If you’re chasing Delta Medallion Status next year, the targets aren’t going to move.
A Delta spokesperson confirmed to Points Insider that the airline doesn’t plan to change its qualification requirements, meaning MQD thresholds for the upcoming Medallion Year will remain the same.
How Many MQDs Do You Need for 2028 Status?
Delta awards Medallion Status based on the Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) you earn during the previous calendar year. That means your 2027 activity will determine your status for the 2028 Medallion Year.
Here’s how much you’ll need to earn to qualify:
| Medallion Tier | MQDs Needed |
|---|---|
| Silver Medallion | $5,000 |
| Gold Medallion | $10,000 |
| Platinum Medallion | $15,000 |
| Diamond Medallion | $28,000 |
Delta has held these thresholds since its 2023 loyalty program overhaul, when it moved to MQD-only qualification and subsequently lowered its proposed requirements following pushback from members.
How You Earn MQDs Today
Under Delta’s current rules, you earn $1 MQD per $1 spent on eligible Delta-marketed flights, excluding government taxes and fees. Eligible Delta Vacations packages also earn MQDs, while Delta Main Basic (Basic Economy) fares don’t.
Select Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards offer a $2,500 annual MQD Headstart, plus additional MQDs through everyday spending.
MQDs don’t roll over, so your balance resets to zero on or about January 1 each year, regardless of how far past a status threshold you finish.
Delta Is Bucking the Trend
Delta’s biggest competitors, meanwhile, are making changes to their loyalty programs.
United is raising its Premier 1K qualification requirement and dropping its flight-count qualification path for 2027, while Southwest is replacing A-List and A-List Preferred with new Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers. JetBlue just announced its own slate of changes, too.
For now, Delta seems to be the lone holdout. Time will tell if that’s the case next year as well.
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