I have no hope of ever obtaining Million Mile status with Delta Air Lines, but as a Million Miler at United Airlines with sights on eventually hitting the two and three million miler tiers, I find Delta’s revamped program very encouraging.
Delta Retools Million Miler Program
As part of the updated SkyMiles changes announced yesterday, Delta is also revamping its Million Miler program…in a positive way.
Here are the current thresholds:
- 1 million miler – SkyMiles Silver Medallion status for life
- 2 million miler – SkyMiles Gold Medallion status for life
- 4 million miler – SkyMiles Platinum Medallion status for life
- 6 million miler – SkyMiles Diamond Medallion status for life
Here are the new thresholds, as of January 1, 2024:
- 1 million miler – SkyMiles Gold Medallion status for life
- 2 million miler – SkyMiles Platinum Medallion status for life
- 3 million miler – SkyMiles Diamond Medallion status for life
- 5 million miler – Delta 360 status for life (otherwise, Delta 360 is a non-published, invite-only tier based upon spending)
Some will celebrate and others will bemoan the changes. Why? Because in making these changes Delta will start only counting your actual flight miles flown on Delta flights going forward (so-called “butt in seat miles”) rather than any MQM miles earned (including via partners, fare class bonuses, and credit card spending).
It will become much harder to earn Million Miler status and will require a lot more Delta flying. It will force the sort of loyalty that seems far less relevant in the overall SkyMiles program. In making this change, Delta will honor all existing balances toward lifetime status, so your previous credit card spending will still count.
I applaud Delta for these changes, which move in the opposite direction of the rest of the SkyMiles program by focusing on miles flown (a metric Delta will no longer even consider in earning annual Medallion status). Miles flown are one excellent indicator of loyalty. While not an exclusive metric, someone who has been loyal enough to fly 1-5 million miles on Delta will now be recognized in a way that I do think will drive more loyalty despite the poor overall state of the program.
Delta has also refreshed its complimentary upgrade priority for 2024, which includes Million Miler Status moving up in the hierarchy for complimentary upgrades to the #3 priority position (behind Medallion status and fare class, but now ahead of co-branded credit card holders and corporate travelers).
Hopefully This Discourages United From Devaluing Its Million Miler Program
I approach this issue from the perspective of a Million Miler United flyer well on his way to 2 Million Miler status. United still retains the most generous Million Miler program in the industry, with lifetime Global Services status for 4 million lifetime miles and also status that covers not only the million miler flyer, but also a designated companion.
I’ve long feared that United would devalue this program (probably just before I hit the next million miler threshold) because American Airlines and Delta Air Lines simply offered nothing as competitive. Delta’s change to more closely parallel United’s program makes it less likely United will devalue its own program.
CONCLUSION
I am genuinely pleased by Delta’s changes to its Million Miler program and believe these changes will incentivize loyalty and properly reward it (that does not change my overall assessment that elite status on Delta is overrated). I am also hopeful that these changes will dissuade United from modifying its own generous Million Miler program.
I am 200,000 miles short but abandoned Delta in 2016. If I did not, I would be a million miler. I have not regretted it but now that lifetime Gold is offered hmmmm.
@ Mathhew — At what age do you project reaching 2 MM and 3 MM? By then, will it be worth it?
40 and 50 respectively? It isn’t clear, but it’s something fun to work toward. I use far too many miles, though, to pursue this seriously. It’s not like my law school days when I was traveling 6K miles per week on UA between BUR and PHL.
Why did you fly back to LA every week in law school?
Why do you have t o fly all over the place? Can’t you give info in other ways instead of in person or is the reason for the travel not consulting?
Who do you consult for and what kind of info do you give them? Do you work for a company?
What White House did you work in and what did you do there?
A lot of questions.
I went to law school in Philadelphia and did not like the city very much, so I flew home most weekends. Back then, fares tended to be $250 r/t and I enjoyed flying home Thursday evening after classes or Friday morning before dawn and then taking a redeye back on Sunday. What a great run.
I consult in various capacities including law and travel (specifically miles and points).
I worked in the White House Office of Media Affairs in close collaboration with the press office.
@ Matthew — That is still young! Go for it!
You sure DL MM includes only DL and not partner BIS miles? Haven’t seen any clarification on this elsewhere…
I am waiting clarification. If it includes partners, then it is far more lucrative than United. I read the announcement to mean Delta only.
@ Matthew — Seems like it might count. I’m betting it doesn’t or maybe only on DL-marketed flights since that is what matters for ST crediting. If it includes partners that would be amazing and would definitely keep me buying J-class on AM/AF/KL.
Due to what I’ve done with crediting my UA flights over the year, it’s UA MM status that is beyond becoming likely for me.
With DL I had been in a sort of hold pattern for quite some time but I may as well cross the next MM threshold with DL between this change and SAS in line to joining SkyTeam.
I am curious to see what AA does now. After crossing the 2MM mark with AA, there hasn’t been any higher status to get for crossing the next MM threshold with AA.
As someone who is at 850k with UA, I had similar thoughts. At my normal flight rate, it would take me about 2 more years to hit MM and I had recently been considering whether to start actually mileage running to make sure I got there before they make any changes to qualification. Delta’s change makes me confident enough to not to start planning any unnecessary mileage runs.