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Delta ran this MQD promotion multiple times in 2024 and earlier this year. It’s now running again from May 19th to July 14th. Delta Air Lines measures progress towards earning Medallion® status (elite status) with one metric: Medallion® Qualifying Dollars (MQDs). These are earned based on the cost of airfare and the amount spent on Delta co-branded credit cards. For a limited time (limited meaning it might get extended or brought back again), Delta is making it possible to earn additional MQDs by booking hotel stays and rental cars through Delta’s branded Expedia portal.
Like other airlines (American and United as two examples), Delta has a travel portal for booking hotels and rental cars.
Usually, these portals offer miles that can be redeemed for travel, but through July 14th for bookings with travel dates between now and September 7th, you will earn one Medallion® Qualifying Dollar (MQD) for each $1 spent.
Medallion® Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) are normally earned through a few activities, including:
- Spending money on Delta flights (you earn one MQD per $1 spent on airfare)
- Booking trips through Delta Vacations (one MQD per $1 spent)
- Using a Delta co-branded credit card, but only the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card (personal or business for either card count). One MQD is earned for every $10 to $20 spent
Delta Medallion® status is earned by hitting the thresholds outlined in the table above. As I’ve done in the past, I am going to book some rental cars through this promotion because my status with National and Avis will carry over. With hotels, I am not booking anything. If I booked with Hilton, Hyatt, or Marriott, I would not qualify for the benefits I’ve earned based on my elite status (in the same way I would not qualify for benefits if I booked with any other third party).
Anthony’s Take: If you’re shooting for Delta Medallion® status and don’t care about hotel benefits, book away. The rental cars are the better option here. I’ll be taking advantage of that.
(Image Credits: Delta Air Lines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
