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Delta credit cards are unique because they can be used for elite status. Delta allows you to spend your way to status and, theoretically, you could even be able earn top-tier status by spending only on credit cards.
Delta is the only airline I would rather fly in the United States than Delta. In the past, I have often thought about trying to earn Delta status. This is something I am less likely to think about now than ever, given the recent pandemics and the devaluation of frequent flyer programs by airlines. It's still interesting to think about the math.
This post will examine the current status of earning Delta status by credit card spending. This might not be necessary for Delta SkyMiles elite members, as Delta has granted Medallion status until 2021.
Delta SkyMiles Medallion Status Requirements
Delta SkyMiles offers four elite tiers with the following requirements each year:
Silver Medallion requires 25,000 MQMs or 30 MQSs and 3,000 MQDs
Gold Medallion is required to be accompanied by 50,000 MQMs, 60 MQSs and 6,000 MQDs
Platinum Medallion requires 75,000 MQMs or 100 MQSs and 9,000 MQDs
Diamond Medallion requires 125,000 MQMs or 140 MQSs and 15,000 MQDs
If you are not familiar with MQMs or MQSs or MQDs:
MQMs refer to Medallion Qualifying Miles. This can be based on which type of ticket you booked, so you may not always earn one MQM for every mile flown.
MQSs refer to Medallion Qualifying Segments. They are the number of elite segments that you have earned.
MQDs refer to Medallion Qualifying Dollars. They are the amount you spend to get status. Taxes and other fees are not included in this total.
Delta Amex Medallion Qualifying Dollar Waiver
With Delta Amex credit cards you can waive the MQD requirement as follows:
If you spend $25,000 or more on a Reserve Delta Amex Platinum or Reserve Delta Amex in the calendar year, the MQD requirement for Platinum, Silver, and Gold status can be waived
If you spend $250,000 or more on a Platinum Amex or Reserve Delta Amex within the calendar year, the MQD requirement for Diamond status can be waived
Spending across multiple cards is eligible for the waiver
Delta MQMs with Welcome Bonuses
The co-branded Delta Amex cards offer limited-time welcome bonuses that are valid for applications until November 10, 2021. The following four cards offer welcome bonuses with MQMs:
Delta A350 business class
Delta MQMs Earned with Credit Card Spending
You can earn MQMs with the credit card bonuses mentioned above, as well as through everyday spending. Delta will offer a 25% increase in MQMs earned by spending for 2021. Below, I will discuss how many MQMs your average earnings are and how much you can earn after adding the 25% bonus.
Let's see how this compares between the Platinum and Reserve cards. (Note that this does not account for any MQMs that were part of the welcome bonus)
Delta Platinum Amex MQMs For Spending
For ongoing spending, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card are both available:
Earn 10,000 bonus MQMs after spending $25,000
Spend $50,000 to earn an additional 10,000 bonus MQMs
Earn an additional 2,500 MQMs for 2021 at each of the thresholds
Spending $50,000 on one of these cards would earn you 20,000 MQMs or 25,000 MQMs by 2021. You would earn 40,000 MQMs if you spent $50,000 on each of these cards, or 50,000 in 2021.
Delta Reserve Amex MQMs For Spending
For ongoing spending, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card (or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card) offers the following:
Earn 15,000 bonus MQMs after spending $30,000
Spend $60,000 to earn an additional 15,000 bonus MQMs
Spend $90,000. Earn additional 15,000 bonus MQMs
Spend $120,000 to earn an additional 15,000 bonus MQMs
Earn an additional 3,750 MQMs for 2021 at each of the thresholds
Spend $120,000 on one of these cards and you'd earn a bonus of 60,000 MQMs or 75,000 MQMs by 2021. If you spend $240,000 on each of these cards, you would ordinarily be able to earn 120,000 MQMs (or 150,000 MQMs) in 2021.
Delta A320 first class
Crunching the Numbers
You can still earn the welcome bonus, but not on an annual basis.
For spending $50,000 on any of the Delta Platinum cards, you will receive 20,000 bonus MQMs (25,000 by 2021).
For spending $120,000 on each Delta Reserve card, you will receive 60,000 bonus MQMs (75,000 by 2021).
The Reserve is the best way to earn MQMs efficiently, as you get half a MQM for every dollar spent in the right increments.
Spend $120,000 to earn 60,000 MQMs (70,000 in 2021), or if you have both the personal version and the business version, you would be looking at 120,000 MQMs (150,000 2021), for $240,000 in spending.
These are huge amounts of money and won't be feasible for everyone. However, I know many people who spend a lot with credit cards, reimbursable expenses, etc. so it could make sense to do something similar.
Use Credit cards to earn Silver, Gold, or Platinum Status
Credit cards make it possible to attain Silver, Gold, and Platinum Delta status. One, the Reserve or Platinum products can be used to eliminate the MQD requirement which is a significant roadblock for many people.
If you spend $60,000 on a Delta Reserve Card, you would earn 30,000 MQMs (37.500 MQMs by 2021).
This is more than enough to earn Silver status
This gives you 20,000 MQMs (or 12,500 MQMs in 2021 if you are Gold).
This gives you 45,000 MQMs (37.500 MQMs by 2021), if you are in Platinum status
Use Credit Cards to Earn Diamond Status
It takes more effort to earn Diamond status with credit cards.
First, Diamond status requires 15,000 MQDs. This means that you must spend $15,000 on Delta tickets in a calendar year before taxes and fees. Or you must spend $250,000 on credit card to get it waived.
You can earn Diamond status by using credit cards in many ways. However, there is a high opportunity cost. This is the best way to go all-in.
Spend $240,000 on the personal and business Reserve Cards, and you could earn 120,000 MQMs (or 150,000 MQMs) in 2021
To get MQD waiver, you would need to spend $10,000 more. This will mean that you'd spend $250,000 annually on these cards. You won't have to spend $15,000 to earn Diamond status.
This would leave you with just 5,000 MQMs to earn Diamond status or 25,000 additional MQMs for 2021, which should be very easy. There are huge catches.
Spending that much on a Delta Card can be a huge opportunity cost, as you can earn more valuable points with other cards.
It is up to you to determine how valuable Diamond status would be for you. If you only fly a handful of times per year with Delta, it may not be worth it.
Get to know others using MQMs
You can share Delta MQMs earned through credit card purchases. You can choose which account you wish to redeem the MQMs. Your spouse, parent, sibling or friend can open a card and give you MQMs.
Delta 737
Delta Offers Rollover MQMs
Delta offers rollover MQMs. This means that if you are unable to reach a certain status level in a given year, any miles earned above this level will roll over to the next year.
If you have 45,000 MQMs at the end of the year, you would earn Silver status. However, that requires only 25,000 MQMs. The next year would see 20,000 MQMs.
This strategy can also be influenced by it.
Opportunity Cost of Credit Card Spending
Delta Reserve Card offers the best return on elite spending and the highest reward for elite status. Let's say that you spend $120,000, and earn 60,000 MQMs (70,000 MQMs in 2020).
Spend $120,000 and you'll get 120,000 redeemable points and 60,000 MQMs (70,000 in 2021). SkyMiles are valued at 1.2c each. This would give you $1,440 in concrete value, as well as the MQMs.
Next, you need to look at the other options. This could be one of your best credit cards for everyday purchases.
It can be simplified further by stating that at certain spending thresholds, you earn one SkyMile and 0.25 MQMs per dollar (0.625 MQMs for 2021).
SkyMiles are valued at 1.2 cents. If you consider the opportunity cost to spend as 2.55-3.4%, then youre paying 2.7-4.4c per MQM. That's equivalent to paying $3,375-5.500 for Diamond status.
This does not include the annual fees on cards. Everyone will have a different accounting based on how valuable they are.
Bottom line
Delta is the only airline that makes it possible to earn status through credit card spending alone or by flying and credit card spending. A co-branded credit card that has MQM earning potential is a good way to earn Silver, Gold or Platinum Medallion status.
For those who are really serious about credit card spending, however, you could be awarded Diamond status if you spend enough on Delta cobranded credit cards. To qualify for the MQD waiver you would need to spend at most $250,000. However, this status is quite achievable beyond that.
It is even easier to achieve status with the current Delta Amex card welcome bonuses. This is not for everyone, as I mentioned, but it is what makes Delta so special. American and United have similar options to earn status via credit cards.
Delta loyalists: To what extent do Delta Amex cards allow you to earn Medallion status? Is your approach changed by the coronavirus epidemic?
