Delta Retracts Major Changes to SkyMiles Program and Lounge Access

In mid-September, Delta revealed plans for a significant overhaul of its SkyMiles loyalty program and exclusive Sky Club lounge access policies, set to begin in 2024. The proposed changes—which would complicate the process of achieving elite frequent flyer status and accessing airport lounges—provoked considerable backlash. In response, Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian announced that the airline would reconsider and implement “modifications” to these changes.

Here’s what you need to know about the revised plans for SkyMiles and Sky Clubs starting in 2024.

The updated process for earning elite Medallion Status with Delta

Currently, the SkyMiles loyalty program is based on three key metrics for achieving status: Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs), Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs), and Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). To earn status, members must meet a combination of actual flying (as measured by MQMs or MQSs) and specific spending thresholds on Delta.com, Delta-operated flights, and partner airline flights (tracked through MQDs).

As initially proposed, Delta plans to adopt a single metric, Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), as the sole criterion for earning status in 2024. While spending will remain the only method to achieve elite status, Delta has reduced its original spending requirements to the following:

• Silver Medallion: $5,000 MQDs (previously $6,000 MQDs)
• Gold Medallion: $10,000 MQDs (previously $12,000 MQDs)
• Platinum Medallion: $15,000 MQDs (previously $18,000 MQDs)
• Diamond Medallion: $28,000 MQDs (previously $35,000 MQDs)

These updates represent a 16.67 percent reduction in the spending requirements for attaining Silver, Gold, or Platinum status, and a 20 percent decrease for achieving Diamond status.

Moreover, Delta has announced that Delta SkyMiles Platinum, Platinum Business, Reserve, and Reserve Business American Express cardholders will receive an initial boost of 2,500 MQDs per card for the Medallion Qualification Year. With this boost, Delta SkyMiles Platinum cardholders can attain elite Silver Medallion status after spending just $2,500 MQDs. This makes the path to Silver easier than the current requirement of $3,000 MQDs and either 25,000 MQMs or 30 MQSs.

In addition to the initial boost, qualifying Delta SkyMiles American Express cardholders will be able to earn MQD increments when making purchases with their cards. Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business American Express cardholders will accumulate $1 MQD for every $10 spent, while Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express cardholders will earn $1 MQD for every $20 spent.

This new boost structure will replace the existing program for Delta SkyMiles American Express cardholders, which previously offered an MQD waiver after making eligible purchases of $25,000 or more within the calendar year. Under the new system, Reserve cardmembers can achieve at least Silver status after spending $25,000, earning $1 MQD for every $10 spent, totaling $2,500 MQDs, plus the initial boost of $2,500 MQDs, meeting the $5,000 MQDs required for Silver status.

New changes to Delta Sky Club access will commence in 2024

Delta has also revisited the updates regarding Sky Club access, easing the long-term changes for holders of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, Reserve Business, and American Express Platinum Cards.

Currently, those holding an AmEx Platinum, Delta SkyMiles Reserve, or SkyMiles Reserve Business Card enjoy unlimited access to these airport lounges when flying with Delta or a partner airline, irrespective of fare class. However, starting January 1, 2024, cardholders traveling on a Delta Basic Economy ticket (or equivalent with a partner airline) will lose access to Sky Clubs. Furthermore, Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Platinum Business Cardholders will no longer have entry to Delta Sky Clubs altogether. (They can currently pay a $50 fee per visit while flying Delta or a SkyTeam partner.)

The good news for AmEx Platinum, Delta SkyMiles Reserve, and SkyMiles Reserve Business cardholders is that the long-term lounge access changes set for February 1, 2025, are not as severe as initially proposed. While unlimited lounge access will end in 2025, Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business Card Members flying in fare classes other than Basic Economy on Delta (or equivalent on partner airlines) will receive 15 Sky Club visits per cardmember year (increased from the initially proposed 10). Meanwhile, those with the American Express Platinum Card will have 10 Sky Club visits per cardmember year (up from the initially suggested 6).

Delta will treat all Sky Club entries within a 24-hour timeframe as a single visit, meaning that visits in both a departure city and a layover city on the same day count as one. Additionally, once all allotted visits have been used, holders of an AmEx Platinum, Delta SkyMiles Reserve, and SkyMiles Reserve Business cards can still access Sky Clubs for $50 per visit. All three cardholders can achieve unlimited lounge access after spending $75,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, which will be valid for that year and the following one.

The transition plan for Delta loyalists with Rollover MQMs

For many loyal Delta flyers accustomed to the existing SkyMiles system, the announcement of a single MQD metric came as a surprise. This is particularly relevant for top fliers who had accumulated Rollover MQMs—excess MQMs beyond their Medallion tier qualification that carry over to the next qualification year, providing a head start on earning status again. To address the situation regarding Rollover MQMs earned in 2023, Delta is offering a one-time option to convert these into MQDs (at a rate of 10 MQMs to $1 MQD) or redeemable SkyMiles (at a rate of 1 MQM to 2 SkyMiles).

Members with Rollover MQM balances exceeding 100,000 also have the choice to extend their status over multiple years. These members can redeem their MQMs by maintaining their current Medallion Status each year for every 100,000 MQMs. For instance, a Gold Medallion member with 300,000 Rollover MQMs can secure three years of guaranteed Gold Status. Alternatively, that Gold member could convert 300,000 MQMs into $30,000 MQDs for a year of Diamond status, then strategize for Gold or higher in subsequent years. Regardless, MQM holders have until December 31, 2024, to decide how they wish to manage their Rollover MQMs.

Changes to Million Miler status

For those approaching or already holding Million Miler Status (lifetime elite status), Delta is set to enhance its annual complimentary Medallion status. Starting January 1, 2024, the following changes will be implemented for Million Milers.

Million Miler Status will be accrued based on flight miles flown. Any MQMs previously earned toward Million Miler Status will remain intact, and all flight miles flown will continue to contribute to the Million Miler total.