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.
I’ve written in the past about lifetime hotel elite status, including with Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt. When it comes to airlines, I’ve covered Alaska Mileage Plan lifetime status, American AAdvantage lifetime status, and United MileagePlus lifetime status.
Now let’s take a look at Delta SkyMiles lifetime status. Delta has completely overhauled its lifetime elite status program as of 2024, so we’ll cover everything you need to know.
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 is only counting 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?
As of 2024, credit card spending no longer counts toward lifetime status. Up until recently, 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 AAdvantage Platinum 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 changes 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?
If I have requested my 3 choice benefits for 2024 already. I am a lifetime diamond member, when can I request my 2025 choice benefits. When will they be available to use.
I always thought lifetime miles were supposed to be based on actual flight distance flown (tabled distances, not literally the distance an individual flight plan experienced). Information in this post indicates that this is still true, but I have not experienced that - with the elimination of MQMs, the lifetime miles portion of the account is just using some base mile number.
For example, flight distance in the past between Seattle and Detroit was...
I always thought lifetime miles were supposed to be based on actual flight distance flown (tabled distances, not literally the distance an individual flight plan experienced). Information in this post indicates that this is still true, but I have not experienced that - with the elimination of MQMs, the lifetime miles portion of the account is just using some base mile number.
For example, flight distance in the past between Seattle and Detroit was listed as 1927 miles. My recent trip btw the two hubs shows an accrual of 925 (I know this is based on the fare paid). No information on what lifetime miles earned was.
Looks like I need to be more active in tracking that number (but used to do it easily by downloading the data once a year into spreadsheet - can't do that anymore either...).
I earned 3MM status several years ago, no longer flew enough to achieve Diamond Madiallion. I switched switched to Southwest to get the Companion Pass.
I’ve found Southwest’s program better to get free tickets and faster to accumulate points.
But now that 3MM gets me “lifetime” Diamond status, with a better chance of being upgraded to FC, I’ve gone back to Delta for some of my flights.
I have million miler status. Delta is very vague about "lifetime" status. When I read their site they just say that you get Diamond Status when you reach 3 million miles. It doesn't specifically say "lifetime" status and I wonder if it will just last for the year cycle that you reach 3 million miles?
Have million miler status …..should have gold medallion lifetime
But they are saying I’m working toward silver status now vice platinum
Any advise or others in this predicament?
I'm lifetime gold with Delta but more importantly, I want to ask if you, because of your platform, could prevail upon American to start recognizing million milers.
It appears that the 500 mile minimum that was in place before 2024 appears to be gone and miles for MM are now accruing at actual miles flown.
That is very true and sad.
SFO-LAX is no longer as valuable as tag-on as it used to be..
"As of 2024, Delta is only counting eligible miles flown on Delta toward million miler status, so miles earned through any other means no longer count"
This is misleading/inaccurate. Miles flown on partners and credited to Delta do count towards million miler status. It should also be noted that miles flown on Delta metal booked with SkyMiles also count. While Delta certainly made it more difficult to obtain Million Miler status this year, these two...
"As of 2024, Delta is only counting eligible miles flown on Delta toward million miler status, so miles earned through any other means no longer count"
This is misleading/inaccurate. Miles flown on partners and credited to Delta do count towards million miler status. It should also be noted that miles flown on Delta metal booked with SkyMiles also count. While Delta certainly made it more difficult to obtain Million Miler status this year, these two factors still make it easier to obtain MM status with Delta compared to UA and AA.
So, say KLM booked through KLM and credited to Delta would not count?
Have not had a chance to check..
@polarbear A paid flight on KLM, bought through KLM but credited to Delta will count towards million miler status. The Delta website is (intentionally?) vague, but multiple experiences posted on Flyertalk indicate this has not changed. There is no longer a class of service bump in the million miler count (last year a business class ticket on KLM would get 1.5x qualifying miles towards million miler status, since we got 1.5x MQMs for those flights)....
@polarbear A paid flight on KLM, bought through KLM but credited to Delta will count towards million miler status. The Delta website is (intentionally?) vague, but multiple experiences posted on Flyertalk indicate this has not changed. There is no longer a class of service bump in the million miler count (last year a business class ticket on KLM would get 1.5x qualifying miles towards million miler status, since we got 1.5x MQMs for those flights). An award flight on KLM would not count.
I have flown award tickets on Delta metal this year and those also definitely count. Again, the website is vague.
SkyMiles award tickets on partners also seem to count. The operative rule is that if a flight earns MQD, it gets 100% of distance in lifetime miles.
There were a few paid fare classes (e.g. on CI) that earned less than 100% of distance in MQMs that now earn 100% in lifetime credit.
This is confusing with the new rules. Say I buy a $1000 ticket and as a diamond medallion member, I get 11,000 miles and the flight is 500 miles. Will all 11,000 miles count towards the status or will it be 500 miles?