Yesterday I wrote about major changes coming to Delta, as the airline will be updating how SkyMiles members earn elite status, and is also adding more restrictions to Sky Club access. In this post I wanted to cover something I didn’t talk about in the previous post — Delta is also making changes to its million miler program, which is how you can earn elite status for life.
In this post:
Delta million miler status will be based on flight miles
Delta SkyMiles has a million miler program, through which you can earn lifetime elite status:
- One million miler earns you SkyMiles Silver Medallion status for life
- Two million miler earns you SkyMiles Gold Medallion status for life
- Four million miler earns you Platinum Medallion status for life
- Six million miler earns you Diamond Medallion status for life
While Delta is keeping these thresholds the same, the airline is making some major changes to what counts toward those thresholds:
- Starting January 1, 2024, million miler status will be calculated through lifetime flight miles, so the number of eligible miles flown will determine your million miler status
- Historically million miler status has been based on how many Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) you earned, and those could be earned through credit card spending, and class of service bonuses (for flying in premium cabins) also counted toward that
- Delta will honor all existing MQM balances toward lifetime status, so they’ll be converted at a 1:1 ratio to the new metric
Suffice it to say that this will make it much harder to earn lifetime status going forward. A lot of SkyMiles loyalists earn more MQMs through non-flying means than through flying means, so this change will significantly slow down many members’ progress.
There’s a certain irony to this change
I can’t help but point out the general irony to this change, but then again, it’s not like any airline is terribly consistent with its logic.
With the SkyMiles program changes, Delta is now emphasizing non-flying activity more than ever before. You can qualify for elite status exclusively through credit card spending, and when booking through Delta, you earn MQDs at the same rather whether you’re booking a Delta flight or a hotel.
So Delta is basically saying it no longer cares how much you fly, as long as you engage with the company in a profitable way (which is fair enough, since non-flying activity is a lot higher margin).
Yet when it comes to the million miler program, Delta is taking exactly the opposite approach. The airline used to count credit card spending toward million miler status (in certain increments), but in the future, that won’t be the case anymore.
Where does Delta’s million miler program rank?
Among the “big three” US carriers, I previously ranked Delta’s million miler program as being in the middle when it comes to how lucrative it is. With these changes, I still consider it to be in the middle:
- United MileagePlus has by far the most lucrative million miler program, and you can earn Global Services status for life, and can even nominate a companion to share your status
- American AAdvantage has by far the least lucrative million miler program, as you can earn at most second-tier AAdvantage Platinum status, with no opportunity to earn higher status
Bottom line
Along with all the other Delta SkyMiles changes, Delta is also changing how hard it is to earn elite status. The million mile thresholds will stay the same, but as of 2024, only flight miles will count toward those goals. Historically all elite miles have counted toward these thresholds, including those earned through credit cards, those earned through class of service bonuses, etc.
I suspect we’ll see a huge decrease in the number of new million milers going forward…
What do you make of Delta’s million miler changes?
I cannot find my lifetime miles flown on the delta Ap or delta.Com
I called delta customer service. , asked how many lifetime flight miles I had and after checking she said they don’t know
How do I find this statistic? If it’s gonna be used it must be visible in some way
Regards
Philip Frank
PS I am platinum, over 1,7 MQM and have a delta reserve Amex. I’m furious about the changes and wrote delta
Please do the same
Do other airlines (for example KLM, a Delta partner) give any recognition or benefits (like carrying on two bags instead of one) to Delta Million milers? Does the Delta status mean anything to other airlines - you may be hot stuff on Delta but that means nothing to us?
I'm definitely not thrilled with all the changes, but lifetime status does help me hang on. I'm fortunate to be sitting at about 5.7 lifetime MQMs, after 33 years of Delta loyalty, so maybe a couple years away from lifetime diamond. With the changes, though, and paid business class on long-haul flights not give us bonus MQM/lifetime miles, it'll take longer, so maybe 3 years, instead of 2....hopefully before I retire or get run over...
I'm definitely not thrilled with all the changes, but lifetime status does help me hang on. I'm fortunate to be sitting at about 5.7 lifetime MQMs, after 33 years of Delta loyalty, so maybe a couple years away from lifetime diamond. With the changes, though, and paid business class on long-haul flights not give us bonus MQM/lifetime miles, it'll take longer, so maybe 3 years, instead of 2....hopefully before I retire or get run over by a bus or something. Just hanging onto diamond in the meantime will be a challenge. The one thing I haven't been able to find out, though, is will they still include travel on mileage flights toward earning those lifetime miles? They added that a year or two ago, which is nice, but I haven't read anything on that going forward. I did read somewhere that they'd include that one cent per mile spent on reward tickets, but not this part. Anyone know? Thanks.
I,m piggy in the middle, ive over 400 mqm , so next year re qualified for diamond, but not year after mind you when using credit card , and others it clearly stated miles never run out, you can roll over, so in breach of contract? of course, 20 to 1 for mom to new miles, I could have used Visa card , for better results , a bud lite moment for delta?
Agree with the comment that the bloggers are taking both sides too. Complaining when too many people have status and complaining when it is too difficult to get
Wouldn't be surprised to see Delta and American announce that they are exiting the SkyTeam and OneWorld Alliances. Skyteam is pretty awful and even OneWorld is fragmenting where individual airlines are restricting access of OneWorld elites to their lounges.
Everything seems to be devolving to a carthatic mess with the major carriers. Have you seen the video regarding Qatar and Emirates. Think collapse of TWA and PanAm. You can't create a monopolistic environment, particularly when...
Wouldn't be surprised to see Delta and American announce that they are exiting the SkyTeam and OneWorld Alliances. Skyteam is pretty awful and even OneWorld is fragmenting where individual airlines are restricting access of OneWorld elites to their lounges.
Everything seems to be devolving to a carthatic mess with the major carriers. Have you seen the video regarding Qatar and Emirates. Think collapse of TWA and PanAm. You can't create a monopolistic environment, particularly when passenger experience continues to degrade on all fronts. Hope the South-East Asian carriers do NOT catch this "virus"....
Good. When I began flying DL it was understood, your rear was in a seat for each mile you were credited with. Flying a Million Miles meant just that. The plane got WAY off the runway when you could hit a Million Miles if you bought beaucoup at WalMart.
With this change, will basic economy fares start counting towards MM status again since it’s all about miles flown, not revenue generated?
At this point they might as well just call it quits on Skymiles - it's not a "loyalty" program. If anything, such attitudes now make me seek to avoid delta at all costs (formerly, I was a very loyal Skyteam flyer).
I agree with you. I credit to Virgin if I'm stuck flying DL for some reason.
Please remove the new background on the main page! It is really busy and hard to view the site now.
Lucky, can you write an article on what should people do with their MQMs - convert to MQDs or redeemable miles. Both conversion ratios are bad but one is likely worse than the other
Convert to miles. Use them. Become free agent, let delta work hard to re-earn your business! If they don’t, there are plenty of options out there.
I’ve been a gold medallion for over a decade as a 2.5 M miler. Any indication that they are going to go back and re-calculate my earned miles based on the new program rules? Or am I grandfathered in?
You are grandfathered in. Calculation changes to actual miles flown beginning 1/1/2024.
Delta is just matching both UA and AA on LT miles being flown miles only. AA used to count CC, and Continental used to count class bonus. But now all are equal with only BIS miles.
As a 1.7 MM er I’ve been stuck on that number for a few years now. As Skymiles is so poor I still fly Delta for convenience, buy the F seat I desire but credit the flights to Flying Blue where I can still find US to Europe business class for less than 100k. Same flight is usually 300k+ on Delta. Pretty simple.
You hear that, Tim Dunn? Maybe Delta isn’t so great after all.
Can you outline the best strategy for status match from Delta to United or AA?
Semi-ironically, they made it harder for big spenders to obtain. For those of us who are usually in steerage, it's no different.
Glad I hit lifetime Gold years ago (around 2.5 million qualifying miles and well over 3 million total). Retired now and, while Gold isn’t much, with the changes yesterday (which are similar to AA’s loyalty points) others may fall back and my status could actually improve. That being said never count on an upgraded (lifetime elite on DL, AA and UA but mid-level and retired) but nice to avoid fees for seats and bags plus board earlier
I gave up my loyalty several years back, I go with the best choice for me now. Forget these airlines, all of them. I used to be loyal as it was worth it, but now a days I go with the best option for the price. I am not joining the hamster wheel again.
Will Basic Economy fares now count for million miler? How about flights on partners like Virgin and Air France? And what about award flights (in Basic... and Main & higher)?
Everyone complains when there are too many elites. Now we are complaining that is is harder to obtain. There is never a middle ground.
I want it easier for myself to attain elite status. I just don't want it easier for anyone else.
Back in the dark ages, million miler qualifying was every mile you earned, even miles earned by transferring them through other programs. About 20 years ago, give or take, they changed to seat miles only. Than to MQMs. So, they’re actually going to they were for quite a few years.
I’ve been 1M for a long time. Made no effort to get to 2M, but now I’m within spitting distance. Maybe the changes will...
Back in the dark ages, million miler qualifying was every mile you earned, even miles earned by transferring them through other programs. About 20 years ago, give or take, they changed to seat miles only. Than to MQMs. So, they’re actually going to they were for quite a few years.
I’ve been 1M for a long time. Made no effort to get to 2M, but now I’m within spitting distance. Maybe the changes will make 2M worth something. I hope to live a very long time and to NOT fly enough to get to 4M, which to me would be the first level where there’s any value now.
I was about to point out what AG has posted -- yes back in the 90s when I reached a million miles it was total miles accumulated including bonus miles but only miles. Then they did change it to actual miles flown. So i'm lifetime Silver Medallion -- I'm not sure what that gets me -- I used to get a card and fancy bag tags but that stopped years ago.
AD, I remember those days.....we had Medallions and Royal Medallions....and if you were royal medallion, there was one special benefit that you would claim, from a published booklet-->>25,000 miles for a first class ticket anywhere in the US, and no capacity controls....that changed in 1995, if I remember correctly, when they introduced silver, gold, platinum (diamond came on around 2000, I think.) At that point, they divided your miles between old and new, and you...
AD, I remember those days.....we had Medallions and Royal Medallions....and if you were royal medallion, there was one special benefit that you would claim, from a published booklet-->>25,000 miles for a first class ticket anywhere in the US, and no capacity controls....that changed in 1995, if I remember correctly, when they introduced silver, gold, platinum (diamond came on around 2000, I think.) At that point, they divided your miles between old and new, and you could use the old ones on that same chart, for 10 more years....TEN! Re: mullion miler, I hemmed and hawed about transferring 200K AMEX miles over to Delta before the change, and didn't do it....those 200K miles would be part of my lifetime miles, had I done it. Oh well, lessons learned. :)
Greg
The reward for sticking to a treacherous program.
You get trash treatment for life.
It would be nice if they made it more lucrative... One Million Miler gets lifetime Gold. Lifetime silver isn't worth the effort.
With the 'enhanced' Elite+ benefits for medallion member, Silver is just marginally better than Gold.
Do we know if skymiles purchases will count towards MQD still?
It's actually pretty consistent. The point is you have to keep spending to stay on the hamster wheel. Once you hit the desired lifetime status, you'll likely cut back significantly and spend on competitor products instead, so Delta rather promote more ways to earn status if you continue spending, but cut off ways to get off the hamster wheel while still being able to reap the benefits (aka nothing more than cost to Delta at that point).