delta travel status

Fly Delta 4+

Delta air lines, inc., designed for ipad.

• #9 in Travel
• 4.8 • 6M Ratings

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Description.

Welcome to Fly Delta, Delta’s award winning iOS app. With our dynamic Today screen which provides quick access to your boarding pass and other important day-of-travel information, Fly Delta makes travel easier than ever before. • Enroll in Delta's SkyMiles® program and earn miles every time you travel • Find, compare and book Domestic and International flights • Book SkyMiles award tickets • Purchase Delta Comfort+™ seats and Trip Extras, including in-flight Wi-Fi, Priority Boarding and more • Reserve Preferred Seats like bulkhead and aisle • Rebook cancelled flights or missed connections • Manage your trips, profile and customize your travel preferences • Check your SkyMiles account balance and current Medallion® status • Check in, view your boarding pass and add it to Apple Wallet • Pay for checked bags and track their location • Check the latest flight status and receive flight and gate change notifications • Save a photo to remember your parking spot • Check your status on the upgrade or standby list • View or change your seat • Locate Delta Sky Club® lounges • View interactive airport maps, public transportation details and weather information • Get detailed info about our fleet and partners • Map flights en route with an interactive flight tracker • “Today” gathers everything you need for your day of travel into one convenient place • “Notifications” ensures you always have the latest flight updates, gate changes and more • View countdown to departure and arrival along with gate and baggage carousel information on Apple Watch The Fly Delta app for iPhone and delta.com are always free to use on Delta’s Wi-Fi-enabled flights. Visit delta.com/app for more information. When downloading the Fly Delta app, you agree that your personal data will be processed in accordance with Delta’s Privacy Policy which can be accessed via the link below or on our website at delta.com.

Version 6.0.2

• Fly Delta is getting an upgrade just in time for summer travel. Introducing Fly Delta 6.0! Packed with improvements that help you save time, explore new destinations, and manage your travel even when the unexpected happens. • A new Help Center is at your fingertips when you need it most, with simplified options to instantly adjust your travel plans or get additional support. Manage Delta flight options, track baggage and more in one, dynamic page. In one tap, connect with our Virtual Assistant directly from the app for any follow up questions or needs. • Introducing the all-new “Explore” screen to find, plan and book your next trip on Delta with ease. The highly personalized experience remembers your recent Delta experiences and highlights places to explore next. • A re-imagined navigation structure for easy access to key features such as Trip Management, Notifications, and Today Mode. • Our new Today mode experience allows access to your boarding pass with just one tap. The persistent boarding pass keeps boarding information pinned to the bottom of the screen as you move around the app. Check an upcoming flight, plan a bucket list trip, access in-app maps and more without losing touch with your boarding pass. • Need to reference your confirmation number? Your Confirmation number is now conveniently located at the top of your boarding pass. • A fresh Profile experience that makes it easier to view and edit your personal information.

Ratings and Reviews

Review of delta app.

My original flight 3/9 was canceled from JAX to RIC via LGA and Delta rescheduled me on another flight via JFK. Then my departure from JAX to JFK was delayed so much so that my arrival into RIC was being further pushed back. I was given the option to change my flight at no cost which I opted to do but I was not able to see what seats were available. I thought at some point I would be given the option to see available seats prior to finalizing the change but that never occurred. After accepting the change I found I didn’t have a seat assignment on the departure and I was assigned a middle seat (which I despise) on the connection. A passenger should be given the option to see what seats are available before making a change. I can assure you had I known prior to accepting the change that I would have to wait to be assigned a seat at the airport and that I would only have a middle seat on the connection I would not have changed from the rescheduled flight. Then to add insult to injury I used points to sit in Delta comfort from JAX to LGA because of the length of the flight. I no longer want to use points on either leg of the flights via ATL and I sincerely hope my points will be deposited back into my account. I had aisle seats (which I prefer) on both my original flights and I’m very disappointed I don’t have them on either flight tomorrow. I apologize for such a lengthy message; I didn’t expect to have to deal with flight changes that would disrupt my trip.

Change of flight times

After several lights changes since the time I originally booked, my international layover went from 1 hour and 45 minutes to only 40 minutes. A 45 minute layover for an international connection is not enough time, especially as I am flying with a family of five, this forced asked to switch flights. In doing so, I lost the upgraded seats I initially used points for. This would not have been a big deal, but it is highly disappointing that delta would not reimburse you for the points lost due to a change on their end. This policy really needs changed. In addition, the four hour plus waiting to talk to a representative force me to try to utilize the chat function. Even though I know I was able to speak to somebody relatively quickly, I made it all the way to having new flights but the person I was talking to left the chat. Waited a while and then the screen turned out causing me to start over. OK I thought, disappointing but just a fluke, but what do you know it happened again. The second time, I am mediately typed “representative“ and then we can immediately going through the process with a third agent. At least this time all the previous chat information was still up for her to review instead of starting back from scratch. The system need some bugs worked out, it’s also very hard to read on an iPhone.

Disappointed!

In fairness, there are many things this app does right - however, the plethora of things that are broken and that have been for years now merits a strongly worded inditement. The app consistently crashes with airport WiFi. Delta blames this on the local airport’s WIfI- but for a Multi-year Diamond Medallion with multiple million miles who sees hundreds of airports each year - it can’t always be the airports wifi - sorry Delta, that Dog don’t hunt! Also, the app crashes consistently (usually while I’m in the TSA line). For me, it crashed 1/2 the time I tried to use it in the last year (I wrote it down each time it crashed). This is unacceptable! You can change the amount of information stored on each device vs what has to be downloaded (and which is the likely cause of these crashes). For example, once my boarding pass has been downloaded - why does it need to be redone loaded every time I log on?? A simple byte of info indicating a change vs no change could flag it and give me the option of downloading an updated boarding pass or not - this would prevent it from crashing at the most in-opportune time (at the TSA line). Yes - I can bypass by taking a screenshot or saving it to my wallet - but most of the time I am running. If I’ve already downloaded my boarding pass - don’t make me log on and connect to get it again! I know you can fix this. Please do!!

App Privacy

The developer, Delta Air Lines, Inc. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• Health & Fitness
• Financial Info
• Contact Info
• User Content
• Search History
• Identifiers
• Sensitive Info
• Diagnostics

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

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How To Earn Delta Air Lines Medallion Elite Status (And Is It Worth It?)

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

350 Published Articles 54 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 28 U.S. States Visited: 29

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

35 Published Articles 3248 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

How to earn delta air lines elite status, how to earn delta mqds through credit cards, how to earn delta mqds through flights, how to earn delta mqds with delta vacation packages, delta medallion status benefits, is delta elite status worth it, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Cramped middle seats, being the last passenger to board, or running out of overhead bin space can be a thing of the past once you have elite status with an airline.

For Delta flyers, Medallion Status is the goal. The Delta SkyMiles program underwent a significant refresh at the beginning of 2024 , which included changes to how you earn status, so it’s a great time to re-familiarize yourself with this program.

In this post, we’ll show you exactly how to earn Delta elite status and discuss each level’s benefits. Finally, we’ll answer the all-important question: Is earning Delta elite status even worth it?

As a Delta SkyMiles member, you’ll earn Medallion status based on Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) . These MQDs are earned in 3 ways:

• Spending on Delta or Delta partner flights
• Spending on Delta co-branded American Express cards
• Spending on Delta Vacations packages

Qualification Period: The qualification period runs on a calendar year, so you have from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, to earn elite status for the 2025 Medallion year.

Medallion Year: Each Medallion year runs through January of the following calendar year. For example, if you meet the status qualifications on October 18, 2024 (for the 2025 Medallion year), your status will be valid from the day you earn it through January 31, 2026.

You no longer need to track Medallion Qualifying Segments (MQSs) or Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) for Delta elite status. Starting in 2024, the only metric used to determine Delta status is Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs).

Delta Air Lines Medallion Status Levels

There are 4 levels of Delta Air Lines elite status — Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion, and Diamond Medallion. (A fifth level, Delta 360 , is an invite-only status without published requirements.)

To earn elite status with Delta Air Lines, you must meet the minimum MQD requirement within a calendar year.

One of the easiest ways to earn Delta MQDs is through select Delta American Express cards . Your MQD earning rate depends on your credit card.

You’ll earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent with these cards:

• Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum Business American Express Card

You’ll earn 1 MQD for every $10 spent with these cards:

• Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve Business American Express Card

The other Delta credit cards ( Delta SkyMiles ® Blue American Express Card , Delta SkyMiles ® Gold American Express Card , and Delta SkyMiles ® Gold Business American Express Card ) don’t earn MQDs for elite status .

Delta Platinum Card

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with  no credit score impact.

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card can be a great option for those seeking additional ways to obtain a higher level of status — or to maintain their current status — with the airline.

A key feature of this card is the ability to earn bonus Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) that are essential for earning Delta status. This could help you get closer to earning a handful of valuable benefits with the airline.

• 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta purchases
• 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on purchases made directly with hotels
• 2x SkyMiles per $1 spent at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and U.S. supermarkets
• $350 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Does not earn transferable rewards
• Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion ® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Earn $1 Medallion ® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Resy Credit: With the Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card Resy Credit, earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment Required.
• Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
• Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ® : Receive $100 back for Global Entry or up to $85 back for TSA PreCheck ® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $350 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.
• APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Delta Reserve Card

Delta loyalists will love the fast track to Delta elite status, lounge access, baggage benefits, and upgrade priority with the Delta Reserve card.

The Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card is a stellar option for frequent travelers who always fly with Delta thanks to its MQD Headstart towards status boost, lounge access, annual companion certificate, and many other great benefits.

Here is a full look at everything the Delta Reserve card can offer to you to help you decide whether the card deserves a place in your wallet.

• 3x SkyMiles per $1 on Delta purchases
• 1x SkyMile per $1 on all other eligible purchases
• Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights.
• $650 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• No bonus categories other than Delta purchases
• Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Reserve your piece of history with the new limited edition Boeing 747 Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card design.
• Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club ® and bring up to two guests or immediate family members at a rate of $50 per person per visit when flying Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
• Receive four Delta Sky Club ® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly together on Delta. After that, you may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location.
• Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion ® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
• Earn $1 Medallion ® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+ ® , or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• $240 Resy Credit: With the Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card Resy Credit, earn up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card. Enrollment Required.
• Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• With your Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
• Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• $650 Annual Fee.

Delta SkyMiles Airline Loyalty Program

MQD Headstart

In addition to earning MQDs through spending, each card (Delta Platinum card, Delta Platinum Business card, Delta Reserve card, and Delta Reserve Business card) comes with a $2,500 MQD Headstart each Medallion qualifying year.

The best part of the MQD Headstart perk is that you can earn it on each card. That means it’s possible to earn entry-level Silver Medallion status just by holding 2 qualifying Delta cards — each card comes with a $2,500 MQD Headstart, for a total of $5,000 MQDs. If you have all 4 of these cards, you would earn $10,000 MQDs, resulting in Gold Medallion status . (Of course, that strategy would also come with a hefty annual fee bill, so it’s not something that will be practical for everyone.)

MQD Heastart dollars will be deposited into a cardholder’s account within 6 to 8 weeks after February 1 each year . If a card is opened during the year or if a card is upgraded from a non-MQD Headstart earning card, the MQDs will be deposited into the cardholder’s account within 6 to 8 weeks from account opening.

If a new card account is opened in November or December, the MQDs will count toward the Qualification Year in which the card is opened. For example, if you open a new Delta Reserve card on December 15, 2024, the $2,500 MQD Headstart will count toward your 2024 MQD totals (determining your 2025 Medallion Year status).

Headstart MQDs may be rescinded if an account is closed or downgraded within 60 days of an MQD Headstart deposit or new account opening. Headstart MQDs are only awarded to primary card members — authorized users aren’t eligible.

You’ll earn 1 MQD for every $1 spent on the ticket price (not including government taxes and fees) on Delta-marketed flights operated by Delta or Delta partners. Basic economy tickets aren’t eligible for earning MQDs for Delta Medallion status. MQDs can also be earned on flights booked with Delta SkyMiles . The number of MQDs earned will equal the number of miles redeemed divided by 100.

Seat selection purchases (paying for Delta Comfort+ , for example) and paid upgrades are also eligible to earn MQDs.

The SkyMiles member (whose name and SkyMiles number are on the ticket) who is flying earns the MQDs regardless of who purchased the ticket.

The following purchases don’t earn MQDs:

• Administrative Service Charge (ASC)
• Checked baggage fees
• Delta Sky Club memberships
• Direct Ticketing Charge (DTC)
• External Reissue Charge (ERC)
• Inflight food and beverage purchases
• Inflight Wi-Fi passes
• Mileage purchases
• Pet travel fees
• Priceline or Hotwire purchases where the carrier isn’t disclosed prior to purchase
• Same-day confirmed fees
• Ticket change fees
• Unaccompanied minor fees

As a 1-time courtesy, Delta Medallion members can roll over any Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) earned in 2023 after qualifying for 2024 Medallion status. These MQMs can be converted to MQDs or redeemable miles — 10 MQMs will convert to 1 MQD, or 2 MQMs will convert to 1 mile. Rollover balances over 100,000 can be used to extend the 2024 Medallion year status level at a rate of 1 year for 100,000 MQMs.

Delta Air Lines made sweeping changes to elite status qualification in 2024. A positive change was that members can now earn MQDs on the total cost of a Delta Vacations package (previously, MQDs were only earned on the flight portion).

Each SkyMiles member included in a Delta Vacations package will earn MQDs on the flight portion of the package. Delta’s Exception Fare rules determine the number of MQDs earned.

The primary passenger (the person who booked the package) is the only one who earns MQDs on the non-flight portion of the package, including hotel and car rental charges. The amount of MQDs earned equals the total package price minus the total of all passengers’ Exception Fares.

Components of vacation packages that don’t earn MQDs include:

• Additional booking charges
• Amounts paid directly to the hotel, car, or activity provider
• Any part of the booking which is paid for or reduced by vouchers or discount codes
• Room service
• Taxes and fees

How To Check Your Progress Toward Delta Medallion Status

You can easily check your progress toward Delta Medallion status online by clicking the drop-down arrow next to your name. For a more detailed look, click on Profile and then My SkyMiles . This information is also available in the Fly Delta mobile app ( iOS , Android ).

Click on MQD Earning Summary to see a detailed view of how you’ve earned your MQDs (flights, credit cards, or vacation packages).

There are lots of benefits that come with having Delta Medallion status. While each level of status has its own perks, there are some benefits you’ll enjoy no matter what level of Medallion status you achieve:

• $50 to $350 savings on Delta Vacation packages
• Complimentary luggage tags
• Complimentary preferred seats
• Priority waitlist status
• Priority check-in and boarding
• Reclaim My Status
• Unlimited complimentary upgrades to Delta One for you and a companion on flights in all 50 states on the day of departure, excluding Basic Economy (E fares)
• Waived baggage fees

Delta Silver Medallion Status Benefits

Delta Silver Medallion status is the base elite level in the Delta program, but it still offers lots of value.

• Dedicated priority phone line
• Discounted CLEAR Plus membership for $149 per year
• Earn 5 miles per $1 on qualifying Hertz rentals
• Earn 7 miles per $1 spent on Delta flights
• Hertz Five Star status
• Unlimited complimentary upgrades to Comfort+ or first class for you and a companion starting 24 hours (1 day) before departure (excludes E fares)
• Sky Team Elite status

Delta Gold Medallion Status Benefits

As a Delta Gold Medallion member, you’ll enjoy all of the benefits offered at the Silver level, plus these additional perks:

• 4 drink vouchers
• Dedicated high-priority phone line
• Earn 6 miles per $1 on qualifying Hertz rentals
• Earn 8 miles per $1 spent on Delta flights
• Priority baggage handling
• Unlimited complimentary Clase Premier upgrades on select Aeromexico-operated flights beginning 72 hours (3 days) before departure
• Unlimited complimentary upgrades to Comfort+ or first class for you and a companion starting 72 hours (3 days) before departure (excludes E fares)
• Sky Priority boarding
• SkyTeam lounge access
• SkyTeam Elite Plus status
• Waived same-day confirmed fees

Delta Platinum Medallion Status Benefits

In addition to the benefits at the Silver and Gold levels, Delta Platinum Medallion status holders can enjoy these benefits.

• 1 Choice Benefit
• Dedicated higher priority phone line
• Earn 7 miles per $1 on qualifying Hertz rentals
• Earn 9 miles per $1 spent on Delta flights
• Hertz President’s Circle status
• Unlimited complimentary Clase Premier upgrades on select Aeromexico-operated flights beginning 120 hours (5 days) before departure
• Unlimited complimentary Comfort+ upgrades for you and a companion shortly after ticketing (excludes E fares)
• Unlimited complimentary first class upgrades for you and a companion starting 120 hours (5 days) before departure (excludes E fares)

Hot Tip: All Delta Medallion benefits are excluded from Basic Economy (E) fares.

Delta Diamond Medallion Status Benefits

Delta Diamond Medallion status is the highest level of Delta status you can earn and comes with tremendous value. In addition to the benefits offered at all of the other levels, Diamond Medallion members get these special perks.

• 3 Choice benefits
• Complimentary CLEAR Plus membership
• Dedicated VIP phone line
• Earn 8 miles per $1 on qualifying Hertz rentals
• Earn 11 miles per $1 spent on Delta flights
• Highest boarding priority among Medallion members
• Unlimited complimentary Clase Premier upgrades on select Aeromexico-operated flights beginning 120 hours (5 days) before departure — with priority
• Unlimited complimentary first class upgrades for you and a companion starting 120 hours (5 days) before departure (excludes E fares) — with priority

Choice Benefits

Choice Benefits are unique perks offered to Platinum and Diamond Medallion members only. They allow flyers to choose what’s most important to them. Delta Platinum members can choose 1 Choice Benefit, while Delta Diamond members can choose 3.

Choice Benefits options include the following:

Delta 360° Benefits

Delta 360° is an invitation-only status reserved for top Medallion members . There isn’t a published set of requirements, but Delta states that it’s based on how much you spend on flights, not how often you fly. Membership is annual, meaning you can earn it 1 year but not the next, regardless of your spending and activity.

Since the benefits of Delta 360° are unpublished, it can be hard to pinpoint all of the perks. But, based on crowdsourced data, Delta 360° members can look forward to perks like these:

• Custom luggage tags
• Delta Sky Club Executive membership
• Potential for private gate transfers
• Potential upgrade priority

Hot Tip: If you have elite status with another airline, you can request a status match with Delta Air Lines .

Million Miler Status

Delta Million Miler Status is based on the total flight miles flown throughout a member’s lifetime.

Bottom Line: Delta has 4 main levels of elite status — Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion, and Diamond Medallion. Delta 360° is an invitation-only status without published requirements or benefits. Million Miler Status is earned after flying at least 1 million miles in a lifetime.

Determining whether or not Delta Medallion elite status is worth it or not can be challenging to answer since it can be subjective. However, there are some basic numbers we can look at to give you an idea of the estimated value you could get from having Delta elite status.

Complimentary Preferred Seating: Preferred seating charges vary by flight but can range from as little as $5 to $85 or more. Let’s say you take 6 round-trip flights per year. Assuming an average of $40 per flight segment, this perk could save you $480 annually.

Waived Baggage Fees: The basic Delta baggage fee is $30 for the first bag and $40 to $100 for the second checked bag. If you fly an average of 6 round trips per year and check 1 bag per flight, this Medallion status perk could save you $360. Your savings will only increase the more you fly. Note that you could also get the first bag free by having an Amex Delta credit card.

Bonus Miles: As a Delta Medallion member, you’ll earn 2 to 6 extra miles for each dollar you spend with Delta. If you fly 6 times a year and spend $500 on each ticket, you would spend a total of $3,000, earning 6,000 to 18,000 extra miles, depending on your status level. Since Delta miles are valued at 1.2 cents each, you’d get an additional $72 to $216.

Using conservative numbers, you’ll easily get close to $1,000 in value for 3 of the benefits of Delta Medallion status- and that’s not even considering all of the other benefits. So, the answer for most Delta flyers is yes. Delta Medallion status is definitely worth it if you travel on Delta Air Lines often.

Medallion status is the elite status program for Delta SkyMiles members. There are 4 levels of membership — Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion, and Diamond Medallion — plus an invitation-only status called Delta 360°.

Status is earned through just 1 metric — Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs). MQDs can be earned by flying on Delta and Delta partners, spending on Delta co-branded credit cards, and booking Delta Vacations.

Each status level has unique benefits and perks to make flying on Delta more comfortable and enjoyable.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum Business American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles ® Gold American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles ® Gold Business American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles ® Blue American Express Card, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get delta elite status.

Delta elite status, or Medallion Status, is earned based on a member’s number of Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs). To earn the base level status (Silver Medallion), you’ll need to earn 5,000 MQDs.

How long does Delta status last?

Delta elite status is valid from the day you earn it through the next calendar year and until January 31 of the following year. For example, if you earned Medallion status on October 3, 2024, it would be valid through January 31, 2026.

What does Delta Diamond status get you?

Delta Diamond Medallion status is the highest status level offered by Delta. When you earn Diamond Medallion status, you’ll enjoy upgrades, bonus SkyMiles, waived fees, a complimentary CLEAR membership, and so much more.

Can I lose my Delta Silver Medallion status?

Yes, you need to re-earn Medallion status each year to keep your benefits. Medallion status is valid from the day you earn it through the next Medallion year, but the qualification period to earn status runs on a calendar year.

How many levels of Delta status are there?

There are 4 main Delta status levels: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. A fifth level with unpublished eligibility requirements is Delta 360°, an invitation-only status exclusive to the highest-level elites. Million Miler status is achieved after flying at least 1 million miles in a lifetime.

Can you earn Delta Medallion status without flying?

Yes, you can earn Delta Medallion status without flying by having and using select Delta Amex cards. The Delta Platinum card, Delta Platinum Business card, Delta Reserve card, and Delta Reserve Business card all come with a $2,500 MQD Headstart each year. Plus, they earn MQDs from spending.

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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Get on the Fast Track to Medallion Status

Pick your route to more rewarding business travel

Make the most of business travel with benefits that elevate every journey. Take advantage of Delta’s Fast Track to Medallion® Status promotion and discover opportunities to fly more comfortably, move to the front of the line, enjoy waived fees 1 and more

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS ​

JOIN:  If you’re not already a SkyMiles Member, join for free today. To be eligible for this promotion, you must not have participated or be currently participating in a Fast Track, Status Match Challenge or Reclaim my Status promotion in 2022, 2023, or 2024.

ENROLL: Enroll in the Fast Track promotion below using your SkyMiles number. 2  ​

BOOK, THEN FLY: Book a business trip through your company’s authorized booking channel and complete that trip. Note that flights must be booked at least 24 hours after enrollment to count toward promotion requirements. ​

KEEP EARNING:  After your qualifying business flight, earn MQDs with air travel and more to complete promotion requirements within six (6) months of enrollment and earn Medallion Status.

1  For more information on waived fees, visit the Medallion Program Overview.  2  Once a traveler enrolls in either version of the Fast Track to Medallion Status offer ("Route 1” or “Route 2”), they cannot change routes. No changes, transfers, or re-enrollments will be permitted once traveler has enrolled.  3  MQDs earned within the promotional period prior to completing the qualifying business flight will count once business travel  is completed. Terms Apply. Please see the full terms  and conditions for additional details.  4  To participate in the Card Member excusive offer, Card Member must be the primary cardholder of a Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card at time of enrollment; conditional approvals do not apply.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS EFFECTIVE FOR ENROLLMENTS FAST TRACK TO MEDALLION STATUS ROUTE #1 ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2024:

Eligibility: Only SkyMiles Members who receive this communication directly from Delta Air Lines (“Delta”) or an authorized channel approved by Delta are eligible to participate in this offer. This offer is non-transferable. To be eligible to participate in this offer, a member must be an active employee at a participating business or corporation that has an active Corporate Sales Agreement (“CSA”) or Midmarket Sales Agreement (“MSA”) in place with Delta. Members are required to register online for participation in the offer no later than December 31, 2024 (ending 11:59:59 PM, U.S. CDT on 12/31/2024). Only tickets purchased and flown following promotional registration will qualify for this offer. Qualifying activities (described below) for Medallion Status through this offer must be completed within six months from enrollment (“Qualification Period”). No qualifying Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards are required to participate in this offer. This offer is non-transferable. This offer is not available to corporate travelers who previously or currently enrolled in a corporate accelerated Medallion Status offer or travelers who have participated in any Medallion Status promotion such as a Status Match Challenge or Reclaim My Status , in each case; in the past two calendar years. While the system will allow any Member to enroll, only eligible Members will qualify. Qualifying Activity: First, an initial qualifying flight must be purchased after enrollment via authorized company booking channels and tagged with a company ticket designator (“Qualifying Flight”). Note that flights must be booked at least 24 hours after enrollment to count toward promotion requirements. All activities which earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (“MQDs”) as permitted under the SkyMiles Program (including leisure flights, use of qualifying Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, and Delta Vacation packages) between enrollment in this offer and six-months after enrollment will count towards the thresholds listed in this offer, but excluding Basic Economy fares. MQDs earned prior to enrollment in this offer will not count towards the listed thresholds in this offer. MQDs earned within the promotional period prior to completing the qualifying business flight will count once qualifying business travel is completed. The six-month qualification period begins at enrollment and initial tickets purchased through any other ticketing source will not qualify toward the promotion. MQDs earned through travel on Delta, Delta Connection, and SkyMiles Partner Airlines will count towards the challenge excluding Basic Economy (Fare Class E), re-issued tickets, free, barter, and pass travel. Medallion Status Offer: Members will receive: (a) Silver Medallion Status for twelve months after earning $2,000 MQDs within the Qualification Period, (b) Gold Medallion Status for 12 months after earning $4,500 MQDs within the Qualification Period, or (c) Platinum Medallion Status for 12 months after earning $7,000 MQDs within the Qualification Period. The Medallion Status is effective the day following the Member’s completion of required MQD thresholds in the previous sentence, and confirmation of eligibility. At the end of the applicable Medallion Status period, the Member will return to the applicable Status he or she held prior to the start of this offer. Medallion Status must be earned in subsequent years by earning the required MQDs published on Delta.com. Once a traveler enrolls in Fast Track to Medallion Status offer, they cannot change routes. No changes, transfers, or re-enrollments will be permitted once traveler has enrolled*. Travel Period: All MQD earning activity must be completed within the Qualification Period but in any event no later than June 30, 2025 (ending 11:59:59 PM, U.S. CDT on 06/30/2025). For any members whose qualification period ends after June 30, 2025, their Qualification Period will be cut shorter and will end on June 30, 2025. SkyMiles: All SkyMiles Program rules apply to SkyMiles Program Membership, miles, offers, mile accrual, mile redemption, and travel benefits. To review the rules and for a full list of the terms and conditions associated with the benefits mentioned, please visit the Membership Guide & Program Rules. Promotional Reference Code: Please refer Delta customer service representative to (244502). Promotional Fulfillment: The Silver Medallion Status is effective the day following member completion of required MQD earn for 12 months. The Gold Medallion Status is effective the day following member completion of required MQD earn for 12 months. The Platinum Medallion Status is effective the day following member completion of required MQD earn for 12 months. Miscellaneous: Offers void where prohibited by law. Other restrictions may apply. Offers and benefits are subject to change without notice. This offer cannot be combined with other Delta/SkyTeam® offers. ©2024 Delta Air Lines, Inc. Expires 12/24. ​

TERMS AND CONDITIONS EFFECTIVE FOR ENROLLMENTS FAST TRACK TO MEDALLION STATUS ROUTE #2 ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2024:

Eligibility: Only SkyMiles Members who receive this communication directly from Delta Air Lines (Delta) or an authorized channel approved by Delta are eligible to participate in this offer. This offer is non-transferable. To participate in this offer, a member must be an active employee at a participating business or corporation that has an active Corporate Sales Agreement (“CSA”) or Midmarket Sales Agreement (“MSA”) in place with Delta. SkyMiles Members are required to register online for participation in the offer no later than December 31, 2024 (ending 11:59:59 PM, U.S. CDT on 12/31/2024). To participate in the Card Member excusive offer, Card Member must be the primary cardholder of a consumer Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (each, a “Qualifying Card”) at time of enrollment; conditional approvals do not apply. Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, Amex Proprietary cards, and Delta SkyMiles® Gold, Platinum, or Reserve Business American Express Cards do not satisfy this requirement and are not considered Qualifying Cards for the offers. Qualifying Card must be active and not in default through this offer. Only tickets purchased following promotional registration will qualify for this offer. Qualifying activities for Medallion Status through this offer must be completed within six months from enrollment. This offer is not available to corporate travelers who previously or currently enrolled in a corporate accelerated Medallion Status offer or travelers who have participated in any Medallion Status promotion such as a Status Match Challenge or Reclaim My Status , in each case, in the past two calendar years. While the system will allow any Member to enroll, only eligible Members will qualify. Qualifying Activity: First, an initial qualifying flight must be purchased after enrollment via authorized company booking channels and tagged with a company ticket designator (“Qualifying Flight”). Note that flights must be booked at least 24 hours after enrollment to count toward promotion requirements. All activities which earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (“MQDs”) as permitted under the SkyMiles Program (including leisure flights, use of qualifying Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, and Delta Vacation packages) between enrollment in this offer and six-months after enrollment will count towards the thresholds listed in this offer, but excluding Basic Economy fares. MQDs earned prior to enrollment in this offer will not count towards the listed thresholds in this offer. MQDs earned within the promotional period prior to completing the qualifying business flight will count once qualifying business travel is completed. The six-month qualification period begins at enrollment and initial tickets purchased through any other ticketing source will not qualify toward the promotion. Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) earned through travel on Delta, Delta Connection, and SkyMiles Partner Airlines will count towards the challenge excluding Basic Economy (Fare Class E), re-issued tickets, free, barter, and pass travel. Medallion Status Offer: Primary Card Members of a Qualifying Card (defined above) will receive: (a) Silver Medallion Status for twelve months after earning $1,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) within 6 months of enrollment in the offer defined above, (b) Gold Medallion Status for 12 months after earning $3,500 MQDs within 6 months of enrollment in the offer defined above, or (c) Platinum Medallion Status for 12 months after earning $5,500 MQDs within 6 months of enrollment in the offer defined above. The Medallion Status is effective the day following member completion of required MQD earning activity and confirmation of eligibility. At the end of the applicable Medallion Status period, the Member will return to the applicable Status prior to the start of this offer. Medallion Status must be earned in subsequent years by earning the required MQDs. Once a traveler enrolls in Fast Track to Medallion Status offer, they cannot change routes. No changes, transfers, or re-enrollments will be permitted once traveler has enrolled*. Travel Period: All MQD earning activity must be completed within six months of enrollment in the promotion but no later than June 30, 2025 (ending 11:59:59 PM, U.S. CDT on 06/30/2025). SkyMiles: All SkyMiles Program rules apply to SkyMiles Program Membership, miles, offers, mile accrual, mile redemption, and travel benefits. To review the rules and for a full list of the terms and conditions associated with the benefits mentioned, please visit the Membership Guide & Program Rules Promotional Reference Code: Please refer Delta customer service representative to (244501). Promotional Fulfillment: The Silver Medallion Status is effective the day following member completion of required MQD earn for 12 months. The Gold Medallion Status is effective the day following member completion of required MQD earn for 12 months. The Platinum Medallion Status is effective the day following member completion of required MQD earn for 12 months. Miscellaneous: Offers void where prohibited by law. Other restrictions may apply. Offers and benefits are subject to change without notice. This offer cannot be combined with other Delta/SkyTeam® offers. ©2024 Delta Air Lines, Inc. Expires 12/24. 23-11-GS1559703

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Get Closer to Earning Delta Status When You Book a Hotel or Rental Car for a Limited Time

Score 1 Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) per $1 spent plus miles when you book hotels, vacation rentals, and car rentals.

benedek/Getty Images

Having elite status can get you the finer things in life, and Delta’s latest promotion may just put you in reach.

“For a limited time, earn $1 Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) per $1 spent plus miles when you book hotels, vacation rentals, and car rentals with Delta through June 24, 2024," the airline shared .

To score the rewards, travelers can log on to the Delta Travel Extras portal with their Delta SkyMiles number to book hotels, vacation homes, and rental cars. As every dollar spent accrues one Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD), fliers can quickly earn their way to Delta elite status in other ways besides flying.

Delta’s Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) are different from SkyMiles, the latter of which are redeemable for free flights. The following MQD thresholds are required to qualify for Delta Medallion status:

• Silver Medallion - $6,000 MQDs
• Gold Medallion - $12,000 MQDs
• Platinum Medallion - $18,000 MQDs
• Diamond Medallion - $35,000 MQDs

Travelers typically earn 1 MQD per $1 spent on flights operated by Delta or partner airlines. Once a certain threshold is achieved, elite status will be granted to the member for the remainder of the year — and the entire year thereafter. 

Spending $35,000 on Delta flights to earn top-tier Diamond status might be out of reach for most travelers. However, the opportunity to earn elite points from hotels and rental cars for a limited time may help them reach that next tier of elite status. 

Earning MQDs from a few of Delta’s personal and business credit cards, which come with a $2,500 MQD headstart for the qualification year, is also possible. Delta Platinum cardholders can earn 1 MQD per $20 spent on purchases, while Delta Reserve cardholders can earn 1 MQD per $10 spent. 

The top-tier Delta Reserve has an exclusive card design right now made out of the airline’s retired Boeing 747 aircraft. Travelers who want their hands on a piece of history — and rack up a ton of MQDs — should consider adding this limited-edition card to their wallet. 

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What is Delta Elite Status Worth?

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

Delta Silver Medallion: Estimated tier value of $1,703, earns 7x miles

Delta gold medallion: estimated tier value of $4,733, earns 8x miles, delta platinum medallion: estimated tier value of $8,732, earns 9x miles, delta diamond medallion: estimated tier value of $22,036, earns 11x miles, the value of delta miles, how the value of delta status compares to competitors, should i earn elite status with delta this year.

Your Delta Air Lines flight just started boarding. You hear the boarding call for Diamond Medallion members and a herd of well-heeled travelers strut up to the front of the line, metal tags clinking against their Tumi luggage.

These most prolific road warriors will spend an estimated $43,210 (according to NerdWallet’s analysis) to earn the highest level of elite status on Delta, but is the status they earn worth it?

Let’s explore the value of status with Delta Air Lines.

Delta’s entry-level status, Silver Medallion , is granted to customers who earn $5,000 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQD).

Silver Medallion members enjoy the standard suite of benefits granted to most holders of entry-level airline frequent flyer status, including:

Priority check-in.

Priority boarding.

Unlimited complimentary upgrades .

Waived checked bag fees.

Having SkyTeam Elite status also comes with a limited set of perks across all SkyTeam flights.

In some ways, Delta is more generous than other airlines, but in other ways, it is less. For example, its checked bag benefit allows a Silver Medallion member plus up to eight traveling companions a free checked bag. This is among the most generous checked baggage benefits for entry-level elites.

On the other hand, Delta does not offer free same-day confirmed flight changes to its entry-level elite members like United Airlines. Silver Medallions must pay the same $75 fee as non-elite members. On average, Delta offers its entry-level elites an experience similar to other North American legacy carriers.

» Learn more: Your guide to the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program

Once you reach $8,000 MQDs, you will earn Delta Gold Medallion status.

Gold Medallions receive SkyTeam Elite Plus status, which grants you and one guest access to airport lounges when traveling internationally and an additional baggage allowance on SkyTeam carriers. In addition, when traveling on Delta domestically, Gold Medallions receive higher upgrade priority, with upgrades clearing up to 72 hours before departure and waived fees on same-day confirmed flight changes.

Like Silver Medallion status, the perks of Gold Medallion status are more-or-less in the middle of the pack compared to what is offered with mid-tier status at United and American Airlines. If anything, Delta Gold Medallion ranks slightly behind United Premier Gold status because the latter allows its mid-tier elites to select Economy Plus seats at booking. Delta Gold Medallions must wait for this “upgrade” to be processed three days before departure.

» Learn more: Your guide to earning Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Fly or earn $15,000 MQDs and Delta will elevate your status to Platinum Medallion.

Delta Platinum Medallion is the level at which benefits start getting interesting. Platinum Medallion members can select one Choice Benefit each year. Available benefits include:

Four regional upgrade certificates.

20,000 bonus miles.

Ability to gift Silver Medallion status to two friends.

$250 Delta travel voucher

In addition to higher upgrade priority and complimentary clearing five days before departure, Platinum Medallion members may receive a complimentary upgrade to Delta Comfort+ shortly after ticketing if upgrade space is available. Finally, Platinum Medallion members receive three free checked bags when traveling within the U.S. and Canada.

Once again, the benefits of Platinum Medallion status are similar to what you would expect with high-tier status at United or American. United might offer a slight edge to its high-tier flyers because the PlusPoints earned by Premier Platinums can be used internationally. Still, those traveling domestically will get more mileage from selecting four regional upgrades as a choice benefit.

» Learn more: Delta rolls back some SkyMiles changes after customer backlash

A diamond is forever, and you might want to remain a Diamond Medallion forever if you can swing earning $28,000 MQDs. Diamond Medallion is the highest level of Delta Air Lines status available and grants the most generous benefits. Diamond Medallions receive the highest complimentary upgrade priority, with upgrades clearing up to five days before departure and complimentary Clear membership. In addition, Diamond Medallions can choose three Choice Benefits from an expanded list, which includes:

A SkyClub Executive Membership.

Ability to add a guest pass to complementary SkyClub access they earn from a credit card.

Regional or global upgrade certificates.

25,000 bonus miles.

Ability to gift Gold status to two people.

$250 Delta travel voucher.

Delta is again in the middle of the pack for an ultra-tier elite status, mainly because of its relatively low elite-earning rates. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines have higher elite-earning rates.

» Learn more: What you need to know about Delta Medallion Status

If you fly Delta frequently enough to earn Delta elite status, there’s a good chance you will earn a pile of SkyMiles, which can be redeemed for flights on Delta and its partners. How much are these miles worth? If you redeem SkyMiles for main cabin airfares, NerdWallet values SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each.

Delta SkyMiles no longer has an award chart and its redemption rates float with the retail price of airline tickets. This makes it challenging to identify sweet spots for Delta redemptions. However, the program still offers a few gems.

Short-haul U.S. domestic flights.

Economy class international flights.

Booking flights speculatively; Delta award flights can be canceled and miles redeposited until departure with no fee.

Earning status by booking flights using miles on Delta Air Lines.

The value of Delta status is similar to the value of equivalent status at the other U.S. legacy carriers, but how valuable Delta status is to you will depend on where you live and your travel patterns.

Here’s how the value of Delta status compares to other major airlines in the United States, according to our most-recent NerdWallet analysis .

Overall, Delta ranks towards the bottom of the pack, and well below "Big 3" competitors American and United. This is largely because you have to spend more with the program to earn status compared with other programs.

Whether you should earn elite status with Delta will depend on your travel patterns, how you value upgrades and other perks and how easily you can earn the status level. Two of Delta’s co-branded credit cards, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offer cardmembers the opportunity to earn MQDs (1 MQD per $20 spent on the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and 1 MQD per $10 spent on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card ). Plus, cardholders receive an annual $2,500 MQD headstart each year just for holding one of the cards.

In other words, you’d have to spend $25,000 on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to earn the lowest level of elite status without flying Delta at all. Other airlines have higher elite earning rates at lower levels, so if you are not a huge spender and you have choice between airlines, you might target elite status on another airline.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Will you get value out of the status?

The most significant factor determining how much value you can get from any frequent flyer program’s elite status is how many flights are available from your home airport. For example, if you live in one of Delta’s key hubs and markets, you will likely have enough Delta flights to get almost anywhere you want to go flying the airline, meaning you’ll enjoy the most upgrades and in-flight elite benefits. Delta’s domestic key hubs and markets include:

Los Angeles.

Minneapolis-St. Paul.

New York-JFK.

New York-LaGuardia.

Salt Lake City.

Can you credit your flights to Delta?

One of the most common ways to earn MQDs in an airline program is by flying with that airline and Delta is no different. Every Delta flight you credit to your SkyMiles account, excluding basic economy fares , will help you on your journey to earning both redeemable miles and medallion status.

Partner flights offer an opportunity to earn additional redeemable miles and MQDs because many Delta partners earn miles based on distance flown. If a flight is marketed by another carrier, meaning it does not carry a Delta flight number, the miles you earn will be determined by distance flown and fare class. Sometimes this can work to your advantage, as business and first-class travel marketed by partners can earn more redeemable miles than a similarly-priced Delta flight.

Can you earn Medallion Qualifying Dollars?

Delta’s sole metric for elite status qualification is MQDs. Delta requires an increasing number of MQDs for each status level, starting at $5,000 MQDs for Silver Medallion status and topping out at $28,000 MQDs for Diamond Medallion. MQDs on Delta-marketed flights are calculated on the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges.

Spending dollars on Delta flights isn’t the only way to meet your Medallion Qualifying Dollar requirements. Some co-branded credit cards offer an opportunity to earn MQDs with spending as well.

Can your credit card earnings help you out?

Like other airlines, Delta offers several co-branded credit cards that can help give you a boost to earn status. If you want a card that can help you earn elite status with Delta, look to the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (or their business card counterparts).

Both cards offer MQD “boosts” and an MQD headstart. The MQD boosts allow you to earn 1 MQD per $10 of spending on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or 1 MQD per $20 of spending on the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card . Terms apply.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card , Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card , Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card both grant an MQD headstart of $2,500 MQDs per calendar year, which is half of the MQDs needed for the first level of status. Both business and personal versions of the Delta AmEx cards offer similar MQD benefits.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card , see this page .

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Delta has upgraded some SkyMiles members to Silver status for 6 months (targeted)

Attention, Delta SkyMiles members : Check your email.

A few lucky loyalty program members have been targeted to receive a complimentary upgrade to Silver Medallion status through Nov. 30. Additionally, SkyMiles members can maintain that status through May 30, 2025, by earning 2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars by Nov. 30.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there is a specific pattern as to which SkyMiles members Delta is gifting Silver status.

For example, a TPG reader named Christian Bowers told us that he generally does not fly with Delta. He "found it surprising" to receive automatic Silver Medallion status through the end of November, given his lack of loyalty to the carrier.

Related: How to earn Delta Medallion elite status without flying in 2024

According to the terms, this offer is targeted to select U.S.-based SkyMiles members, and no enrollment is necessary. MQDs earned prior to the offer or after the offer period will not count toward the extension.

Any MQDs earned through Delta SkyMiles American Express cards will count toward the promotion extension; however, MQDs earned from MQD Headstart will not apply.

Another reader Kevin Thompson said in the TPG Lounge Group on Facebook : "I received that offer this morning." Another reader Gregg Stevens also received the coveted notification.

What are the benefits of Delta Silver Medallion status?

If you are one of the lucky few who have been gifted Delta Silver Medallion status, now is your time time capitalize on some of the benefits of this elite status tier.

Here are some of the benefits you'll receive with Silver Medallion status:

• Complimentary Delta One upgrades for flights within the U.S. (except on basic economy "E" fares) on the day of departure
• Complimentary first-class upgrades from 24 hours before departure (except on basic economy "E" fares)
• Upgrades to Comfort+ within 24 hours of departure (except on basic economy "E" fares)
• Priority boarding and check-in
• One complimentary checked bag
• 7 miles per dollar spent

Related: Delta Medallion status: What it is and how to earn it

Bottom line

In the past year, Delta has rolled out some major changes to its loyalty program, which many SkyMiles members were unhappy about. Is Delta trying to strengthen loyalty within its program for SkyMiles members who do not frequently fly the airline?

Although Silver Medallion status is the entry-level elite status tier, it does provide customers with several notable perks. Such perks include upgrades, a complimentary checked bag and priority check-in and boarding. Plus, to earn Silver Medallion status in 2025, SkyMiles members need to earn 5,000 MQDs. So, this promotion essentially allows members to receive complimentary elite status for six months and extend their status for an additional six months by meeting half of the MQDs usually required.

Related reading:

• The best credit cards for airport lounge access
• The ultimate guide to getting Delta Sky Club access
• The 7 do's and don'ts in an airport lounge
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• 9 domestic lounges that are worth going out of your way for
• Best Delta credit cards

Delta to resume Tel Aviv service from New York-JFK on Friday

Nonstop daily service resumes June 7 after extensive security risk assessment, as the airline continues to closely monitor the situation in Israel.

Delta will resume daily nonstop service to Tel Aviv (TLV) from New York-JFK this summer, operating the route on an Airbus A330-900neo that will provide customers with nearly 2,000 weekly seats from New York to Israel.

The decision to resume the route on June 7, 2024, which was temporarily suspended in October 2023, follows an extensive security risk assessment by the airline. Delta continues to closely monitor the situation in Israel in conjunction with government and private-sector partners.

In recent months, Delta has strengthened its presence in Israel through a codeshare arrangement with EL AL Israel Airlines. Delta customers have access to EL AL’s direct services to Tel Aviv from major U.S. cities like New York-JFK, New York-Newark, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. With the reinstatement of Delta’s New York-JFK service this summer, customers have additional travel choices connecting North America and Israel.

For booking and more information, visit delta.com .

• Tel Aviv , John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

6 Reasons To Try An Airline Frequent Flyer Status Match

• Status matches offer elite benefits: Lounge access, extra baggage, priority boarding.
• Different carriers & alliances may offer status matches; most require a case-by-case evaluation.
• Consider new carrier benefits, location, and travel frequency before transferring loyalty.

Frequent travelers are all accustomed to earning status, enticing them to travel with the exact airline or alliance repeatedly. However, many airline competitors are looking to lure you into taking flights with them, and this is where airline status match comes into play. These offerings can make a lot of sense for travelers, who can have their usual airline status matched with another airline in an opposing alliance. However, here's what you need to know before you take the plunge.

Elite status with some of the world's largest airlines entitles you to unique benefits such as lounge access, extra baggage, and priority check-in and boarding. With airline status matches, the new carrier guarantees you a certain level of status for a limited amount of time, hoping that you will jump ship and fly enough with them to retain your new status.

7 Airlines That Let You Transfer Your Frequent Flyer Status From Another Program

Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here .

Taste of a new airline

Getting your loyalty.

Carriers such as Turkish Airlines and Hawaiian have been known to provide status matches on a case-by-case basis; frequently, you are expected to contact the respective airline and plead your case. Many airlines have a status match program; however, they only occasionally discuss it publicly, so if you're interested, it's worth contacting the respective airline.

New entitlements

Complementary upgrades, priority baggage.

Your decision to change your preferred carrier could be for several reasons; it could be that you have had multiple bad experiences with your usual carrier of choice, and it's time to re-evaluate your options, or you may need to travel somewhere your usual airline doesn't. Still, you want to retain the extra benefits you're used to.

Examples of this include holding Delta Platinium Medallion status and moving to a competitor, such as United, which would result in your achieving Premier Platinium Mileage Plus status and still receiving complimentary upgrades, priority check-in and boarding, waived fees, bonus miles, and access to airport lounges.

Which SkyTeam Alliance Airlines Offer Status Matches For Frequent Flyers?

Transfering your loyalty, status transfer explained.

Below is a table outlining where your status sits with competing airlines:

Qualification requirements

What do i need to do.

In general, matching your status is simple: you must visit the airline you are interested in or contact their loyalty team to review the eligibility requirements. Status match programs require you to fly with them frequently in the beginning, as your new status will only last a couple of months, and the airline will expect you to be able to retain a level of loyalty. An example is a promotional period, where your status match will last for 90 days to 12 months, so only apply when you expect to travel frequently.

Which Star Alliance Airlines Offer Status Matches For Frequent Flyers?

Have you heard the Simple Flying podcast recently?

Picking the right airline

Look at the airport hubs.

If you're considering which airline to match your status with, look at your proposed travel plans and where you're likely to be based in the coming months. Some individuals look to match their status as they are moving cities. An example of this could be that you're leaving San Francisco (a United hub) for Dallas (the home of American Airlines). Transferring your United Mileage Plus status to American Airlines AAdvantage could be in your best interest.

Alternatively, if you are moving to a smaller center with more limited operators, look at who operates the most frequently or to the highest number of destinations. For example, Albuquerque International Sunport, in New Mexico, while it sees all the 'Big Three' operate at the airport, is served by Southwest Airlines to most destinations.

Earning rate

Is it worthwhile.

When applying for the status match, it is essential to review your lifestyle and ensure that you will travel enough to make the effort worthwhile. The more flights you book, the more status you will earn, and in return, the better the benefits you will achieve. Looking at airline credit cards is another way to get the most out of your miles and status, which could speed up your earnings. Partner hotels and car rental agencies are another way to earn additional miles without taking flight, so it pays to do your research to determine which mileage program will work best for you.

6 Weeks Only: Earn Delta Air Lines Status With Hotel Stays And Car Rentals

Summer travel and summer storms don't mix. What you're owed if your flight is affected.

Summer storms often disrupt flights, which can be a frustrating start or a disappointing finish to a vacation. As many prepare to take to the skies in the coming months, it's a good idea to read up on passenger rights so you can get what you're owed if something goes wrong.

New rules from the Department of Transportation require airlines to provide cash refunds automatically within seven business days if a flight is canceled or "significantly" changed. However, those rules don't go into effect until October, so this summer will still be protected by the old framework. The DOT has a number of online dashboards to help passengers better understand what they're entitled to in the meantime.

Here's what travelers should expect when their flights are canceled or delayed.

What happens if you get bumped? What to know when airlines overbook flights

What happens if my flight is canceled?

Department of Transportation rules  require all airlines to offer customers a refund if their flights are canceled for any reason, but customers may be entitled to additional compensation if a cancellation is within the airline's control. Weather is outside of airline control.

According to the DOT's consumer dashboard , if Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue or United cancel a flight for controllable reasons, they're committed to:

• rebooking passengers on the same airline or a partner airline, at no extra cost
• providing a meal or cash or voucher for a meal when the cancellation results in a passenger waiting at least 3 hours for a new flight
• providing complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation 
• providing complimentary ground transportation to and from a hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation

Alaska and JetBlue passengers are also eligible for additional compensation.

Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest and Spirit do not book passengers on partner airlines. Additionally, Frontier does not offer hotel accommodations and related transport.

Cruising Altitude: Progress is not coming fast enough for disabled travelers

What happens if a flight is delayed?

"There are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation when their flights are delayed," according to the Department of Transportation.

However, U.S. carriers have committed to various levels of compensation for significant delays within their control. Each airline, however, defines significant delays differently.

If a flight is significantly delayed for reasons within their control, Alaska, American, Delta, Jet Blue and United offer:

• providing a meal or cash or voucher for a meal when the delay results in a passenger waiting for at least 3 hours for departure
• providing complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
• providing complimentary ground transportation to and from a hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay

Alaska and JetBlue also offer extra compensation when the flight is delayed by 3 or more hours.

Allegiant, Frontier, Hawaiian, Southwest and Spirit do not rebook travelers on partner airlines. Frontier doesn't offer hotel accommodations or related transport either.

USA TODAY broke it down by airline: If your flight is delayed, you may be eligible for compensation from your airline

What should I do if my flight is delayed?

If your flight is experiencing a long delay, the DOT suggests asking airline staff if they will pay for meals or a hotel room.

The DOT dashboard reflects airlines' official policies, but many carriers handle compensation for delays on a case-by-case basis and may provide vouchers or other benefits in some situations that are not formally covered.

For example, according to Delta's Customer Commitment , "Delta representatives are empowered with the flexibility and discretion to issue the following forms of compensation for passenger inconvenience when individual circumstances warrant doing so: cash equivalents (e.g., gift cards), travel credits/vouchers, and/or miles for SkyMiles members."

Travel insurance can also help with cancellations and delays. Some credit card companies will also reimburse cardholders for expenses related to travel disruptions, when travel is booked on their cards.

My flight was canceled: How I got most of my costs covered (after 3 months)

Best travel insurance: These policies offer the best value

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How to earn elite airline status with credit cards

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Key takeaways

• Airline elite status comes with valuable perks such as a free first checked bag, priority boarding and free upgrades.
• With the right co-branded airline credit card, you can earn points or meet the spending requirements necessary to earn status.
• Before choosing an airline credit card, choose the airline that you’re likely to fly most frequently and has perks that will get you to status more quickly.

It’s no surprise that becoming an airline VIP is attractive. A 2022 Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of the U.S. Travel Association found that 45 percent of Americans rate air travel as average or below average. When you’re elevated to elite status, however, the experience becomes far more pleasurable. Depending on an airline’s loyalty program, you may enjoy everything from free seating upgrades to access to luxurious airport lounges.

Here’s how you can use your credit card to earn elite status with each of the major U.S. airline carriers.

American Airlines

There are four American Airlines AAdvantage elite status levels , which you will achieve when you earn sufficient Loyalty Point rewards.

• AAdvantage Gold requires 40,000 points
• AAdvantage Platinum requires 75,000 points
• AAdvantage Platinum Pro requires 125,000 points
• AAdvantage Executive Platinum requires 200,000 points

To rack up Loyalty Points, you can travel on eligible airlines, buy goods and services through the AAdvantage eShopping portal and charge with your AAdvantage co-branded credit card . You will earn 1 Loyalty Point for every eligible AAdvantage mile earned from your purchases.

AAdvantage co-branded credit cards can help you reach elite status through spending, including the following cards highlighted below:

American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® *

• 10,000 bonus miles and a $50 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
• 2X miles at grocery stores and on eligible American Airlines purchases
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® *

• 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
• 2X miles at restaurants and gas stations as well as on eligible American Airlines purchases

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

• 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening
• 4X AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases. After spending $150,000 in a calendar year, cardmembers can earn a total of 5X AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases for the remainder of the calendar year
• 10X AAdvantage miles on eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars and eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels
• 1X miles on other purchases

CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® *

• 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months of account opening
• 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, cable and satellite providers, select telecommunications merchants, car rentals and gas stations

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines’ elite status program is known as Delta SkyMiles , and you can earn varying levels of elite status — called Medallion status —  by flying and spending with Delta and its partner airlines.

To qualify for each elite status level, you’ll need a combination of Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs). MQDs are earned by spending and MQMs are earned on distance flown and fare class, while MQSs are the number of flights you take in a qualifying year.

• Silver Medallion requires 25,000 MQMs or 30 MQSs + $3,000 MQDs
• Gold Medallion requires 50,000 MQMs or 60 MQSs + $8,000 MQDs
• Platinum Medallion requires 75,000 MQM’s or 100 MQSs + $12,000 MQDs
• Diamond Medallion requires 125,000 MQMs or 140 MQSs +$20,000 MQDs

The annual MQD requirement to reach Silver, Gold or Platinum Medallion Status will be waived when you make at least $25,000 in eligible purchases during the calendar year with an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Card. For Diamond Medallion Status, the MQD will be waived after you spend at least $250,000 during the calendar year with an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Card.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

• 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening
• 2X miles on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

• 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within your first six months of account opening
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart
• 3X miles on Delta flights and Delta Vacations purchases and direct purchases with hotels
• 2X miles on purchases at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

• 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within your first six months of account opening
• 3X miles on eligible Delta flights and Delta Vacations purchases

United Airlines

You can gain United Airlines’ elite status through the airline’s MileagePlus loyalty program through a combination of the flights you take (Premier Qualifying Flights, or PQFs), the value of the tickets purchased, by redeeming MileagePlus miles for United or United Express award flights and by using your eligible co-branded United credit cards for everyday purchases.

PQFs are based on the number of flight segments you fly, four of which need to be on United or United Express when qualifying for elite status. You also have to earn Premier qualifying points (PQP) which are based on fares, seating purchases, paid upgrades, MileagePlus Upgrade Award co-pays, Award flights operated by United and United Express and eligible co-branded credit cards.

The four tiers of United MileagePlus elite status and their PQF and PQP requirements are:

• Premier Silver requires 12 PQF + 4,000 PQP or 5,000 PQP
• Premier Gold requires 24 PQF + 8,000 PQP or 10,000 PQP
• Premier Platinum requires 36 PQF + 12,000 PQP or 15,000 PQP
• Premier 1K requires 54 PQF + 18,000 PQP or 24,000 PQP

Here’s how many Premier qualifying points you can earn with individual United credit cards :

United℠ Explorer Card *

Up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year; 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend

• 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of opening your account
• 2X miles on dining, hotel stays and United purchases

United Quest℠ Card *

Up to 6,000 PQP in a calendar year; 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend

• 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of opening account
• 3X miles on United purchases (after earning the $125 annual United purchase credit)
• 2X miles on all other travel, dining and select streaming services

United Club℠ Infinite Card *

Up to 10,000 PQP in a calendar year; 25 PQP for every $500 in card spend

• 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
• 4X miles on United Airlines purchases
• 2X miles on all other travel purchases, dining and eligible delivery services

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines’ elite status has just two tiers: A-List and A-List Preferred. You can earn tier qualifying points toward A-List or A-List Preferred status by flying with the airline or spending with its partners.

For flying, the number of points you’ll earn depends on the type of fare you purchase. You’ll earn 12 points per dollar on Business Select fares, 10 points per dollar on Anytime fares, 8 points per dollar on Wanna Get Away Plus fares and 6 points per dollar on Wanna Get Away fares.

• A-List requires 25 qualifying one-way flights or earning 35,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year
• A-List Preferred requires 50 qualifying one-way flights or earning 70,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year

To earn points with partners, simply spend with Southwest’s travel, shopping and dining, home and lifestyle and specialty partners.

You can also use select co-branded Southwest credit cards to rack up tier qualifying points toward elite status:

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for every $10,000 you spend

• Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• 3X points on Southwest purchases
• 2X points on local transit and commuting purchases (including rideshare); Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases; and on internet, cable, phone and select streaming service purchases
• 1X points on all other purchases

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

• 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases; local transit and commuting (including rideshares); and internet, cable phone and select streaming services

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

• 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
• 3X points on Southwest Airlines purchases
• 2X points on participating Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases and rideshares
• 1X points for every dollar spent on all other purchases

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

• 80,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
• 4X points on Southwest purchases
• 3X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partner purchases
• 2X points on local transit, rideshares and commuting; social media and search engine advertising; and internet, cable and phone services

JetBlue offers four levels of TrueBlue Mosaic status that can be gained through earning a select number of “tiles”:

• Mosaic 1: 50 tiles
• Mosaic 2: 100 tiles
• Mosaic 3: 150 tiles
• Mosaic 4: 250 tiles

A singular tile is earned for every $100 spent on JetBlue flights, JetBlue vacation packages, bookings through Paisly by JetBlue and on purchases with JetBlue partner American Airlines. You can also earn 1 tile for every $1,000 spent on JetBlue credit cards.

Here’s a look at a few JetBlue credit cards that can help you qualify:

JetBlue Card *

• 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
• 3X points on eligible JetBlue purchases
• 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores

JetBlue Plus Card *

• 40,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
• 6X points on JetBlue purchases

How to choose an airline card

It’s important to only pursue the credit card that fits your credit score , as well as your lifestyle.

If you’ll be traveling internationally, for example, you’ll want a co-branded airline credit card that’s connected to flights for your global destinations. Airlines that have routes closer to home will make more sense if you’ll be staying within the country. That doesn’t mean you’re limited, though. American, Delta and United have partnerships with international airlines, so more options may be available than you think.

What each airline’s elite status covers is another major deciding factor. Assess what’s included in the different tiers of each airline’s elite status program. Do you want free checked bags for you and your traveling companions? Maybe you value access to a high number of airport lounges , dining credits, special seating upgrades and other unique perks? Pinpoint the program that includes the highest number of desired benefits.

You’ll also need to meet the elite status requirements. If that means reaching a high minimum spending requirement or flying a certain number of trips, make sure you can hit that limit without getting into expensive, long-term debt. The program you choose should match your normal spending habits, too.

Finally, review the terms associated with the card you choose. If it has an annual fee , the benefits you get out of the card must outweigh the cost. The APR should be on the low side, too, if you plan on making payments in installments. Otherwise, look for a card that offers a 0 percent intro APR for a fixed number of months after opening the account, though these offers are rare on co-branded cards. If you expect to carry a balane or need to pay off existing debt, it may be best to put applying for an airline card on the backburner.

The bottom line

The elite status levels you can achieve with a co-branded airline credit card can be just the ticket to take the stress out of travel. Even better, it can make the process of flying a joy again. Just be sure to get the right card and program for you now and into the foreseeable future.

*The information about the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®, United℠ Explorer Card, United Quest℠ Card, United Club℠ Infinite Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, JetBlue Card and JetBlue Plus Card  has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

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