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As we reported final week, Delta Air Strains has now made a number of choices out there for Delta SkyMiles members who have been sitting on extra Medallion Qualification Miles.
As a part of many Delta SkyMiles Medallion program adjustments introduced final yr, the incomes metric referred to as MQMs is not. Meaning SkyMiles members with Medallion standing not have the annual rollover profit that used to allow them to start every year with an MQM increase.
Delta has now moved to a simpler metric: Medallion Qualification {Dollars}. In mild of this transformation, Delta is permitting some attention-grabbing choices for these members who’ve leftover MQMs from the 2023 calendar yr. That is vital, as some folks had tons of of hundreds of rollover miles.
As we coated, there are a number of choices to select from. You need to use MQMs to increase your standing, or you’ll be able to convert them to MQDs, Delta SkyMiles or a mixture of the latter.
Nevertheless, many TPG readers requested questions in regards to the numerous potentialities, so I reached out to Delta for some readability. Delta was capable of present some detailed solutions, which you will see under.
Keep in mind, you have got till Dec. 31, 2024, to make your choice, so in lots of circumstances, it might take advantage of sense to take a wait-and-see method. That is particularly vital given this phrase of warning from Delta: “All picks are last, unchangeable and irrevocable,” in response to the provider.
In different phrases, select correctly.
Does the Delta MQD rollover depend towards my 2025 standing?
Many Delta followers marvel if MQD rollovers will depend towards 2025 standing (which is earned based mostly in your exercise in the course of the 2024 calendar yr). Fortuitously, the reply is sure.
Whether or not you earn MQDs from spend, flying or rolling over MQMs, these MQDs will depend towards 2025 standing.
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Can you continue to earn Diamond Medallion standing even when you solely convert to Platinum Medallion?
A number of readers wished to know when you may get Diamond Medallion standing after changing to MQDs on the Platinum Medallion stage. In different phrases, is it potential to earn the distinction in MQDs for Diamond Medallion standing?
“Sure, in the event that they transformed their Rollover MQMs to MQDs and earned 2025 Platinum Medallion Standing on the 15,000 threshold, they’d solely want to achieve the 28,000 threshold (13,000 extra) to achieve earned 2025 Diamond Medallion Standing,” a Delta spokesperson instructed TPG. “The 15,000 MQDs are handled like some other type of earned MQDs.”
What about extra MQDs above numerous standing thresholds?
Delta additionally reminded readers that changing the whole lot to MQDs would not all the time make sense.
“Simply as a reminder, any extra MQDs above a standing threshold won’t roll over,” a Delta spokesperson mentioned.
It is a highly effective motive to attend till your 2024 journey and spending exercise is nearer to last earlier than changing your rollover MQMs. That may help you gauge your progress to your required Medallion tier earlier than figuring out whether or not you’d profit from extra MQDs — or could be higher off with miles to make use of on your subsequent journey.
What about extra MQDs past the Platinum Medallion standing threshold?
One reader requested about this instance state of affairs: If an elite converts to MQDs and there are sufficient to qualify for Platinum Medallion standing for 2 years in a row, will you earn the standing for each years? Or, would you solely obtain Platinum Medallion standing till Jan. 31, 2026?
On this case, you would not get a number of years of Platinum Medallion standing. As an alternative, you’d get MQMs transformed to the following stage of standing.
“If a buyer converts their Rollover MQMs to MQDs, it goes towards their qualification for 2025 Medallion Standing,” a Delta spokesperson mentioned. “In the event that they attain the 15,000 threshold for 2025 Platinum Medallion Standing, they’ll have it till Jan. 31, 2026. In the event that they attain the 28,000 threshold for 2025 Diamond Medallion Standing, they’ll have it till Jan. 31, 2026.”
How lengthy will rollover standing final?
Medallion members with greater than 100,000 rollover MQMs have the choice to increase their present standing. This rollover standing will get prolonged in one-year chunks per 100,000 MQMs and lasts by way of the tip of the standing yr. For those who prolonged standing by one yr, for instance, “That earned standing would final till Jan. 31, 2026, the tip of the 2025 Medallion yr,” in response to Delta.
Keep in mind that you would be able to roll over your present standing for 100,000 MQMs, so if in case you have 300,000 rollover MQMs from final yr, you may prolong your present standing for 3 years.
Relying in your present standing, this can be a greater choice than changing all of these MQMs to MQDs since that may solely get you 30,000 MQDs for this yr’s qualification — and Diamond standing by way of simply Jan. 31, 2026.
Can you exchange MQDs all the best way to Diamond Medallion standing?
Plenty of readers have been confused in regards to the energy of MQDs.
For instance, one reader talked about having 280,000 MQMs and is pondering of turning them into 28,000 MQDs. They wished to know if they’d instantly qualify for Diamond Medallion standing.
“Sure, in the event that they select to transform them to 100% MQDs. These MQDs are handled like some other type of earned MQDs,” a Delta spokesperson mentioned.
Nevertheless, it is price noting that this similar reader may use 200,000 of these rollover MQMs to increase their present standing for 2 years after which have 80,000 left to transform to MQDs, miles or a mixture of the 2.
Does the brand new standing occur straight away?
“I picked a option to convert my MQMs to {dollars} (MQDs) that may advance me two ranges,” TPG reader Charlotte Huss mentioned. She wished to know when her standing could be up to date.
Delta mentioned it could occur straight away. Certainly, Huss instructed me after she despatched her authentic e-mail that her standing had been up to date within the Delta app. The rollover perk allowed her to go from Silver Medallion to Platinum Medallion.
When will my standing get up to date?
TPG reader Jay Susman offered the next state of affairs: “If I convert my 210,000 MQMs into MQDs, I’ll get 21,000 MQDs. That is greater than sufficient to turn out to be Platinum (15,000 MQDs). So I ought to turn out to be Platinum at that second and be, properly on my approach to Diamond since I’ve already earned over 3,000 MQDs this yr. The query is whether or not my new standing will turn out to be efficient instantly or solely on Feb. 1, 2025.”
Based on Delta, sure, Susman would obtain Platinum Medallion standing as soon as the MQDs seem in his account, even when that is earlier than Feb. 1, 2025.
“When changing Rollover MQMs into MQDs, the MQDs are handled like all different earned MQDs. This standing is earned standing,” a Delta spokesperson mentioned. “That is completely different from changing 100,000 MQMs right into a yr of complimentary standing extension, as that is complimentary standing. Complimentary 2025 standing wouldn’t take impact till Feb. 1, 2025.”
What if I’ve additional MQDs on the finish of the yr?
TPG reader James Keenan wished to know what occurs if somebody has additional MQDs on the finish of 2024.
“I’ve roughly 190,000 MQMs and obtained Diamond standing in November of 2023. This goes by way of 2024,” he mentioned. “I’ve roughly 7,600 MQDs collected underneath the brand new system. If I hit 28,000 MQDs and obtain Diamond, does Delta permit the rollover of standing to 2026?”
Sadly, that will not be occurring.
“If the Member used 100,000 of his/her MQMs for the complimentary standing extension of Diamond AND earns 28,000 MQDs, the prolonged standing would basically be wasted,” a Delta spokesperson mentioned. “We’re not ‘extending the extension.’ Each of those statuses could be for the 2025 Medallion 12 months, which ends on Jan. 31, 2026.”
What about Alternative Advantages?
We additionally obtained many questions on Alternative Advantages which can be offered to top-tier Platinum and Diamond Medallions every year upon qualification.
“I had over 100,000 of MQM to roll over and used them to increase my Delta Diamond standing,” TPG reader Aaron Percy mentioned, “however one factor I observed and wished to see when you can verify is that I do not get any of the selection advantages. It wasn’t within the phrases and situations, and it might have made extra sense to transform my MQM to MQDs as a substitute. I might love any perception you might need. I assumed I might be capable to get the selection advantages for 2025 Diamond standing, however please hold me sincere.”
One other reader requested, “Do you continue to qualify for the Diamond Alternative Advantages if you’re utilizing your MQMs to increase your standing?”
The brief reply is sure. Based on Delta, you’re going to get the Alternative Advantages, however you will not have these decisions till the conventional elite yr qualification timeframe.
For those who as a substitute convert to MQDs, it is a completely different story.
“Simply as a reminder, you’re solely eligible to increase your earned 2024 Medallion Standing,” a Delta spokesperson mentioned. “For those who use Rollover MQMs to increase 2024 Diamond Medallion Standing … you’ll obtain complimentary 2025 Diamond Medallion Standing. For this feature, you’ll then be eligible to pick out 2025 Diamond Alternative Advantages on Feb. 1, 2025.”
“Nevertheless, For those who earned 2025 Diamond Medallion Standing by way of conversion to MQDs and it leads to a complete of 28,000 MQDs (which might be from a mixture of MQDs from all MQD-earning strategies), then you definitely could be eligible to pick out your Alternative Advantages quickly after qualification,” the Delta spokesperson added.
What Delta Alternative Advantages am I eligible for?
Sadly, when you use your rollover MQMs to increase your Diamond Medallion standing, you will not get Platinum Alternative Advantages in February of subsequent yr, however you’ll nonetheless get Diamond Alternative Advantages.
“The choice to transform to complimentary standing extension does present a Member with the Alternative Advantages on the tier that’s being prolonged,” a Delta spokesperson mentioned. “There are a couple of nuances with this standing since it’s thought of complimentary. 1. The Member solely will get the Alternative Advantages of the standing stage being prolonged. … And a couple of. Since complimentary standing doesn’t take impact till February 1 of the Medallion 12 months, the Alternative Advantages won’t be out there till then.”
What about these with lifetime Delta Diamond Medallion standing?
TPG reader Invoice Hunt wished to find out about lifetime standing.
“For these of us with lifetime standing with Delta, how does it work if we decline additional years of our present standing?” he requested. “In my case, I’ve 4.6MM with roughly 285,000 MQMs. If I say ‘Do not prolong standing’ and convert my MQMs to 142,000 miles, will I stay Diamond for Life? The way in which it is phrased is lifetime ‘annual’ renewal, and that makes me nervous.”
Delta mentioned to not fear. On this case, the individual actually will retain Diamond Medallion standing for all times, and people with 3 million miles and above won’t have the choice to increase standing “since they have already got annual complimentary Diamond Medallion (standing).”
Based on Delta, there are two potential the reason why somebody may need to convert their MQMs to MQDs.
“1. You might use the MQDs to achieve 15,000 MQDs which grants 1 Platinum Alternative Profit that doesn’t include complimentary DM standing,” a Delta spokesperson mentioned, “or 2. MQDs are a tie-breaker on the improve hierarchy.”
Nonetheless, it is a person alternative relating to what’s finest. Some members might want the extra redeemable miles as a substitute.
Backside line
Delta Air Strains is providing MQM rollover decisions for SkyMiles prospects with additional MQMs.
In case you are one of many fortunate Delta flyers with a number of MQMs, you’ll be able to prolong your standing, convert them to MQDs, flip them into redeemable SkyMiles or a mixture of some choices. It’s kind of sophisticated, however hopefully, a number of the solutions above will show you how to decide the fitting choice for you.
Nevertheless, the most suitable choice for now could also be to attend to resolve. In spite of everything, you do not have to drag the set off till the tip of the yr. Possibly you may earn sufficient MQDs this yr to hit your required tier of standing. In that case, changing your additional MQMs to MQDs may very well be nugatory if they do not get you to the next tier. In spite of everything, your extra MQDs above a selected qualification threshold in 2024 will not roll over, making gaining a stash of miles a greater choice.
For me, one choice was the clear winner. I am going to take pleasure in Diamond Medallion standing by way of the tip of 2025. That is fairly wild contemplating just some months in the past I used to be pondering of abandoning this system altogether. The enhancements Delta made to its American Specific cobranded bank cards and the standing extension imply I’ll stick to Delta for the following few years, on the very least.
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