Drastic Changes to Delta SkyMiles – Is it still worth to be loyal?

Delta Airlines has recently announced their most drastic changes to Delta SkyMiles and it may not be good news to some frequent fliers like myself. If you are a Delta loyalist, like myself, you might be wondering how the changes will impact your future travel decisions. Below is a summary of the main changes and let’s have a closer look at what they might mean to you.

Some background, I try to fly with Delta whenever I can and I hold both Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card (“Reserve Card” or “Delta Reserve Card”)and American Express Platinum Card (“AMEX Platinum”). I used to fly every week for work, but not as often since Covid. Right now, I typically fly a handful domestic trips and a couple of international trips each year. I currently hold delta’s platinum medallion status.

One metric: MQD

MQM and MQS are no longer available. MQD will be the only factor for status.

If you are familiar with Delta SkyMiles program, you are probably familiar with terms of MQM, MQS, or MQD. MQMs were the Medallion Qualified Miles, which were calculated based on miles flown and class fare purchased for Delta or Delta operated flights. It is separately calculated based on a fare table with Delta’s international partners, such as Aeromexico, Air France, Korean Air, etc. MQS is the Medallion Qualified Segments, which might be worth pursuing if you flew lots of connections. Historically, you have to reach either MQM or MQS requirement AND MQD requirement to be qualified for medallion status. However, none of them will matter starting January 1, 2024. Medallion Qualified Dollar(MQD) is the only factor to count for your medallion status level.

Starting January 1, 2024, you will need to meet the following redefined MQD requirement to reach your status. You have between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024 to qualify for your 2025 status, which will last through January 31, 2026:

Medallion Status	New MQD needed	Current MQD needed
Silver	$6,000 MQD	$3,000 MQD
Gold	$12,000 MQD	$8,000 MQD
Platinum	$18,000 MQD	$12,000 MQD
Diamond	$35,000 MQD	$20,000 MQD

The threshold for each tier has increased significantly, which will make it harder to reach certain status.

How to earn MQD

Delta did provide more ways to earn MQD. It might still sting for delta reserve card holderS though.

Since the significant increase on MQD threshold, Delta provides more ways to earn MQD. It is not limited to flights flown anymore, but it will include car rental, hotel booking, delta vacation, and credit card spend.

For Delta and partner flights, you earn $1 MQD for every dollar spent on the ticket price. For eligible car rentals and/or hotels booked through Delta Car Rentals and Delta Stays, respectively, you earn $1 MQD for every dollar spent on the car rental and/or the hotel booked. You will also earn MQD if you book delta vacation packages.

If you currently hold the Delta Platinum credit card, you earn $1 MQD for every $20 spent on the credit card. If you have the Delta Reserve credit card (full review of benefits here), you earn $1 MQD for every $10 spent on the card.

However, for people currently holding their Delta Reserve credit card, this might not be good news. Currently, if you spend more than $25,000 on your credit card during the calendar year (no matter what you spend it on), the MQD requirement is waived for up to Platinum Medallion Status. With the new changes, it won’t be the case anymore. In the example that you usually spend $25,000 on your Reserve card, you are currently having the MQD requirements waived for all Silver, Gold, and Platinum Medallion status. You only need to qualify for MQM or MQS threshold to be qualified. Now based on the new rules, $25,000 spending on the card will get you $2,500 MQD, which is not even close to be qualified for the lowest tier, Silver.

Previously, if you spend $35,000 on the Reserve card, you will also receive a 15,000 MQM boost, which is usually enough to put me to Platinum (75,000 MQM and MQD waiver from Reserve card).

With the current MQM rollover system and my Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, I am currently holding their platinum medallion status. However, I’m not seeing myself even close to getting Platinum again next year.

Let’s look at the math,

• If I fly five domestic flights in 2024, each cost $700 on average, that’s $3,500 on flights, which equals to $3,500 MQD.
• If I spend $35,000 on my Delta Reserve card, which equals to $3,500 MQD.
• If I fly two international flights in 2024, each costs $1,500 on average, that’s $3,000.

Above trips with bonus from the credit card are usually enough to put me at the Platinum tier. Under the new calculation, it will put me at $10,000 MQD, which is not even enough for the Gold tier, a huge devaluation in my situation.

I usually book my hotels through Amex Travel to get points on my AMEX Platinum card (since AMEX rewards points can be spent on various hotels or airlines or other programs, it is a lot more flexible. Full review of the card is here), so it is unlikely I will switch over to book everything through Delta just so I can maintain my status. It is time to re-think keeping Delta Reserve card with the new changes. With a hefty annual fee, it might not as valuable as it used to be.

what will happen to my current mqm?

Delta offers a one-time conversion.

You can continue to earn MQMs until December 31, 2023. Starting in 2024, Delta will offer a one-time conversion for rollover MQMs to your choice of MQDs or redeemable miles or a combination of both. The rollover MQMs will convert to redeemable miles at 2:1 ratio, or to MQDs at 20:1 ratio.

MQD will be reset every calendar year going forward.

million milers

With these changes Delta will no longer be the only major airline to allow you calculate Million Miler status based on MQMs earned in lifetime instead of actual miles flown like every other major airline. Any MQMs earned towards Million Miler status will remain, however, starting January 1, 2024, only flight miles flown will be added to your Million Miler status.

With the changes to MM status, Delta promotes MM upgrade priority trying to sweeten up the change a little bit for their lifelong customers.

bottom line

If you have their cobranded credit card and you are a high spender, the changes might not be as big impact as someone else. If you are wiling to book your entire trip through Delta, you might be able to earn MQDs easier than others. But if you are a Delta loyal who doesn’t fly as often or who doesn’t spend as much on their card, like myself, it might be a good time to re-think whether it is still worth it to chase frequent flier status. I prefer Delta over AA or United because of my past experience and Delta is still by far way better in services in my opinion, so likely I will continue to fly with Delta. But I can’t say that it is not disappointing. They also announced multiple changes to Delta Sky Club access, which is a whole separate story.