After much speculation, Delta Air Lines has released the new way to earn Medallion status starting in the year 2025, and only one metric matters: spending.
In recent years, airline loyalty programs have made spending their primary indicator, while the number of flights flown is secondary. Delta Air Lines has taken this concept even further.
The Atlanta-based carrier announced its new loyalty measures on Thursday, September 14, 2023, moving from a combination of miles and elite qualifying dollars to just pure spending.
Switching to Spend “simplifies” customer retention
In its travel advisory, Delta says the new system will make it easier not only to obtain status, but also to track how close they are to the next tier. The airline will also offer travelers more ways to earn Medallion Qualifying Dollars, including booking car rentals and hotel stays on Delta.com, Delta Vacations, and Medallion Qualifying Dollar increases with select cards Delta SkyMiles American Express credit.
For those with a Delta American Express credit card, two of the most popular features will disappear starting in 2024. The Medallion Eligible Dollar Waiver and Status Boost will end on December 31, 2023, as the program evolves to spend – only.
When the changes take effect for the 2025 loyalty year, travelers will need to spend the following amount of money with Delta to earn elite status:
- Silver Medallion: $6,000 in medallion eligible dollars
- Gold Medallion: $12,000 in medallion eligible dollars
- Platinum Medallion: $18,000 in medallion eligible dollars
- Diamond Medallion: $35,000 in medallion eligible dollars
In the event that travelers have rolled over their Elite qualifying miles until 2023, they will have two conversion options. First, they can be converted to Medallion Qualifying Dollars or turned into redeemable SkyMiles. The ratios to which both will be converted have not yet been released.
Access to lounges will become more restrictive from 2025, particularly for credit card holders. Beginning February 1, 2025, Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business American Express cardholders will only get 10 Delta Sky Club visits per program year. Travelers with the American Express Platinum Card or Business Platinum Card will be limited to six visits per program year. Both groups of cardholders can earn unlimited visits with $75,000 in eligible spending on the cards, with tracking beginning January 1, 2024.
Those with the Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Platinum Business American Express cards will be most affected. Anyone with these cards will no longer have access to lounges from January 1, 2024. Additionally, anyone traveling in Basic Economy – regardless of which credit card they have – will be prohibited from entering the lounge.
“Delta is making a multi-year commitment to transform our SkyMiles program by creating a portfolio of options for customers to increase their Delta membership as soon as they join the program,” Dwight James, senior vice president of engagement and customer loyalty and CEO of Delta Vacations, said in a press release. “Our members will achieve the status they want, not only throughout their journey, but also in their daily lives. »
What is your position on the changes?
FlyerTalkers give the new program mixed reviews, with some welcoming the changes, while others say it’s one of the most aggressive in a long time. See what other FlyerTalkers have to say in these threads:
