Delta SkyMiles has launched a promotion whereby hotel stays, vacation rentals, and rental cars, can count toward elite status for a limited time. We saw a similar promotion from Delta three times in 2024 and twice in 2025, and now we’re seeing it return yet again. It sure seems like this could eventually become a permanent thing…
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Delta SkyMiles awarding MQDs for lodging & rental cars
Just about all major airlines have portals through which you can earn bonus miles for booking hotels and rental cars. After all, there are commissions to be made on this, and those who fly a lot are also likely to stay at hotels and rent cars a lot.
Historically Delta SkyMiles has only awarded redeemable miles for these kinds of activities, but that’s changing for a limited time. At the moment, Delta SkyMiles is offering one Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) for every dollar spent when booking a hotel, vacation rental, or rental car, at this link, in addition to earning two redeemable miles. As you’d expect, there are some terms to be aware of:
- You must book hotel, vacation rental, and rental car reservations between August 29 and October 24, 2025
- You must travel by October 31, 2025
- You earn one MQD per dollar spent on base rates for hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars, before taxes, fees, etc.
- The SkyMiles account must belong to the same person the booking is being made for
- It can take up to eight weeks after a completed activity for MQDs to post to accounts
It’s important to mention that while earning miles and even elite status for a hotel, vacation rental, or rental car, booking might sound appealing, keep in mind that there’s typically an opportunity cost to doing so. For example, with hotels you can’t earn hotel points if you book this way, and you typically don’t get elite perks. Furthermore, you’ll often find better rates elsewhere.
This is an interesting promotion from Delta SkyMiles
Keep in mind that the Delta SkyMiles program was totally overhauled as of 2024. With these changes, status is based exclusively on how many Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) you rack up, and status requires anywhere from 5,000 MQDs to 28,000 MQDs in a calendar year.
There are three ways you can earn MQDs:
- You earn one MQD per dollar spent on Delta flights
- You earn one MQD per dollar spent on vacations booked through Delta Vacations
- You earn one MQD per every $10-20 spent on an eligible Delta Amex card, depending on which product it is
When Delta first announced changes to the SkyMiles program, the plan was for hotel and rental car bookings to count toward elite status as well. However, after a lot of backlash over the new program, the elite requirements were lowered, and hotel and rental cars were also eliminated as a way to earn status.
So it’s interesting to see Delta now offering MQDs on a limited time basis for hotel and rental car bookings, and this being a recurring promotion.
It’s smart for Delta to incentive this kind of business, since this is pure profit for the carrier. The company is getting a commission on these bookings, and is just giving a small kickback to people who book this way.
I’m just confused by the concept of now offering a limited time promotion for the sixth time, rather than making it a permanent feature. Is Delta not seeing as many people qualifying for status as the airline was hoping, or is the airline keeping it limited time to avoid backlash over the elite status changes?
Bottom line
Delta SkyMiles has brought back a promotion whereby you can earn MQDs for hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars, booked through the carrier’s portal. For a limited time, you can earn one MQD per dollar spent, in addition to the standard two redeemable miles you earn per dollar spent.
Delta transformed its SkyMiles program as of 2024, and initially the plan was that these kinds of travel arrangements would permanently count toward status. However, the carrier backtracked, and is now just offering this on a limited time basis (though on six separate occasions since the beginning of last year).
What do you make of this Delta SkyMiles promotion?
I find a lot of value in Delta Platinum status - C+ at booking is a particularly valuable benefit for me plus the Choice benefit.
Agree the opportunity cost is too high for me to primarily use this portal but it works well for things like 1 night airport stays or when staying with a hotel where I don't have any status.
If I become a Diamond, does it mean I can pay only 800k SkyPesos (instead of 1M+) to upgrade on a LAX-JFK flight on the old 767?
You can use a RUC/GUC to go from PS to D1, and the RDM Choice Benefits points for the underlying reservation?
There was a time that Delta tier status offered meaningful value. And, perhaps it still does for some. But, in today's environment, it's hard to see that value. And, relative to the value received from other hotel booking platforms, the opportunity cost seems too great.
The Choice Benefits are worth at least $1500.
That said, I'll use this plus a rebate from one of the CCs to pocket a free hotel night that kicks out some MQDs. Otherwise, the hotel earning far exceeds the value from Delta's portal. At least AA generally makes up the difference (and then some, if you have the right CC) - 15-40 RDMs and LPs/dollar in earning goes a LONG way towards offsetting the loss...
The Choice Benefits are worth at least $1500.
That said, I'll use this plus a rebate from one of the CCs to pocket a free hotel night that kicks out some MQDs. Otherwise, the hotel earning far exceeds the value from Delta's portal. At least AA generally makes up the difference (and then some, if you have the right CC) - 15-40 RDMs and LPs/dollar in earning goes a LONG way towards offsetting the loss of hotel status/points. If Delta's portal was offering something like that I'd use it, but at like 2 points per dollar it just isn't worth the opportunity cost.
In my experience as a Skymiles Platinum, I find the way DL handles cars-and-stays promotions to be infuriating. For example, I have a trip booked for this period already, through their portal no less, but I'll have to cancel and rebook the same hotels on the same dates in the same portal to qualify. And then it often takes them a really long time - far more than 8 weeks in some cases - to...
In my experience as a Skymiles Platinum, I find the way DL handles cars-and-stays promotions to be infuriating. For example, I have a trip booked for this period already, through their portal no less, but I'll have to cancel and rebook the same hotels on the same dates in the same portal to qualify. And then it often takes them a really long time - far more than 8 weeks in some cases - to actually post. At this point, it actively *discourages* me from using their portal to book.
When I saw these promotions first roll out and saw the booking provision that you mention, it seemed as if Delta was intentionally creating breakage in the offer. I really enjoy flying on Delta but this provision really smacks of disloyalty to the customer.