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Seattle and Los Angeles flight paths offer similar MQDs for first, but they also have Delta One flights, which would help juice the MQDs a bit. For example, a flight from NYC to Salt Lake City in July to explore some national parks would yield $1,252 MQDs and 5,968 MQMs if I flew first class. To unlock Platinum status, it will be a price tag of at least $9,000 in MQDs, which would require paying for quite a few cross-country trips in first class.
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With the rise in access to vaccinations, I’m hopeful the ability to take longer, cross-country flights is an option in the latter part of 2021. Longer flights could be possible later this year
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It’s financially unrealistic for me, especially in a pandemic budget reality. If I’m unable to safely board a plane this year, all-in, it would cost me $90,000 to buy my way to Platinum status in 2022 (the $25,000 for the MQD waiver would bundle into buying the MQMs). That would require three status boosts with the hefty price tag of $90,000. I’d also need to buy my way to 41,715 MQMs. In my case, I’d first need to hit $25,000 of spend for the MQD waiver.
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The status boost for 2021 does make it possible for Reserve cardholders to buy their way to Platinum status. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve, which is one of the Delta cards I hold and use for business travel, comes with a $550 annual fee ( see rates and fees). Reserve cardholders will earn 18,750 MQMs for every $30,000 of spend and up to four times in a calendar year. That means Platinum cardholders will get 12,500 MQMs for every $25,000 of spend on the card up to two times per calendar year. For 2021, Delta has increased these boosts by 25 percent. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card both offer initiatives called “status boosts,” which means cardholders can earn MQMs through certain everyday purchases. You could use your credit card to get the MQD waiver and buy the required MQMs, but it's a steep purchase. Two SkyMiles credit cards award MQMs after you hit certain spending thresholds. With safety concerns and strict travel requirements, that could still be a complicated endeavor for most of the year.įortunately, there is an option to earn MQMs with Delta while grounded. We still don't know if we'll be able to fly frequently in 2021. That means I need to achieve another 41,715 MQMs in 2021 order to hit Platinum again (along with either $9,000 MQDs or $25,000 of spend on the eligible credit cards). At the end of 2020, I had earned 33,285 MQMs, so those all rolled over into 2021. In 2020, the airline announced it would automatically roll over all MQMs earned that year-not just the extra ones-to give SkyMiles members a jumpstart on earnings status in 2021. There are a few ways Delta helps fliers earn status: Typically the airline rolls over the MQMs you earn above the threshold to qualify for your current tier, which is a huge advantage of the program. When I coupled the elite status with my co-branded Delta American Express credit card, which gave me access to Delta's network of Sk圜lub airport lounges, visions of luxurious air travel danced in my head.
#Delta mqm upgrade#
Platinum status unlocked complimentary upgrades, waived fees, priority boarding, a higher priority customer service line, and four regional upgrade certificates. I felt a kind of satisfaction I can only imagine others feel when making moves like buying a home. In late 2019-just before the worldwide onset of COVID-19-I unlocked Delta's Platinum Medallion status, the second highest level available. Opinions expressed here are entirely those of Condé Nast Traveler's editorial team.Īs with many frequent fliers, the notion of gaining airline elite status felt like an adult rite of passage to me. Moreover, the editorial content on this page was not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. We don't review or include all companies, or all available products. Condé Nast Traveler and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Condé Nast Traveler has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products.