Back in October 2023, Delta announced major changes to its million miler program, which are overwhelmingly positive. This is an update, as these changes are live as of today, so some SkyMiles members should see their lifetime elite status updated.
Continue reading: Delta Makes Million Miler Lifetime Status More Rewarding, Harder To Earn
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Sadly having Gold Medallion no longer gets you SkyClub access flying international.
Gold is like the new Silver.
Silver is like an Amex card.
Nothing really rewarding for infrequent flyer who aims to use benefits after they stop flying often.
If you still fly, lifetime status probably is only useful to jump the upgrade list.
So will folks who are already million milers be changed to lifetime gold? Or only new MM?
Awesome changes. I’m 25k from 1 million, lifetime Gold is a huge upgrade over lifetime Silver.
" and when booking through Delta, you earn MQDs at the same rate whether you’re booking a Delta flight or a hotel."
They have backtracked on MQDs for car rental and hotel bookings.
"Given the latest changes, including the newly reduced MQD thresholds, MQDs will not be offered for Delta Car Rentals and Delta Stays bookings."
Typical Delta vapor ware.
And Gold with UNITED gets you EconomyPlus at booking. Delta puts you in the 72 hour upgrade lottery.
American is a very distant 3rd place and is losing ground . The AA lifetime program is simply not competitive with UA and DL . The DL positive changes to their lifetime program interest me and I may direct more flight activity to DL to hit my next million mile threshold. No incentive to stay with AA after 2 million miles .
If they really want to innovate give MMs an MQD head start based on their MM status
From “Ed’s note” emailed today:
“Effective February 1, 2024, we are significantly upgrading annual Complimentary Status achievement levels for all Million Milers.”
I would interpret that the word “all” refers to existing as well as new.
You hardly need to ask.
It must be the proverbial wild horses keeping him from commenting.
Huh?
Gold is still Skyteam Elite plus, no?
Which gives you access to all the lounges except Delta's own ones.
I would prefer Air France or China Airlines lounge in SFO anyway
Nope. Thx! Mainly for couple
Of reasons:
1. They didn’t bring back MQMs. So no value for flying them, hence no value for loyalty. They will continue to devalue the program. No change in leadership or direction. James will follow up is a signal that we are staying the course. Ed said it that thry made the changes too fast. Trust me the new Choice Benefits will be very underwhelming. While I’m Diamond next year, I’m spending all my miles on partner flights in Europe and Asia this year. Adios Reserve card.
2. More importantly, travel is about having fun and different experiences. Flying one airline for 10+ years, reaching 2MM with one brand was a mistake. Delta sent me a wake up call, I’ve flown Singapore, and Aegean in the past few weeks and I LOVED both.
I’m not anti-Delta, I’ll fly them when it makes sense (oh and when I use up my 6 mint upgrades and 4 Blade rides) but Delta will need to really compete and try to earn my business. No blind loyalty anymore.
Ben, I will point out that United’s is still the hardest to earn after these Delta changes. Delta (and American) will credit ALL BIS miles (including on airline partners) but with UA, it’s only on UA-metal flights, zero on Star Alliance partner flights.
With this change, AA will be forced to make a significant change to their lackluster program. The excuse I've always heard is that they included CC spend towards MM for years longer than the others Big3, so they have "many" members with "millions of MM miles". Okay cool, well I'm only in my 30's and besides for like 1 month during the pandemic it's been ONLY "butt in seat miles" and I barely have 400k (I've been PP for the last 6 years and EXP the last 2). I fly ALOT compared to everyone I know (Dom + Int) and I can't seem to rack my brain around why their LT program sucks so bad for someone like me who is currently paying the airlines tens of thousands a year and spending way more on my AA CC's and through partners. Kinda actually SAD at this point. On that note, Marriott needs to add back LT Titanium and STAT!
He is currently touching up Ed Bastians shiny forehead before an appearance on CNBC. Give him a few.....
Further irony is that AA did the 180 of DL just did. Previously AA rewarded spend on partners (credit cards, hotels, etc) but moved to 100% BIS many years ago. Then the shit to Loyalty Points 2 years ago - rewarding all partner spend - revenue is revenue right. The MM program did not shift then, and DL has just changed the game.
I agree with others that AA has no choice but to dust off all those proposals from 3 years ago when LPs were being hashed out in the conference rooms on Amon Carter Boulevard. It's time to rerun the numbers. AA is losing loyalty marketshare to DL as measured by loyalty accounts, and AA will have to assess if enhancing MM benefits drive enough other incremental revenue and increase marketshare.
Exactly. Skyteam lounges are cool in the USA. Internationally you're better off going with Skyteam partner lounges (usually)
Not to split hairs but the announcement didn't say "for life" - it stated the "annual x status". Giving them an out if they want to redevalue in the future.
Do we know if partner operated flights will still count towards MM, or only miles exclusively on DL metal (as I believe is the case with UAL)?
It is essentially the program AA installed way back in December 2011 without the higher levels. I'm surprised it took DL this long to make these changes.
For those fairly new/starting out unless you will have years and years of International flying hitting 6 million LT miles won't be easy.
Think most ppl are missing the point here. The main reason for this change is to keep their most “loyal” customers from jumping ship. Who cares about annual status requirements if you’re already at that LT level? Will keep many of those ppl loyal to Delta now
I crossed 2 million just before the pandemic late in 2019, so I guess I’m now LT Platinum, which is a huge change.
Per Rene on his site, million miler status starts from zero. I'm hoping he's wrong.
While not one of the big three, AS is hardest of all... It's AS metal only and they have a smaller footprint. I've been stuck pretty much at 750K since I moved from the west coast nearly a decade ago. Now, I'm just hoping that DL will acquire them as it would immediately kick me over 3MM...
Rene doesn't know what he's talking about. 100% wrong and he should be ashamed of himself for disseminating such idiotic falsehoods.
Hi, so I am already a one million miler which was lifetime Silver.
Will my status be bumped to Gold after these changes?
Thanks,
Aaron
The Delta announcement and website are unclear about a lot of things.
Will it be just Delta metal butt-in-seats miles that will count? No partners? On United it is strictly UA metal.
Will (Delta metal Delta ticketed) award tickets count, or only revenue? These do not on United, as far as I know.
Will Basic Economy count once again? It does on United.
Thanks!
Lol, of course Delta pulls crap like this. A change that on the surface looks to be an improvement but actually sticks it to their loyal customers yet again. Choose another airline already.
I texted with delta about that yesterday, and they told me that the status earned by feb 2024 will not be upgraded. I’m at 1.95 million miles and had trip planned in December that would put me over 2 million, but based on what they told me I will likely book it with united and wait for 2024 trip to put me over the threshold. Oh irony.
I am curious about the Lifetime MM. I became a MM in 1985 or so. But I wasn’t immediately made a Lifetime MM. Does the program work that EVERYONE who hits 1 MM miles automatically becomes a Lifetime member? I had thought maybe the length of being one had something to do with it. Thanks in advance for enlightening me!
It might surprise the revenue managers at the major carriers, but the million miler program is the MOST IMPORTANT criterion for me when choosing among the legacy carriers. Today I choose UA since miles earned there can qualify me for up to their highest status, a benefit that I am able to share with my partner. In contrast, with AA the best I can do is achieve not-very-rewarding Platinum-level status for only me (but no companion). DL's upcoming upcoming MM program change is great because it lowers the hurdles to a more achievable levels for these old legs, but unfortunately still omits the companion benefit. Thanks, Delta for making it a bit easier! And American, please catch up with the pack!!
I am very concerned about the changes Delta is making to MQMs being taken away. For Million Miler status in the future based only on Lifetime miles flown am I going to get to keep my existing miles (which have a mixture of credit card and flight miles) and going forward only add miles flown on top of my existing miles. I have been flying for 30 years with Delta and just as I am approaching 2 Million Miles I am suddenly cut back just as I am retiring. And with no reward for the length of time I have been a member and flying I get nothing...as a short segment flyer I did not get the same credit as some of my long haul flying partners and now I am stuck with no way to reach that status as I am retiring. I built up a lot of miles over the years to use as I retire and now I am being sent to the back of the bus. So I might as well go use the low cost provider now since my 30 years and built up MQMs are not worth what I expected! This change may be good for the younger busine flyer who has the time to make up it is a bummer for us longtime loayl customers.
I just got off the phone with a Delta representative, who told me that with my 400,000 lifetime miles, I would be Diamond Medallion in 2024. I said there must be some mistake, I only have 400K, not 4 Million - she said she was 200% sure. I am off my rocker or is she?
This is huge for those that just reached milestones. I am at 2.2mm so instead of lifetime gold I will get lifetime Platinum. I will likely downgrade to the Gold Delta AMEX card to still maintain the 15% off on miles but not have to spend the cc fee for Platinum.
She is. This would only apply if you had 400,000 MQM's for 2023. Apples and Oranges.
Are you going to get to 2MM.....if so big advantage with the changes as you will be at Platinum with fewer folks able to get there?
I'm a MM, so pleased to hear that will convert from Silver to Gold. But my question is whether that lifetime status gives you any "head start" towards medallion status for the following year. Am I starting at 0 each year for spend or am I starting at the gold amount and I need to earn the difference to get to platinum? (I feel like you don't get much for gold, so platinum is what I'd be trying for. Do I need to spend the whole amount (minus any credit card starting boost)?
Thanks!
That might be a mistake. The Delta web site makes clear that if you make 2 million this year, you will get all the 2 MM benefits including the new “lifetime” elite status starting on 2/1/24. Waiting would just mean that you will get the 2MM benefits later.
Several posts refer to "Lifetime" status, yet Delta's online documentation and the e-mail that they sent, refers to "annual Complimentary Medallion Status", which in legal terms, means that they can make changes in the future. Correct? Words matter!
Actually no. I am also a million miler - just earned the status this year - and when I contacted Delta I was told that current million milers will NOT BE UPGRADED TO GOLD! So thanks Delta for slapping your very best and most lowal customers in the face. I'll be flying United and American from now on.
This is unbelievable - current million milers WILL NOT BE UPGRADED FROM SILVER TO GOLD MEDALLION! After 30 years of flying with Delta and achieving my million miles just this year, they told me I will not be upgraded to Gold. That's only for those who complete their million miles after January 1, 2024. So all of Delta's most faithful flyers DO NOT get the upgraded status. As a CEO myself, I have never seen a company treat their very best customers so poorly. Angry!
still unclear to me…i wish just one of these travel bloggers could get us answers.
I would validate this again with Delta. Based on documentation, it feels like the representative you spoke too was wrong
I don't think you get retro-active upgrade or downgrade. In other words, if you are now 1MM, you won't get upgraded to Gold. Similarly, if you are now 3MM, you won't get downgraded from Diamond to Gold.
Technically, it's UA "flight number" that counts toward MM (not just UA metal). Am I correct?
I am less then 2500 miles to Delta's Million MIler STatus / I have a flight January 7th to 11th that would put me over based on 2023 criteria. How can I find out how many of my miles come off because they were credit card or other miles and not flying miles?
The Delta million miler revisions are beautiful for me, a 3.25 million miler. I gain lifetime Diamond status as I approach retirement. I will still have a good chance to sit up front while on vacation travel!
I haven't seen this noted, but 2024 changes the upgrade priority on DL to dramatically advantage those with lifetime/"complimentary annual" status.
The new priority is: medallion status, then paid-for cabin/experience (with paid Comfort+ prioritized ahead of Main Cabin), then million milers (ordered by lifetime mile total: note that Diamond with 1 million miles would land here), then Reserve/corporate travel, then order by calendar year MQDs.
For a 3+ million miler, they would automatically be Diamond. If they buy Main, they'd be behind Diamonds who bought Comfort+, but would otherwise only behind someone with a higher lifetime mile balance (and since there are probably at most low-five-figures 3+ million milers, that's fairly unlikely). So DL 3MM has a reasonably high likelihood of clearing upgrades (they also wouldn't get any priority benefit from having the Reserve card).
UA's waitlist priority doesn't give any advantage to million milers beyond the Premier status. For 1-3MM, then, it comes down to whether the companion status nomination is more valuable than upgrade priority (it's also potentially relevant that DL has never confirmed nor denied that 360s are prioritized ahead of Diamonds).
The new year has also brought clarification that, essentially, any flight that earns MQD (including award flights on DL or partner metal, though it's not like SkyMiles is a good program for partner redemptions) will earn towards million miler, so in that sense DL still has easier million mile earnings than UA or AA.
Zero of your lifetime miles will come off because they were credit card/other miles.
The change is just that you will not earn lifetime miles from credit card activity (though you will earn lifetime miles from your flights you use miles for).
By this time, you should be showing as "complimentary annual" Silver, and on February 1 you'll switch to complimentary annual Gold.
Lifetime/"annual complimentary" status does not give a head start.
It effectively means that you get the status the usual way (in the days of rollover MQM, this included taking MQM) and then if that status you got the normal way is lower than the annual complimentary status you're entitled to, you get bumped up to the annual complimentary status.
UA requires UA or UA Express metal. Star Alliance generally only cares about operating carrier.
There are confirmations from FlyerTalk that any flight which earns MQDs earns lifetime miles. So award tickets on DL or partners as well as partner revenue flights count for MM status (but not, by implication, Basic tickets).
Wrong, wrong wrong. I've been a Million Miler Silver since 2003. This morning when I checked my account, there was GOLD plastered everywhere as welll as Sky Priority. I'd check you account again. And then get 'unangry'.
I believe that in one of Delta's information releases, it expressly stated Gold, etc. would be retroactive.
Delta is actually much easier to earn then United as united only counts there on flights, but not the partners that Delta counselor partners as well, that much easier to achieve. Ironically flights on many partners get now more million miler credit then in the past especially when flying in economy
Delta has not notified me that I will be upgraded to gold, and my status at Delta.com still shows silver.
this is not true I have been million for about five years now and I was upgraded to lifetime gold, at the first of the year
In addition to miles flown on partners, award tickets on Delta metal also count toward million miler status. While Delta has made it more difficult compared to 2023, it is still way easier to earn Delta million miler status compared to United.
I checked the app today and I am now in fact Gold. Yesterday I was silver and I earned 1M Miler stays about 7 years ago.
Just a note on the 360 Program. Had that for a few years and unless you live in a non hub location where you can use the Porsche service to take you to your connection, there is basically no difference than being a Diamond.
Last trip I flew 5,200 miles but got credit for 8,000 in miles but for MM status only got 2300?? I have called about this but getting nowhere..Will keep trying as I am very close to 2MM!!
Any idea where they now show your progress towards MM? It used to show on your skymiles summary but now I can not find it anywhere.
A feel like they should have a 800k tier that gives Silver as an incentive to
keep going, youre almost there
Actually the real value for 360s has been the special phone line (highest priority access, much better IROPS handling, “favors and waivers” when it comes to changes, etc). Immediately jumping to the top of the upgrade priority waitlist is also a great benefit.
Agreed, between 1MM status only being gold and AA going down the tube since America Worst took over the place I haven’t actually flown Oneworld or AA
I'm a 2M miler. My status now shows currently Diamond. 2025 status: Platinum even though I've only earned 4600 MQDs this year so far. Last week it showed 2025 status as Gold. So, the change has been made and you will go to Gold.
Yes, but you don’t use that everyday. BTW, the most I have waited for someone to answer my calls on the Diamond line was 5 seconds.
I am a Platinum with 1,600,000 plus Delta miles, for me the lifetime Gold is great. I am 76 and now retired and with the new program, I stopped flying just to get those few extra miles. I stopped using my Amex Reward Card and now use my Bank America Card that gives me 2 1/2 for a dollar. I will never make 350,000 miles more to have two million miles, so why try.
Wrong wrong wrong! I am Gold next year (2025) on my Delta Statement already. Platinum this year.
Does flying both business class and economy class earn you the same lifetime miles under the new MM program?
Great story. Delta has really stepped up and has shown that they value their million miler customers. As was pointed out, American has one of the least lucrative million miler programs. The value of lifetime gold has been greatly diminished as American pushes their credit card program. American should follow Delta's lead and update their program as well. I will do my best to direct the younger flyers in my company to Delta instead of remaining loyal to a company who clearly does not care about their Million Miler customers.
No. It is based entirely on price paid for your ticket multiplied by your status level. Currently I am silver (gold is 8, platinum 9, diamond 11), so I get 7 miles per dollar spent. Business still benefits since the ticket is much more expensive that an economy ticket.
Nice. At 3 1/2 Mill and not wanting to fly as much all of a sudden I’m Lifetime Diamond. Cool. I’ll take it
On the other hand Richard this is very nice for some. I rode Delta hard domestically for 30 years. 3 1/2 mill later and I’m absolutely positive making the guys that did the wake-up calls we did earned LT Diamond
I am at 4.8MM with about 3 more years before I retire. Now that butts-in-seats is the only thing that counts towards MM, I am worried that I won't make it to the magical 5MM (and 360 for life) before I retire. I know, first world problems, right?
United economy plus is nice but not equal to Comfort on Delta with free drinks and snacks all flight