Delta Revises Upcoming Changes to Medallion Status & Sky Club Access

In mid-September 2023, Delta announced some sweeping changes to the way members earn Medallion status, and to the Sky Club lounge access policy. The changes were significant, and reaction was negative across the board.

In the wake of Delta’s CEO hinting that the airline would reconsider some of the changes, Delta has walked back on some the changes, and has amended the proposed changes to the status qualification levels, Sky Club access policy, and other features of the program.

Delta’s Revised Medallion Qualifying Dollar Tiers

In 2024, the way you earn Delta Medallion status is set to change to a completely revenue-based model. There will no longer be Medallion Qualifying Miles or Medallion Qualifying Segments, and status will be based solely on Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs).

In mid-September 2023, the new tiers for status qualification were revealed, and they represented a significant increase from the current levels. 

Now, Delta has revised the MQD levels required to obtain Medallion status to the below levels. 

It’s worth noting that these new MQD tiers are much lower than those proposed in September 2023, but still represent a sizeable increase to the status quo. Earning Delta Medallion status as of 2024 will be more onerous than it was in 2023.

As of February 1, 2024, cardholders of the personal or business Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Cards, as well as cardholders of the personal or business Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Cards, will receive a boost of 2,500 MQDs for the elite status qualification year.

Interestingly, it appears that the MQD boost can stack if you happen to hold more than one of the aforementioned cards. This opens up the opportunity to earn status without ever having set foot in a plane, year after year.

For example, if you hold both the personal and business SkyMiles Platinum cards, you’d have enough MQD to earn SkyMiles Medallion Silver status.

Plus, if you also happened to hold both the personal and business SkyMiles Reserve cards, you’d have enough MQD to earn SkyMiles Medallion Gold status. 

This would also effectively reduce the MQD requirements to reach Medallion Platinum…