Skymiles: The Delta Airlines Rewards Program

SkyMiles is a loyalty program available to all Delta Airlines travelers. Miles can be earned by traveling on any US airline or its partners, as well as by using a Delta co-branded credit card.

Delta claims to be the first major US airline with no mileage expiration. Others have since followed suit. Delta also offers a separate SkyBonus program for small and medium businesses.

Levels and statuses

Delta offers four levels of Elite status under the SkyMiles program. These are known as Medalions Status and can be earned by completing a certain number of Medalion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) or Medalion Qualifying Segments (MQSs) between January 1 and December 31 each year.

A certain number of Medalion Qualification Dollars (MQD) is required for members in addition to the QMM or MQS requirements. Required MQMS Level Name Required MQDS Abbreviation.

Silver medallions enjoy free upgrades to premium seats. Gold medallions are upgraded to gold. Platinum Medallions are upgraded to Platinum. Diamonds are upgraded to diamond. Delta Private Jets is upgraded to delta private jets.

Delta Air Lines has implemented a new fare system. In order to make the price more affordable, Delta decided to implement a four-tier pricing system. For example, a domestic bus ticket costs $25,000, $32,500, $40,000, or $60,000.

Delta also introduced rollover for Delta Medallion Members, allowing flyers to roll over any additional Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) they earned to the following year. For example, if a passenger achieves Gold Medallion status for earning 65,000 MQMs this year, they can choose to carry over those additional MQMs into next year.

Delta has eliminated its mileage expiration policy, making it the only major US carrier to have a no-expiration mileage policy.