requirement for Delta Silver status, which includes benefits such as waived baggage fees and priority customer service.
Alternative Ways to Earn MQDs
Aside from flight bookings, which earn 1 MQD per dollar spent with Delta, travelers can accumulate MQDs through Delta’s premium credit cards. The Delta Platinum and Reserve cards offer a head start of $2,500 MQDs. Additionally, Delta Platinum cardholders earn 1 MQD per $20 spent on everyday purchases, while Delta Reserve cardholders receive 1 MQD per $10 spent.
Conclusion
Delta’s new promotion provides an excellent opportunity for SkyMiles members to advance toward Medallion status by leveraging spending on travel-related services. By booking through the Delta Travel Extras portal and utilizing Delta’s premium credit cards, travelers can accelerate their path to elite status and enjoy enhanced benefits in the coming year.