Delta Medallion MQD Requirements 2026: Silver, Gold, Platinum & Diamond
Official Delta MQD thresholds for 2026 Medallion status. Silver needs $3,000, Gold $6,000, Platinum $9,000, Diamond $15,000. Includes Amex card waiver details.
Medallion Qualification Dollars are the single number that determines whether you earn Delta status at the end of the year. There's no flight count, no segment requirement — just MQDs. Here's exactly what each tier costs, what you get for it, and how to track where you stand.
All thresholds and benefits verified against Delta's official Medallion status page and Delta's benefits page. Last verified February 2026.
How the Medallion Year Works
Let's start with the basics: you earn MQDs in one calendar year to unlock status for the next year.
MQDs earned during 2026 (January 1 – December 31) qualify you for 2027 Medallion Status, which is valid from the day you earn it until January 31, 2028.
When you hit a threshold mid-year, you start enjoying that tier's benefits immediately. So reaching Gold in April 2026 means Gold benefits for the rest of 2026, and you'll continue with that status through January 31, 2027, if you earned 2026 status in 2025.
Delta Medallion MQD Thresholds for 2026
These are the MQD thresholds for the 2026 qualifying year (earning toward 2027 Medallion Status). Delta has confirmed thresholds are unchanged from 2025.
| Status | MQDs Required |
|---|---|
| Silver Medallion | $5,000 |
| Gold Medallion | $10,000 |
| Platinum Medallion | $15,000 |
| Diamond Medallion | $28,000 |
Use the Delta MQD Calculator to see exactly where you stand against each threshold based on your actual flights.
What Do You Get? Benefits by Tier
All Medallion tiers share a core baseline: complimentary upgrades, priority check-in and boarding, preferred seat access, and waived checked bag fees. Here's how the tiers diverge above that.
Silver Medallion — $5,000 MQDs
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bonus miles | 7 miles per dollar spent (40% bonus over base 5x) |
| Complimentary upgrades | First Class and Comfort+ from T-24 hours |
| Checked bags | First bag free |
| Same-day changes | Fee waived |
| SkyTeam status | SkyTeam Elite |
| Partner perks | Hertz Five Star status |
Silver is the entry point and genuinely useful for frequent domestic travelers. The upgrade window is narrower than higher tiers, but free bags and priority boarding compound quickly over a year of travel.
Gold Medallion — $10,000 MQDs
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bonus miles | 8 miles per dollar spent (60% bonus) |
| Complimentary upgrades | First Class and Comfort+ from T-72 hours |
| Checked bags | First bag free |
| Same-day changes | Fee waived |
| Priority security | SkyPriority lane access at select airports |
| Expedited baggage | Priority baggage service at select airports |
| SkyTeam status | SkyTeam Elite Plus (includes partner lounge access when flying SkyTeam internationally) |
| In-flight vouchers | Drink vouchers in Fly Delta app wallet |
| Partner perks | Hertz Five Star status |
The jump from Silver to Gold is meaningful. The upgrade window triples — from T-24 to T-72 — and SkyTeam Elite Plus unlocks international partner lounge access, which adds real value on multi-carrier itineraries.
Platinum Medallion — $15,000 MQDs
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bonus miles | 9 miles per dollar spent (80% bonus) |
| Complimentary upgrades | First Class from T-120 hours; Comfort+ shortly after ticketing |
| Checked bags | First bag free |
| Same-day changes | Fee waived |
| Priority security | SkyPriority lane access at select airports |
| SkyTeam status | SkyTeam Elite Plus |
| In-flight vouchers | Drink vouchers in Fly Delta app wallet |
| Choice benefit | 1 benefit from Delta's Choice menu |
| Partner perks | Hertz President's Circle status |
The Choice benefit is where Platinum gets interesting. Select one perk from a menu that includes upgrade certificates, bonus miles, a Delta travel voucher, gift status to a friend, an Amex statement credit, or Starbucks Reward Stars. The T-120 upgrade window also makes complimentary First Class realistic on a meaningful number of routes.
Diamond Medallion — $28,000 MQDs
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bonus miles | 11 miles per dollar spent (120% bonus) |
| Complimentary upgrades | First Class from T-120 hours; Comfort+ shortly after ticketing |
| Checked bags | First bag free |
| Same-day changes | Fee waived |
| Priority security | SkyPriority lane access at select airports |
| SkyTeam status | SkyTeam Elite Plus |
| In-flight vouchers | Drink vouchers in Fly Delta app wallet |
| Choice benefits | 3 benefits from Delta's Choice menu |
| CLEAR+ | Complimentary membership ($189 retail value) |
| VIP service | Dedicated Diamond customer service line |
| Partner perks | Hertz President's Circle status |
Diamond is the road warrior tier. Three Choice benefits add real flexibility — common selections include Sky Club membership, upgrade certificates, companion status gifts, or travel vouchers. Complimentary CLEAR+ offsets a meaningful portion of the commitment for frequent airport travelers.
What Are MQDs and How Do You Earn Them?
Medallion Qualification Dollars measure what you spend with Delta — not how far you fly. Delta moved to a pure spend-based model in 2024, eliminating the old MQM + MQS combination entirely.
On Delta-operated flights: you earn 1 MQD per dollar of eligible fare. Eligible means base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges — government taxes and fees are excluded. Basic Economy earns zero MQDs, full stop.
On partner and SkyTeam flights: earning is based on distance flown multiplied by a fare class percentage (5%–40% depending on booking class). Partner earning is significantly less efficient than flying Delta metal for status purposes.
Award tickets: a pure SkyMiles redemption earns no MQDs. The taxes on award tickets don't generate MQD credit. If you're balancing status chasing with award redemptions, think carefully about which flights to book with miles versus cash — especially toward year-end.
For help deciding when a SkyMiles redemption makes sense versus paying cash, our Delta Miles vs Cash post walks through the cents-per-mile framework. The Delta MQD Calculator handles both Delta cash tickets and partner fare calculations, including advanced mode for exception fares.
Delta Credit Cards: MQD Headstart and MQD Boost
Delta-branded American Express cards offer two ways to accelerate your MQD progress:
MQD Headstart: All four eligible cards automatically credit $2,500 MQDs at the start of each Medallion Qualification Year — no action required. This alone gets you halfway to Silver before you fly a single segment.
MQD Boost: Earn additional MQDs on everyday card spend throughout the year.
| Card | MQD Boost Earn Rate | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Amex | 1 MQD per $10 spent | $650 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Amex | 1 MQD per $10 spent | $650 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Amex | 1 MQD per $20 spent | $350 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Amex | 1 MQD per $20 spent | $350 |
Terms apply. Verify current rates at delta.com.
The MQD Headstart + Boost combination is worth modeling if you're close to a threshold. The Delta MQD Calculator includes an "Add Card MQDs" field so you can combine flight and card earning in one calculation.
Basic Economy: The MQD Dead Zone
Basic Economy earns zero MQDs regardless of what you paid. If you're working toward Medallion status, booking Basic Economy is paying for a seat with no status return. The savings rarely justify the loss — especially within reach of a threshold.
This also affects the miles-vs-cash decision. If you're on a route where only Basic Economy is available, the MQD argument for paying cash disappears. On Main Cabin or above, the opportunity cost of burning miles instead of paying cash becomes real — particularly toward year-end. The SkyMiles vs Cash calculator helps model both the redemption value and what you'd give up in MQDs on a given fare.
Tracking Your Progress
Delta displays your MQD balance in your SkyMiles account, updated within a few days of each eligible flight. You can also track progress toward your next tier in the Fly Delta app.
If you're approaching year-end within range of a threshold, run a quick projection: how much eligible flying do you have left, and is a positioning flight or fare class upgrade worth closing the gap? The Delta MQD Calculator lets you model that against your current balance before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MQD requirement for Delta Silver Medallion in 2026? $5,000 MQDs earned during the 2026 calendar year, which qualifies you for 2027 Silver Medallion Status.
What is the MQD requirement for Delta Diamond Medallion in 2026? $28,000 MQDs — the highest tier in the program. Confirmed unchanged for the 2026 qualifying year.
Do Basic Economy tickets earn MQDs toward Delta status? No. Basic Economy (Delta Main Basic) earns zero MQDs and zero SkyMiles, regardless of fare paid.
Do SkyMiles award tickets earn MQDs? No. Pure award redemptions do not earn MQDs. Only the eligible cash fare component of a ticket generates MQD credit.
When does Delta Medallion status expire? MQDs earned during 2026 unlock status that is valid from the day earned through January 31, 2028 (2027 Medallion Status). Your current 2026 status, earned from 2025 MQDs, expires January 31, 2027.
Can Delta credit cards help me reach Medallion status? Yes. All four eligible Delta Amex cards (Reserve, Reserve Business, Platinum, Platinum Business) include a $2,500 MQD Headstart at the start of each year, plus ongoing MQD Boost on card spend. Reserve cards earn 1 MQD per $10; Platinum cards earn 1 MQD per $20.
How do I calculate how many MQDs a specific flight will earn? Use the Delta MQD Calculator — enter your route, fare, and ticket type for your exact MQD earning, including partner airline fares in advanced mode.
The Short Version
- Silver: $5,000 MQDs — free bag, upgrades from T-24, SkyTeam Elite, Hertz Five Star
- Gold: $10,000 MQDs — upgrades from T-72, SkyTeam Elite Plus, partner lounge access, Hertz Five Star
- Platinum: $15,000 MQDs — upgrades from T-120, 1 Choice benefit, Hertz President's Circle
- Diamond: $28,000 MQDs — 3 Choice benefits, CLEAR+, VIP service line, Hertz President's Circle
- MQDs earned in 2026 qualify for 2027 status, valid through January 31, 2028
- Basic Economy and award tickets earn zero MQDs
- All four eligible Delta Amex cards include a $2,500 MQD Headstart each year
- Thresholds confirmed unchanged for 2026
Calculate MQDs on your next flight and track your progress with the Delta MQD Calculator. Weighing whether to use SkyMiles or pay cash on an upcoming flight? The SkyMiles vs Cash calculator runs that comparison in the same tool.
Thresholds and benefits verified against Delta's official program pages. Last updated February 2026.
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