Just like the United MileagePlus program and the American Airlines AAdvantage program, the Delta SkyMiles program rewards its most loyal and high-spending customers with elite status benefits, which can significantly improve the travel experience for those flying. The Delta Diamond Medallion status is the highest tier within the Delta SkyMiles loyalty program, and it requires significant spending from a customer on Delta Air Lines flights. Get all the latest aviation news from Simple Flying! To qualify for this status, which comes along with the largest set of benefits on offer, requires a passenger to spend heavily on flights, likely over $20,000 per year.
To qualify for Diamond Medallion status, passengers must have earned more than 28,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) in one year. As of 2025, there are no longer flight segment minimums for passengers looking to earn this Delta elite status. To earn MQDs, there are a few ways for passengers to earn these points.
For starters, every $1 spent by a customer on Delta flights (except for taxes and fees) earns 1 MQD. Some Delta vacation book packages also earn MQDs. Certain American Express Delta cards will come along with an MQD head start each year, with those who have cards like the Delta Platinum American Express card being eligible to earn around 2,500 MQDs as a head start bonus each year.
They can also earn MQDs for spending on cards, with the specific MQD accrual rates depending on the kind of card. Unlike lower D.