Medallion® Qualification Dollars FAQs
What are the changes?
Beginning January 1, 2014, you will earn Medallion status through a combination of Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) flown and your annual spending on Delta flights, which will be measured by Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs).
Why is Delta making these changes?
These Medallion program changes will better recognize and reward our elite customers. These changes will create an even more exclusive Medallion experience and make it easier for Medallion members to enjoy their benefits, including Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades, Economy Comfort™ access, Preferred Seats and Priority Boarding.
When will the Medallion Qualification changes take effect?
The new Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) requirement will go into effect January 1, 2014. Please note this will not affect status earned in 2012 for the 2013 Medallion year or status earned in 2013 for the 2014 Medallion year.
How will I earn Medallion status effective January 1, 2014?
Beginning January 1, 2014, members will earn Medallion status based on the existing criteria of Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) AND the new threshold of annual spend on Delta flights, which will be measured by Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). Please note that if a customer does not meet the MQDs threshold, he or she can still qualify for Medallion status if he or she has earned the required MQMs or MQSs and makes at least $25,000 in Eligible Purchases within the calendar year on his or her Delta SkyMiles Credit Card.
What spend counts towards Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs)?
MQDs are the total of the SkyMiles member’s spend on Delta-marketed flights (flight numbers that include the “DL” airline code), inclusive of the base fare and applicable surcharges, but exclusive of government- imposed taxes and fees.
Flight spend for travel on other airlines ticketed through a Delta channel (featuring a ticket number beginning with “006”) will also be included in MQDs.
Certain specialty tickets, including but not limited to unpublished, consolidator, group/tour and opaque fare products will not count toward MQDs.
Do bag fees, seat purchases, etc. count toward earning Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs)?
No. Ancillary purchases or fees including but not limited to checked baggage fees, Economy Comfort™ seat purchases, Priority Boarding, Delta Sky Club® memberships, Wi-Fi passes, in-flight food and beverage purchases, in-flight entertainment, unaccompanied minor fees, pet travel fees, Mileage Booster™, ticket change fees, Direct Ticketing Charge (DTC), Same Day Confirmed Fee, Administrative Service Charge (ASC), External Reissue Charge (ERC), and Standby Upgrades purchased at the gate, do not count toward earning MQDs.
What Eligible Purchases count towards the MQDs waiver on the Delta SkyMiles Credit Card?
Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Eligible Purchases are the total of purchases for goods and services less returns and other credits. Fees, interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases of traveler’s checks, the purchase or reloading of prepaid cards and purchases of other cash equivalents will not count towards Eligible Purchases. This applies only to Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards issued in the United States.
Will I earn Medallion status if I spend the minimum amount of MQDs that are required, but do not fly the required amount of MQMs? For example, if I earned $5,000 MQDs but only flew 20,000 MQMs would I earn Gold Medallion status?
Members must complete the MQM or MQS requirements AND earn the minimum amount of MQDs for that tier to qualify for that level of Medallion status. Spend alone will not earn Medallion status.
How do I track my progress on Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) or Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Eligible Purchases?
You will be able to track and monitor your MQDs and Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Eligible Purchases on delta.com prior to January 1, 2014. Remember, the MQDs requirement does not go into effect until January 1, 2014, but we wanted to give customers plenty of advance notice of this modification.
As a reminder, MQDs are calculated as Delta-marketed or Delta-ticketed base fare and applicable surcharges, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees. Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Eligible Purchases are the sum total of purchases for goods and services less returns and other credits. Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Eligible Purchases also exclude fees, interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases of traveler’s checks, the purchase or reloading of prepaid cards and purchases of other cash equivalents.
Why is Delta adding a new spend component to Medallion qualification?
The new spend-based component will better recognize and reward our best customers and help ensure your Medallion benefits remain valuable.
What happens if I meet the requirements for Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) but not the spend requirement for Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs)?
If you achieve one Medallion qualification criteria and not the other, your status will be determined based on the lower of the two qualifying thresholds that you achieved. For example, if you earned 76,000 MQMs (enough to qualify for Platinum Medallion status), but had $6,000 MQDs (enough to qualify for Gold Medallion status, but not Platinum Medallion status), then you will earn Gold Medallion status. Rollover MQMs would be calculated as anything in excess of the MQM threshold for the status earned based on the new criteria.
What about those of us who qualify on segments? How will this change impact us?
The number of segments required for Medallion qualification will not change. However, you also will have to spend a minimum amount with Delta, measured by Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). Please note that if a customer does not meet the MQDs threshold, he or she can still qualify for Medallion status if he or she has earned the required Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) and makes at least $25,000 in Eligible Purchases within the calendar year on his or her Delta SkyMiles Credit Card.
Will my year-to-date Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) still roll over with the new program and will Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) roll over after spending a certain amount?
Rollover MQMs will not change with the new program. As long as you earn Medallion status based on the new requirements, any MQMs in excess of the threshold needed for status earned will roll over. There will be no rollover of MQDs, Eligible Purchases on Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards or Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs).
What if I already have enough Rollover Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) to qualify for 2015 Medallion status? Do I still have to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs)?
If a member has enough Rollover MQMs to qualify for 2015 Medallion status, he or she must still meet the MQDs threshold by spending on Delta flights in 2014 to qualify for status in the 2015 Medallion year.
How will this affect the annual complimentary status earned by Million Milers?
Million Miler™ annual complimentary status is not impacted by the Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) or Delta SkyMiles Credit Card MQDs waiver. However, to maintain Rollover Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs), Million Milers will have to meet the spend requirements to achieve at least Silver Medallion status.
How will this affect Gold or Silver Medallion status gifted through Choice Benefits?
Choice Benefits gifted status is not impacted by the Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) or Delta SkyMiles Credit Card MQDs waiver.
Why do the Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) required vary by Medallion tier, but Delta SkyMiles Credit Card spend is a flat amount across all tiers?
The waiver for the MQDs requirement for Medallion status is an exclusive benefit of the Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express, and therefore does not vary by tier level.
I have multiple Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards. How will my Eligible Purchases be calculated?
Your total spend across all U.S.-issued Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards will be combined and count towards your annual total Eligible Purchases.
I have additional cards linked to my Delta SkyMiles Credit Card (spouse, children, colleagues, etc.). Does their spend count towards my total?
Yes. Eligible Purchases by Additional Cardmembers linked to the Basic Cardmember's account will count towards the Basic Cardmember's spend total.
Delta issues credit cards in multiple countries. What spend counts towards the Delta SkyMiles Credit Card spend?
Only Eligible Purchases on Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards issued in the United States will count towards the Delta SkyMiles Credit Card spend.
