【Updated 2023.10】Delta finally couldn’t hold the line and announced revisions to the changes it had previously released. After looking through them, the overall direction really hasn’t changed much—this mostly feels like a few minor fixes and a little consolation. Note that these patches apply only to Medallion qualification starting in 2024 and for 2025. There may still be more changes later.

The Delta SkyClub changes do add a little bit of value back for cardholders. I’m not sure whether this 24-hour concept means you could visit once before departure and then again after arrival.

  • Delta Reserve cardholders will get 15 days of access per year instead of 10 visits
  • Delta Platinum cardholders will get 10 days of access per year instead of 6 visits
  • All entries within 24 hours count as the same day
  • After the free allotment is used up, each visit costs $50

The MQD requirements for 2025 are being lowered. Put simply, that means you need to spend a bit less money.

  • Silver Medallion: down from 6,000 to 5,000 MQDs
  • Gold Medallion: down from 12,000 to 10,000 MQDs
  • Platinum Medallion: down from 18,000 to 15,000 MQDs
  • Diamond Medallion: down from 35,000 to 28,000 MQDs

Credit card holders can also get complimentary MQDs, calculated separately for each eligible card.

  • American Express Delta Platinum/Reserve Card gets $2,500 MQD per year

As for the status gifted to Million Milers, the real road warriors probably don’t care that much about this change anyway.

  • 6 million miles or more earns Delta 360o™ (previously Diamond Medallion)
  • 5 million miles earns Delta 360o™ (previously Platinum Medallion)
  • 4 million miles earns Diamond Medallion (previously Platinum Medallion)
  • 3 million miles earns Diamond Medallion (previously Gold Medallion)
  • 2 million miles earns Platinum Medallion (previously Gold Medallion)
  • 1 million miles earns Gold Medallion (previously Silver Medallion)

More Choice Benefits are being added for elite members.

  • Diamond Medallion: Delta Sky Club access (requires using two Choice Benefit selections)
  • Diamond Medallion Members can choose 35,000 miles; Platinum Medallion can choose 30,000 miles
  • Diamond Medallion Members can choose a $350 voucher; Platinum Medallion can choose a $300 voucher
  • A new Wheels Up statement flight credit

About This Round of Changes

Delta had not yet officially published the full details or a news page when this first surfaced, but the customer-service training materials had already started circulating across blogs and forums. Based on everyone comparing notes, the information looked fairly reliable. Most of the changes were set to take effect on January 1, 2024. Sources were as follows:

Now Delta has also published the update on its official website. Link below:

Changes to Elite Status Tiers

Delta will eliminate MQM, the metric qualification miles earned based on flown mileage, and move entirely to MQD, which is based on ticket spending with Delta and partner airlines. According to Flytalk, starting on January 1, 2024, elite status will be determined by MQD.

  • Spend $1 with Delta, earn 1 MQD.

So in theory, you would need to spend 6,000 to reach Silver. And even if you are already an elite member, there is no more “boost” concept—MQDs will simply be calculated based on how much money you actually spend.

However, credit card spending can also earn MQDs. On the Delta Reserve, every $10 in spend earns 1 MQD. So these two cards now seem to have some new value in keeping them.

  • $20 spend on the Delta Platinum = MQD1
  • $10 spend on the Delta Reserve = MQD1

Previously earned MQMs will be converted into MQDs, or you can choose to convert them into Delta miles.

  • Rollover MQMs convert at a 20 to 1 ratio to MQDs, Or 2:1 to Skymiles

In addition, this change applies to all flights. If you are not in the U.S. but credit your flights to Delta, qualification will still be based on the cash ticket price. The amount will be converted into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at the time, and then MQDs will be calculated.

In short, after this change, mileage runs are basically dead. Everything now has to be earned through actual spending.

Delta Club Changes

To ease crowding in Delta Club lounges, Delta made a major effort here and significantly tightened credit card access.

  • Delta Reserve and Reserve Business will be limited to 10 visits per year; after $75,000 in card spending, unlimited access is available
  • The AMEX Platinum card will only have 6 visits per year; after $75,000 in card spending, unlimited access is available
  • Delta Platinum and Gold will no longer have access
  • If you are flying in Delta Basic Economy, you will not be able to enter using a credit card benefit

Summary

It has to be said that U.S. airlines have been gradually abandoning the traditional mileage-based qualification model and moving toward a simpler, more direct spend-based approach to measure a member’s value. For business travelers, this is not a big deal, and expensive work-paid tickets may actually generate more MQDs and help them qualify faster. But for people who like finding cheap business-class fares and also getting good mileage value out of the trip, that play is basically over now.

On the credit card side, though, these changes do make it much easier to earn MQDs through heavy spending, which means you could become a Delta elite member even without flying. If you can score an upgrade—especially on a transoceanic flight—that would be pretty nice. That said, Delta credit cards are only average when it comes to earning points, so they are not especially compelling for pure spend alone. The lounge changes were also more or less expected. After all, Delta’s lounges generally offer better service and food than AA and UA. By restricting credit card access and leaning more toward a pay-to-play elite model, Delta can probably filter for higher-value customers and keep out large numbers of mileage hackers.

Of course, for the airline, any program change is bound to benefit the airline itself. But after these changes, there are fewer and fewer interesting ways to play the Delta game. For those of us who enjoy studying miles and airline frequent flyer programs, it all feels increasingly less fun.