This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. A new year is a great time to reconsider your airline loyalty. However, deciding which program makes the most sense for you can be difficult, given the variations between the programs when it comes to complimentary upgrades, bonus points or miles and other valuable perks.
And is it even worth pursuing elite status at all? Get points and miles coverage like this delivered to your inbox by signing up for the TPG daily newsletter. Everyone has his or her own way of valuing the various benefits of loyalty programs; some may always pay for first and business class and thus have no need for complimentary upgrades, while others may travel exclusively in the U.
As a result, feel free to adjust the numbers I use to make them more relevant to your own personal valuation. To really hit a value for benefits, I have to assume a certain amount of flying and a corresponding amount of spending. As always, be sure to adjust these numbers based on your given travel patterns. Those who travel exclusively in the U. You also may qualify on segments rather than miles, and you may have heavier travel in certain parts of the year.
Related: How to redeem Delta SkyMiles for maximum value. There are a couple of things to keep in mind as you decide to chase Delta elite status in The pandemic has changed travel as we know it, and many of us are traveling less. Airlines have responded to the pandemic by extending elite status and making it easier to earn status in While Delta was the first U.
This includes MQMs earned with a credit card. Make sure to go through your travel plans and see if it makes sense for you to chase elite status during the pandemic. Remember, you edit the provided Excel sheet and make changes to my assumed valuations for a more accurate look at the value of elite status.
Likewise, the status you earn this year will be valid through when travel hopefully returns to normal. Related: When will international travel return? A country-by-country guide to coronavirus recovery. Delta has hubs all around the U. If you live near one of these hubs, Delta status could be a great option. This is especially true in places like Detroit and Salt Lake City, where Delta is the only carrier with a hub.
Delta operates a handful of focus cities around the U. Whatever the case may be, look at your flight habits and see if it makes sense for you to move the bulk of your flying to Delta and its SkyTeam partners.
The airline has very limited service from this airport when compared to American and United. On the other hand, it may make sense for someone based in Des Moines DSM to pick Delta as all airlines have limited service to the city. Delta is one of the easiest statuses to earn with a credit card. This waives the requirement for Silver, Gold and Platinum status. Keep this in mind as you choose to earn Delta elite status. If you have lots of credit card spend, you may be able to earn a higher tier of elite status with Delta than you would another airline.
That said, you should also keep in mind the opportunity cost of using your Delta credit card for purchases where you may earn more points using another credit card. Putting lots of spend on your Delta cards could mean losing out on points with other cards.
Look through your spending habits and see if it makes sense to earn status with your Delta card. Related: Boost your progress toward Medallion status with select Delta credit cards. If international travel is your goal, Delta can be tough. The airline has devalued its SkyMiles currency twice in the past year , focusing on international partner awards. The most recent devaluation means Delta partner awards to Asia and Europe now start a huge , SkyMiles one-way in business class. This is far higher than almost any other program and not a particularly good way to redeem your miles.
Even worse, economy tickets cost almost as much as business class tickets do with other airlines. The airline dynamically prices its own award tickets and is known for super high award pricing on long-haul business class. So, what are SkyMiles good for? Domestic awards are generally your best bet. The airline recently ran a number of award sales , with tickets starting at just 2, SkyMiles one-way. Standard Main Cabin economy starts at just 6, SkyMiles.
Of course, we could see this change post-pandemic. But for the time being, your best bet for redeeming Delta SkyMiles is on domestic flights. So…all that being said, where do the four elite levels of the SkyMiles program land? The first and arguably most valuable benefit of Silver Medallion is the ability to upgrade to first class on domestic flights plus flights from the U.
This was even extended to award tickets in October Again, we value complimentary first-class upgrades at roughly 0. Silver Medallion members earn 7 miles per dollar spent, 2 more than regular members. This free checked bag within the U. Silver Medallions are eligible for priority check-in and can be among the first Main Cabin passengers to board. All Medallion holders get one extra free piece of luggage on partner flights. Most partners offer their own combination of benefits to these two groups.
The value of Delta Medallion status depends on a host of personal factors, including how much you actually use the status and how much you value perks like first-class upgrades. To determine the estimates below, we performed a comprehensive analysis of those aspects of airline elite status which offer the most tangible benefits. As you can see, the higher elite levels Platinum and Diamond not only offer more overall value, but a better elite earning rate. In other words, the higher levels offer more bang for your airfare buck.
Delta offers several helpful ways to give you a leg up on earning Medallion status or help you get it back after lapsing. To qualify you must:. Not have received a status match from Delta in the past three years. Have elite status from another qualifying airline. Be able to prove that you have this status and that you earned it from flying not through another status match. In fact, you can extend your Medallion status through the entire following year if you begin your status match after July 1.
This helpful program is essentially parental leave for airline elite status. That is, if you were a Medallion status member who had a major life event that caused you to lose your status, Delta will let you reclaim your previous status in a similar way to the matching program above.
If approved, Delta will reinstate your former status for three months and give you the opportunity to extend your reclaimed status through the following year in the same manner as the status challenge above. It's a great program for travelers who fly frequently on Delta and its partners, and it can provide money-saving and comfort-improving benefits to all Medallion holders.
Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of , including those best for:. How Medallion status works. Earning Medallion status. Medallion status benefits. Status matching, challenges and Reclaim My Status. Show More. Changes for Existing Medallion holders. Those seeking Medallion status. OR this many MQSs:. How Medallion Qualification Dollars work. Rollover Medallion Qualification Miles. Credit card waivers. SkyMiles earned per dollar spent. Fee benefits.
Elite Plus. Choice benefit. Choice benefits. Platinum members choose ONE of the following:. Partner benefits. That said, in general:. How much is Delta Medallion status worth? By our estimates:.
Value of benefits. Cost to earn. Elite earning rate. Status matching. The bottom line. How to maximize your rewards. On a similar note Dive even deeper in Travel. Explore Travel. Get more smart money moves — straight to your inbox. Sign up.
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