17/09/2023
BREAKING NEWS: Delta announces drastic changes to its SkyMiles program and access to its lounge network.
Yeesh. Not a good day to be a Delta loyalist.
Delta Air Lines is overhauling how you earn Medallion status as part of perhaps one of its biggest loyalty updates yet. The airline is retiring Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) and Medallion Qualifying Segments (MQSs), and it'll instead focus on a redefined version of Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs).
And it gets worse from there.
Not only is Delta changing how you earn status, but it's also raising the thresholds needed to achieve Medallion elite status — and these updates aren't pretty.
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, you'll need to earn the following number of MQDs to enjoy Medallion status for 2025. (You earn MQDs each year between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, and your status is then valid through Jan. 31 two years after the qualifying period.)
-Silver: 6,000 MQDs
-Gold: 12,000 MQDs
-Platinum: 18,000 MQDs
-Diamond: 35,000 MQDs
And if that wasn't bad enough, Delta is also changing who gets access to its network of Sky Club lounges. No matter how you slice it, there's some bad news for those with Delta's top-of-the-line credit cards.
Beginning on Feb. 1, 2025, Delta will limit how many times you can visit a Sky Club in each program year, as follows.
-The Platinum Card from American Express — six annual visits
-The Business Platinum Card from American Express — six annual visits
-Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card — 10 annual visits
-Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card — 10 annual visits
Additionally, those with the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card will no longer enjoy any access to the Sky Club.
For more details and when these changes go into effect, visit the link below.
https://bit.ly/46a1yNr