Editor’s Note: This article was updated on Jan. 10, 2024 with a statement from Delta Air Lines.
Delta loyalists, check your email. The airline may have gifted you upgraded elite status.
CNN Underscored reader Emily was 7,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) short of qualifying for Delta Gold Medallion elite status for 2024, but today, she received an email from the Atlanta-based airline stating her status was upgraded to Gold Medallion despite not fulfilling all status requirements. This gifted elite status is valid through Jan. 31, 2025.
It’s worth noting that this reader is not based in the US, so she did not have to meet the Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) requirement to qualify for 2024 elite status. Instead, members outside the US only had to earn enough MQMs for their desired status tier. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case for the 2025 status year, as MQD is now the sole metric for earning Delta elite status.
It’s unclear how many Delta SkyMiles members have been gifted higher-tier elite status, or if there’s any criteria for having your elite status upgraded. However, a Delta spokesperson told CNN Underscored the following about this promotion:
“This is something we do every year for select Medallion Members who were just shy of achieving that next Status tier, and we love being able to reward them for their loyalty.”
This comes months after Delta announced sweeping changes to the Medallion elite status program. Some of these changes include MQD being the only metric for qualifying for elite status for the 2025 status year and higher MQD requirements for all status years. In turn, this caused backlash among the Delta frequent flyer community, so Delta gifting elite status to some members may be an act of goodwill to win over flyers.
Regardless, if you’re a Delta frequent flyer, check your inbox to see if the airline extended the gift of upgraded elite status to you too.
Looking for a new travel credit card? Check out CNN Underscored Money’s list of the best credit cards currently available.