For the last week or two, rumors have been floating around the blogosphere that major changes were coming to Delta Airlines. They were right. Yesterday, Delta shared some changes that mostly affect elite status and airport lounge access.
Changes to Delta Airlines
Elite status: Delta Medallion status will be based entirely on spending (instead of spending and/or flights) starting January 1, 2024. This is similar to the way other airlines already operate.
- Earn $1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) per dollar spent on Delta flights, car rentals, hotels, and vacation packages booked through Delta
- Co-branded credit cards accumulate MQDs differently:
- Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business cards earn $1 MQD for every $10 spent on the cards
- Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business cards earn $1 MQD for every $20 spent on the cards
- New Status Requirements:
- Silver Medallion – 6,000 MQDs
- Gold Medallion – 12,000 MQDs
- Platinum Medallion – 18,000 MQDs
- Diamond Medallion – 35,000 MQDs
Sky Club Airport Lounge Access: Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders will no longer get unlimited access to Delta Sky Club airport lounges beginning January 1, 2025. This is a big change. Lounge access will be as follows:
- Amex Platinum and Business Platinum: 6 visits per year unless spending more than $75k in one year
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business: 10 visits per year unless spending more than $75k in one year
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business: No longer have lounge access with cards
These changes are in addition to changes made earlier this year to help the overcrowding situations in these lounges.
My Thoughts
These changes don’t affect my future plans because I rarely fly Delta and I don’t currently have the co-branded credit cards or Amex Platinum cards. Also, I don’t chase airline or hotel status, so it’s a bit hard for me to relate to many “The sky is falling!” emotions that others have about these changes. For folks who live near a Delta hub and enjoy elite status, these changes are obviously a big bummer. But, the good news is that these changes don’t affect earning and redeeming miles for award flights.
Readers, do these Delta changes affect your credit card plans or travel plans?
My hubby aren’t BIG players but we occasionally qualify for status and I very much enjoy it when I have it. Yes I live near a Delta hub. The MDQ spending of $10 for just $1 MDQ is ridiculous but oh well, it is what it is. Big business are not interested in YOU, they are interested in their BOTTOM $$$. When airlines or other businesses are small or owned by the people then they care about you and your thoughts. Once they go corporate they forget who helped them get there. I happen to have their Reserve card and one of the perks was going to the lounge. 10 visits per year maybe okay but for the RIDICULOUS annual fee you should get something more than the 10. Anyways, nothing we can do so we are just stuck and maybe we won’t fly Delta exclusively. Our business will move to other airlines.
@Michele Sorry to hear these changes are affecting you. I agree that the Reserve has a high annual fee and should include more lounge visits.
Delta is my go-to for domestic flights, assuming it’s a non-stop. As a free agent in this game I really don’t care about status, so I’m shrugging this one off.
@projectx Glad this news isn’t terrible for you.