Limited Time: Earn Delta Medallion Status with Hotel Stays and Rental Cars

American AAdvantage revamped its loyalty program last year to allow all sorts of qualifying activity with everything from shopping to hotel stays counting towards earning elite status. It seems like Delta is now testing the waters before making a similar move with SkyMiles®.

For a limited time, Delta is offering one Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) for every $1 spent when booking a hotel or rental car through its portal. This is in addition to earning two redeemable miles for each $1 spent.  Here are the terms:

• Car Rental and Hotel bookings made on www.travelextras-delta.com from February 27, 2023 through March 31, 2023 (for travel dates from February 27, 2023 through September 4, 2023) will be eligible to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) upon the completion of a qualifying car rental or hotel booking.
• SkyMiles Members will earn one (1) MQD per eligible US $1 or equivalent foreign currency spent on the base car rental rate for every completed rental booking and on the base hotel rate for every completed stay (“Qualifying Dollars”). Qualifying Dollars include the cost of the hotel room, before taxes and fees, charged at the time of booking. Taxes, fees, gratuities, room service, other booking charges, or any element of the booking which is paid or reduced by redemption vouchers or discount codes are excluded from MQD credit and are not included in the Qualifying Dollars.
• A qualifying car rental booking includes rentals at a participating location for one or more days at rates other than travel industry rates or discounts, wholesale of tour package rates or discounts, wholesale tour package rates, insurance/dealer replacement rates, corporate and government rates, group travel discounts, or rentals in conjunction with a frequent flyer car award, or other corporate agreements applicable to the respective car company.
• MQDs can only be credited to the SkyMiles Member whose name appears on the credit card used for the reservation. First and last name on credit card must match with name on SkyMiles account provided.
• MQDs will not be awarded for cancelled, no-show, or unpaid reservations.
• SkyMiles number must be provided at the time of booking.
• Only one SkyMiles number can be provided per booking.
• Please allow up to 8 weeks after completion of eligible stay or car rental for MQDs to be deposited in SkyMiles account. If MQD credit has not been recorded on your SkyMiles account within 8 weeks after qualifying activity occurs, please  contact us and select: Request Mileage Credit > All Other Miles Requests > Other SkyMiles Partners.
• Requests for MQD credit will be accepted up to 6 months from check out or car rental return date. Bookings completed prior to enrollment into SkyMiles will not be eligible for MQD credit. Hotel currency or status are subject to each respective Hotel guest program and may not be applicable for bookings made on www.travelextras-delta.com.

Why I won’t be taking advantage of this offer:

• When booking through portals and other third parties, you do not earn miles or points.
• You also cannot use your elite benefits at hotels for stays booked through third parties.
• Rates are often cheaper booking directly through the hotel as they often offer “member rates”.

Anthony’s Take: It’s interesting to see Delta test out what American is currently offering its AAdvantage members. We might see a shift in SkyMiles® next year if Delta sees enough of a change in behavior with people shifting bookings to its portal. I won’t be taking advantage as I don’t want to not be able to earn points or use my elite benefits.