5 Luxurious Benefits Of Earning Delta Medallion Status

Gaining elite status within an airline loyalty program is one of the biggest perks that can be offered to an airline traveler, as it can significantly improve the nature of the travel experience. As a result, airline loyalty programs like the award-winning Delta SkyMiles program will invest extensively in their elite status schemes.
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Across the board, there are four primary tiers of the Delta SkyMiles elite status system, which it calls Medallion and awards based on passenger flight activity and qualifying spending on cobranded credit cards that earn Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs). There is a fifth, unofficial, status tier called Delta 360, an invite-only program that offers the most exclusive benefits available anywhere across the Delta network.
With tiers ranging from silver to diamond Medallion, there is a broad range of benefits on offer for those who are lucky enough to earn medallion status, which often involves thousands in spending on airline tickets. As a result, it can be more important for passengers to capitalize on all the benefits available through the Medallion program, to make sure they are getting the best value for money with their Delta travel experience. Let’s take a deeper look at the SkyMiles Medallion program and examine everything it brings to the table.
Medallion members are offered mileage accrual benefits
Bonus miles are awarded according to the following schedule:
Status tier: SkyMiles earned per dollar spent on flights: Silver Medallion 7 Gold Medallion 8 Platinum Medallion 9 Diamond Medallion 11
Regardless of your Medallion status, there will be numerous benefits to purchasing tickets on Delta Air Lines, with mileage multipliers making your next award ticket significantly easier to attain. For those who regularly fly business or first class on an employer’s dime, the additional SkyMiles offered per dollar spent on flights can be a major boon and significantly speed up the amount of time it takes to save up for your next trip.
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There are other accrual benefits affiliated with having Delta SkyMiles elite status, but these are mostly realized by those who have Platinum or Diamond Medallion status. Those who have attained this level of elite status will be offered annual bonus miles by the airline as an additional benefit, which can reach up to 35,000 for Diamond Medallion members in 2025. Full details for these bonus miles can be explored further on the Delta SkyMiles website.
Access to complimentary upgrades
Passengers can enjoy premium travel at no additional cost
Delta Air Lines offers all SkyMiles members with Medallion status to request cabin upgrades at no additional cost within the United States and to some international destinations. Each passenger with Medallion status can put their name down on the list to be upgraded for free, with the airline allowing passengers with higher Medallion status to register with the upgrade list earlier than those with lower status, as detailed in the following table:
Status tier: Registration period for the complimentary upgrade list: Silver Medallion 24 hours prior to departure Gold Medallion 72 hours prior to departure Platinum Medallion 120 hours prior to departure Diamond Medallion 120 hours prior to departure (with priority)
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
Related What Does SkyMiles Medallion Status With Delta Get You At SkyTeam? Membership in the SkyTeam alliance allows Delta to share resources with other carriers and offer more benefits to its passengers.
Many fees are waived for Medallion members
These can save passengers hundreds over a year
Delta SkyMiles Medallion members are offered some unique benefits in the form of waived fees. For starters, passengers with Medallion status will always be able to check a free bag onboard any Delta Air Lines or partner airline flight, and this benefit extends to up to eight of their companions.
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This benefit may not seem that important, as it is offered to holders of most Delta Air Lines cobranded credit cards, such as Simple Flying’s best card of 2024, the Delta SkyMiles Gold. However, these Medallion fee waivers become far more impactful when one is traveling in premium economy or business class, as these passengers will be eligible to have three free checked bags.
Skyteam alliance status comes along with Delta Medallion status
The specific alliance status tier depends on which Medallion status tier a customer holds:
Status tier: Equivalent SkyTeam status: Silver Medallion Elite Gold Medallion Elite Plus Platinum Medallion Elite Plus Diamond Medallion Elite Plus
While Delta Silver Medallion status does offer some appealing perks of its own, the status does not come along with the highest tier of Skyteam alliance status, something that stands out as a major drawback. While those holding Elite Plus status will be offered the majority of the alliance’s most premium perks, those with simple Elite status will be given fairly minimal benefits.
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For example, Elite Plus status members will be able to access SkyTeam’s collection of global lounges, ensuring they will have access to a lounge at almost any airport worldwide. Furthermore, they are given priority access to everything from the check-in desk to standby lists and much more.
Related A Complete Guide To Elite Status In The oneworld Alliance Ruby, Emerald, and Sapphires are the tiers to strive for within the oneworld Alliance.
Hertz Car Rental benefits are also on the table
Delta Medallion members are offered numerous other travel-related benefits
For those who like to rent cars, the Medallion status system has something for you. With bonus miles available for Medallion members who spend money on Hertz rentals and elite status also on offer, Delta certainly makes sure its Medallion members are taken care of if they are looking to rent a car. Specific details of this benefit can be seen in the table below:
Status tier: SkyMiles earned per dollar spent on Hertz rentals: Hertz status offered: Silver Medallion 5 Five Star Gold Medallion 6 Five Star Platinum Medallion 7 President’s Circle Diamond Medallion 8 President’s Circle