Delta Diamond Medallion Benefits
Diamond Medallion is Delta’s top status for its most frequent travelers. In theory, this flier travels often and is loyal to Delta, and in return, Delta should go out of its way to reward this customer and to keep his/her business.
What exactly do you have to do to achieve this level of “status” with Delta?
Per Delta’s website, this is what you need to work your way up the loyalty ladder : https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/skymiles/medallion-program/medallion-qualification-dollars.smt-diamond.html
- To reach SILVER, you will need 25,000 MQMs or 30 MQSs and $3,000 MQD.
- To reach GOLD, you will need 50,000 MQMs or 60 MQSs and $6,000 MQDs.
- To reach PLATINUM, you will need 75,000 MQMs or 100 MQSs and $9,000 MQDs.
- To reach DIAMOND, you will need 125,000 MQMs or 140 MQSs and $15,000 MQDs.
125,000 MQMs are actual miles flown, which is different from SkyMiles, which are the miles used for redemption for free flights. SkyMiles are based on the amount you paid for your ticket plus a multiplier based on your status. So the higher status you are, the more SkyMiles you’ll get for the same ticket price.
There are a few nice loopholes that you can utilize on your way up to Delta Diamond Medallion. First, you can rollover MQMs from last year. For example, I purposely ended 2016 with 124,000 MQMs (just under the Diamond threshold of 125,000), therefore 49,000 MQMs rolled into 2017 (124K – 75K = 49K). Second, you can use the Delta Platinum & Delta Reserve credit cards to boost your MQMs with certain amounts of spend; I used the Delta Reserve card and spent $30,000 in order to get 15,000 MQMs (you also get 15,000 SkyMiles as well as that $30,000 spend counting towards the $25,000 exemption amount for MQDs). Thirdly, you can further “boost” your MQMs with either of those aforementioned cards – the Reserve card gives you another 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 SkyMiles when you spend another $30,000 (total $60,000).
So before any actual flying in 2017, I have 49K rollover MQMs and 15K MQMs from the first $30K spend – and Im almost at the next spend threshold – so figure 79K MQMs. Then add in actual flights, and I successfully passed the 125K MQM requirement for Delta Diamond Medallion Status.
How does Delta reward is best customers?
Comfort+ upon booking on all flights (you choose a regular seat and the system automatically allows you to book Comfort+)
11x SkyMiles Multiplier for all flights (up from 9x as a Platinum) – this helps you earn more redeemable miles faster
Waived fees for baggage, booking, same day confirmed, and award ticket re-deposits (same as Platinum)
Premium boarding (ahead of Sky & Zones 1-3; board first regardless of where you’re actually sitting)
VIP Customer service line
Enhanced SkyTeam & Hertz partnership benefits
And the biggest additions :
Unlimited complimentary upgrades to Business Class on domestic and some international flights – prioritized (you’re first on the upgrade list)
Delta SkyClub Individual membership
Complimentary CLEAR membership to expedite security
Choice of 3 of the following “Diamond selections” : SkyClub Executive membership (guests are free on top of your existing Individual membership); 25,000 SkyMiles; 8 Regional Upgrades or 4 International Upgrades or a combo of both; Gift card valued at a few hundred dollars; the ability to gift “Fold” status to another Delta flier; up to 2 free global entry vouchers.
Additional details can be found here :
For me, and most fliers I talk to, getting priority upgrades is huge, and Diamond does make a large difference coming from Platinum. (I’ve tracked my upgrades, and ignoring international travel where its ineligible, as well as flights involving Atlanta, where everyone is a Diamond medallion, the upgrade percentages are approximately 5-10% for Silver, 40-45% for Gold, and 65-70% for Platinum). The minor additions like always boarding first, better customer service, and added SkyMiles are helpful also. Choosing the Global upgrades, which you can use on KLM, AirFrance, and Virgin, is a huge value – for the price of whatever you paid to fly internationally in coach, you can get the DeltaOne First Class experience for free. You can opt for the regional upgrades, but remember, you also received those as a Platinum member. If you don’t have the Delta Reserve card, which has SkyClub access, this selection is worth $450 a year at least.
After 2-3 years flying with Delta exclusively, I’m excited to see how Diamond Medallion status changes and elevates the flying experience. Stay tuned!
