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Delta SkyMiles guide: miles and Medallion status

Rules checked 27 September 2026

SkyMiles is Delta Air Lines' programme and a member of SkyTeam. Both miles and Medallion status are based on what you spend, and status is measured in Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs).

At a glance

Earning on Delta flights

Each US dollar of eligible fare also earns one MQD. Taxes and government fees don't count.

Medallion status

Status earned during a calendar year runs for the rest of that year and the whole of the next, until the end of January the year after. Delta's co-branded American Express cards and Delta Vacations packages can also earn MQDs.

Things to watch

• Basic Economy earns nothing. Delta Main Basic tickets earn no miles and no MQDs, whatever you pay.
• Distance doesn't matter. A cheap long-haul fare earns less than an expensive short flight.
• Status is spend-heavy for occasional flyers. Gold Medallion, which brings SkyTeam Elite Plus, needs US$10,000 of Delta spending. If you fly SkyTeam mostly on cheaper fares, a distance-based SkyTeam programme may get you Elite Plus more easily.

Who it suits

SkyMiles suits frequent Delta flyers, particularly in the US, who buy higher fares or spend on Delta's credit cards. SkyMiles don't expire, so an occasional flyer can keep a balance indefinitely.