Many travel loyalty programs offer the ability to earn lifetime elite status. Ordinarily elite status has to be earned on an annual basis, so it sure is nice to be able to not worry about requalifying for status anymore.
In this post, I want to take a look at how Delta SkyMiles lifetime status works. Delta completely overhauled its lifetime elite status program in 2024, so there have been significant changes. Separately, I’ve written about lifetime elite status with Alaska Mileage Plan, American AAdvantage, and United MileagePlus. On the hotel front, I’ve also written about lifetime elite status with Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt.
In this post:
How to earn Delta SkyMiles lifetime status
With Delta SkyMiles’ million miler program, members can earn lifetime status for all elite tiers, though you better be ready to be loyal for a very long time. Delta recently adjusted the miles that count toward lifetime elite status:
- Through the end of 2023, Delta’s lifetime elite status was based on the number of Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) that you earned through all means; this could include MQMs earned through flying with Delta or partner airlines, as well as MQMs earned through spending on Delta’s co-branded credit cards
- As of 2024, Delta only counts eligible miles flown on Delta toward million miler status, so miles earned through any other means no longer count
- However, Delta is honoring all existing lifetime mileage balances, and they’ve been converted to the new metric at a 1:1 ratio
So while Delta has made it much harder to earn lifetime elite status, the program has also made lifetime elite status much more rewarding. Below I’ll share the million miler elite thresholds that apply as of 2024, which are incredibly lucrative.
Lifetime Delta Gold Medallion status (one million miler)
Those who achieve one million miler status in the Delta SkyMiles program receive Gold Medallion status for life. On top of that, members receive a special gift for passing the threshold.
Lifetime Delta Platinum Medallion status (two million miler)
Those who achieve two million miler status in the Delta SkyMiles program receive Platinum Medallion status for life. On top of that, members receive a special gift for passing the threshold.
Lifetime Delta Diamond Medallion status (three million miler)
Those who achieve three million miler status in the Delta SkyMiles program receive Diamond Medallion status for life. On top of that, members receive a special gift for passing the threshold.
Lifetime Delta 360 status (five million miler)
Those who achieve five million miler status in the Delta SkyMiles program receive Delta 360 status for life, which is Delta’s invitation-only elite status. On top of that, members receive a special gift for passing the threshold.
Delta SkyMiles lifetime status FAQs
While the above is a basic rundown of Delta’s million miler program, let me answer some of the common questions people may have about the program.
Can you earn lifetime Delta status with credit card spending?
While you can earn Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) through credit card spending, this no longer counts toward lifetime status. Through the end of 2023, credit card spending made up a significant portion of how many people qualified for lifetime status status. However, that’s no longer the case.
How can you check your Delta million miler status progress?
You can check your progress toward Delta million miler status by logging into your SkyMiles account. On your account summary page you’ll see your progress toward million miler lifetime elite status.
Do Delta million miler miles expire?
Miles toward million miler elite status don’t expire, which is to say that you can continue to rack up miles slowly toward lifetime status. Unlike other elite miles, they don’t reset each year.
Also keep in mind that these are completely separate from redeemable miles, as you can’t use million miler miles toward anything. It’s simply a tally of how many eligible miles you’ve earned over the lifetime of your membership.
Is Delta million miler status worth it?
Is it awesome to be rewarded for long-term loyalty with lifetime status? Absolutely. But in my opinion it’s never worth significantly changing your behavior in order to earn lifetime status. Why?
- Airlines can change qualification rules at any time for lifetime elite status, even if you’ve spent the past 20 years trying to earn it
- Airlines can change elite benefits at any time, so the perks of elite status can change considerably even after you earn lifetime status
- While the airline industry is more stable than decades ago, there’s always the risk of the airline going out of business, merging, etc.
So it’s awesome to earn lifetime elite status, but it’s not worth significantly going out of your way to earn it, in my opinion.
How does Delta’s million miler program compare to others?
Compared to American and United, I’d say Delta’s million miler program is right in the middle in terms of value:
- American’s million miler program is the worst, as you can “only” earn up to Executive Platinum status, and that requires five million lifetime miles (the same that’s required for Delta 360 status)
- United’s million miler program is the best, as you can not only earn lifetime Global Services status, but you can also give elite status to a companion
With the 2024 updates to Delta’s lifetime elite status program, I’d say Delta is more closely aligned with United than American, but the program still isn’t quite as good.
Bottom line
Delta Air Lines has a million miler program, whereby SkyMiles members can earn lifetime Gold, Platinum, Diamond, or Delta 360 status. While the status has historically been earned based on the total number of Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) earned, as of 2024, it’s based on flown miles only.
Lifetime elite status is a great reward for being loyal over a long period of time, but it’s not worth going out of your way to earn, in my opinion.
Are any OMAAT readers lifetime Delta SkyMiles elite members? If so, what has your experience been like?
Who knows how many 3MM and 4MM milers there are with Delta. SOMEBODY has to know this!
The other major benefit on Delta is that upgrade priority is now boosted within your medallion tier by having 1MM or 2MM. It used to be based on fare class within each tier. For instance yesterday, as a 2MM diamond I was #1 out of 65 on an upgrade list, presumably ahead of many other diamonds.
logged on to say what Mendy said so I'll just repeat it and add award ticket miles count as well
Correction: you DO earn million miler miles for flights on partner airlines credit to delta. So that makes delta a lot easier to earn than United.
Correction: you DO earn million miler miles for flights on partner airlines credit to delta. So that makes delta a lot easier to earn than United.
Why do American Airlines (not AA) feel the need to have 37184 elite status tiers. Silver, gold, platinum, diamond, 360 at Delta, and it seems like the benefits are barely differentiated once you pass the elite plus level at the alliance anyways. So what’s really the point.
I think it is important to mention that you still get MM credit for award flights on Delta. And partner flights credited to Delta also add to your MM tally. I agree United has better benefits, but it is way harder to earn. I would not be 1MM if it were not for the partner and mileage ticket activity (the credit card component you mentioned contributed little to my total).
You could choose as a platinum to use your choice benefit and gift 2 people silver status. Or the smarter option would be at the diamond level to gift gold to two people and still have two more choice benefits. I know it’s not the same as United just offering it as an extra benefit… but it’s something.
You still earn lifetime miles on partner flights. They key factor is that you no longer get bonus lifetime miles for booking different cabin classes, economy or business all earn the same distance traveled.
If you make a million miles on DL, your soul is long forfeited to Ed's dread master Satan. Enjoy burning in pitch for eternity.
If the metric for annual tier status is MQDs, the metric for lifetime tier status should be MQDs. Next, Delta needs to count all revenue channels, which means hotels, etc. I'd love to give Delta that business. But, unless and until, no way. BA recently did this and adopted a multiplier to convert current tier points to revenue-based tier points.
The same argument can be made with AA. Loyalty Points-based lifetime tier status.