What is the difference between skymiles and medallion qualification miles

As always, be sure to adjust these numbers based on your given travel patterns. Those who travel exclusively in the U. You also may qualify on segments rather than miles, and you may have heavier travel in certain parts of the year. Related: How to redeem Delta SkyMiles for maximum value. There are a couple of things to keep in mind as you decide to chase Delta elite status in The pandemic has changed travel as we know it, and many of us are traveling less.

Airlines have responded to the pandemic by extending elite status and making it easier to earn status in While Delta was the first U. This includes MQMs earned with a credit card. Make sure to go through your travel plans and see if it makes sense for you to chase elite status during the pandemic.

Remember, you edit the provided Excel sheet and make changes to my assumed valuations for a more accurate look at the value of elite status. Likewise, the status you earn this year will be valid through when travel hopefully returns to normal.

Related: When will international travel return? A country-by-country guide to coronavirus recovery. Delta has hubs all around the U. If you live near one of these hubs, Delta status could be a great option. This is especially true in places like Detroit and Salt Lake City, where Delta is the only carrier with a hub.

Delta operates a handful of focus cities around the U. Whatever the case may be, look at your flight habits and see if it makes sense for you to move the bulk of your flying to Delta and its SkyTeam partners.

The airline has very limited service from this airport when compared to American and United. On the other hand, it may make sense for someone based in Des Moines DSM to pick Delta as all airlines have limited service to the city. Delta is one of the easiest statuses to earn with a credit card.

This waives the requirement for Silver, Gold and Platinum status. Keep this in mind as you choose to earn Delta elite status. If you have lots of credit card spend, you may be able to earn a higher tier of elite status with Delta than you would another airline. That said, you should also keep in mind the opportunity cost of using your Delta credit card for purchases where you may earn more points using another credit card. Putting lots of spend on your Delta cards could mean losing out on points with other cards.

Look through your spending habits and see if it makes sense to earn status with your Delta card. Related: Boost your progress toward Medallion status with select Delta credit cards. If international travel is your goal, Delta can be tough. In other words, the higher levels offer more bang for your airfare buck.

Delta offers several helpful ways to give you a leg up on earning Medallion status or help you get it back after lapsing. To qualify you must:. Not have received a status match from Delta in the past three years.

Have elite status from another qualifying airline. Be able to prove that you have this status and that you earned it from flying not through another status match. In fact, you can extend your Medallion status through the entire following year if you begin your status match after July 1. This helpful program is essentially parental leave for airline elite status. That is, if you were a Medallion status member who had a major life event that caused you to lose your status, Delta will let you reclaim your previous status in a similar way to the matching program above.

If approved, Delta will reinstate your former status for three months and give you the opportunity to extend your reclaimed status through the following year in the same manner as the status challenge above. It's a great program for travelers who fly frequently on Delta and its partners, and it can provide money-saving and comfort-improving benefits to all Medallion holders. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of , including those best for:. How Medallion status works.

Earning Medallion status. Medallion status benefits. Status matching, challenges and Reclaim My Status. Show More. Changes for Existing Medallion holders. Those seeking Medallion status. OR this many MQSs:. How Medallion Qualification Dollars work. Rollover Medallion Qualification Miles. Credit card waivers. SkyMiles earned per dollar spent. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options.

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