Overview
- Delta confirmed Thursday that it will not raise its Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) thresholds for 2027, keeping the program unchanged for a third straight year.
- The thresholds remain 5,000 MQDs for Silver, 10,000 for Gold, 15,000 for Platinum and 28,000 for Diamond, with MQDs resetting on Jan. 1, 2027 and 2027 activity granting status through all of 2028 and benefits expiring Jan. 31, 2029.
- SkyMiles members earn MQDs mainly from dollars spent on Delta‑marketed tickets and Delta Vacation packages, from partner flights calculated by distance/fare rules, and from eligible Delta American Express card spending, with some cards offering a 2,500 MQD annual head start.
- Delta’s decision contrasts with recent moves by rivals: United raised spending requirements and removed flight‑segment rules while Southwest reworked Rapid Rewards and the Companion Pass, and American Airlines has not yet announced its next status year rules.
- For travelers this means predictable targets for 2027 status but also a continued incentive to use co‑branded credit cards and spend on Delta, a shift that could shape loyalty choices and prompt more competitive program changes next year.