Delta SkyMiles

What Delta SkyMiles is

The program figures come from Delta’s US pages and are in US dollars, supplemented by pages from SkyTeam and Delta News. We convert nothing into CHF or EUR.

Earning miles: how a frequent flyer program works at Delta

On its own flights Delta pays miles by price, on partner flights by distance. On Delta-marketed flights you get 5 miles per US dollar on Classic and Refundable fares, counted on the base fare plus carrier surcharges, while government taxes and fees do not count. Extra fares earn 7 miles per US dollar.

On flights marketed by partner airlines, a percentage of the distance flown counts, and the percentage depends on the fare class you booked. Tickets issued on 006 ticket stock are excluded. If you buy a Delta ticket in a currency other than US dollars, the base fare plus surcharges is converted at the IATA 5-day rate at ticketing.

One exclusion hits the cheapest ticket. Delta Main Basic (Basic Economy) tickets earn neither miles nor progress toward Medallion status.

Redeeming Delta SkyMiles award flights

The mile price of an award ticket depends on the flight you want. The award calendar shows the lowest mile prices for the dates you select. There are no blackout dates on Delta Air Lines flights.

Miles do not necessarily cover the whole price. On international award trips, taxes and fees charged by foreign governments and/or by the airlines can add up to USD 600. That figure covers only those items and is not a ceiling on every cost of an award trip. Some partner airlines also add a surcharge on their routes, which you pay when you book.

Flexibility is limited as well. Some award trips that start outside the United States and Canada come with tickets you cannot cancel, or can change only if you pay. Issuing an award ticket through a phone agent, a ticket office or an airport desk costs a charge only in selected European countries, and Delta may drop it if you ask. The program states no fees in CHF or EUR. We give no mile value in rappen or cents because we lack the basis for one.

Mile expiry at SkyMiles

SkyMiles miles do not expire. That holds only while the account stays open. If it is closed, the Medallion status with its benefits is forfeited along with the miles. Delta can close an account when the member does not respond to repeated contact attempts about the status of the account. If you use the program rarely, do not ignore mail and emails from Delta.

Earning Medallion status

According to Delta, Medallion status is earned through Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). For 2027 status you need 5,000 MQDs for Silver, 10,000 MQDs for Gold, 15,000 MQDs for Platinum and 28,000 MQDs for Diamond Medallion.

Each US dollar of ticket price on a Delta-marketed flight earns 1 MQD, even when a partner airline operates the flight. On eligible award tickets, MQDs equal the miles redeemed divided by 100. The scale applies regardless of country of residence.

The qualification year is the calendar year. Status for 2027 depends on activity from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026, and it is valid from the day you earn it until January 31, 2028. MQDs do not roll over, and the balance is reset to zero on or about January 1.

Four American Express card types, Delta SkyMiles Platinum, Platinum Business, Reserve and Reserve Business, give their holders a head start of 2,500 MQDs per card type in each qualification year. On the alliance side, Silver corresponds to SkyTeam Elite, while Gold, Platinum and Diamond all correspond to SkyTeam Elite Plus.

Benefits of the Medallion tiers

The tiers differ mainly in earning rate, upgrade timing and the choice benefits. Some rules apply to all of them: Preferred Seats are free on Delta flights for Medallion members, SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus members and their companions on the same reservation, except in Delta Basic fares. Delta Basic tickets are also excluded from upgrades. The complimentary upgrades in Delta One within the 50 US states, Delta First and Delta Comfort also apply to a companion.

The baggage exemption of the Medallion tiers also applies on Delta-operated flights to up to 8 travel companions on the reservation, 9 passengers in total, except on flights departing from Paris (CDG) or Amsterdam (AMS).

Silver Medallion

Silver Medallion pays 7 miles per US dollar on eligible flights. Your first checked bag each way travels free on Delta and on selected partner flights. As SkyTeam Elite you also get 10 kg more allowance, or an extra piece on airlines that count pieces. Delta lists priority check-in and priority boarding in Zone 5 for Silver. Restrictions by departure airport, for example in Europe, are set out in the Medallion benefits on Delta’s site. Free Delta First upgrades open 24 hours ahead of departure.

Gold Medallion

Gold Medallion pays 8 miles per US dollar. The first checked bag each way is free on Delta and on selected partner flights. The SkyTeam Elite Plus level adds 20 kg of allowance, or an extra piece where airlines count pieces. Free Delta First upgrades open 72 hours ahead of departure. At check-in, Gold has access to the Sky Priority lanes, and boarding takes place in Zone 4.

For lounges the alliance helps: Delta lists for Gold access to most SkyTeam lounges worldwide in any cabin, provided there is a same-day international SkyTeam-operated flight. That access has further exceptions, for example depending on the operator of the flight and the cabin. They are listed on Delta’s Gold page and should be checked before you fly. In Delta Main or Delta Comfort on international flights there is no access to the Delta Sky Club. Travelers in Delta Premium Select or Delta One get Delta Sky Club access on the day of an international SkyTeam flight, together with a guest who also travels in Delta Premium Select or Delta One. Travel to and from the Caribbean is excluded. SkyTeam Elite Plus may also bring one guest into the lounge if the guest travels on the same SkyTeam-operated flight.

Platinum Medallion

Platinum Medallion earns 9 miles per US dollar. The first checked bag each way is free on Delta and on selected partner flights. Delta First upgrades can be confirmed from 120 hours before departure, with priority. At check-in and boarding the same applies as for Gold: Sky Priority lanes and Zone 4.

On top of that, Platinum selects 1 Choice Benefit, for example 4 Regional Upgrade Certificates.

Diamond Medallion

Diamond Medallion earns 11 miles per US dollar. The first checked bag each way is free on Delta and on selected partner flights. Delta First upgrades can likewise be confirmed from 120 hours before departure, with priority. Diamond boards in Zone 2, right after customers in Delta One and Delta First.

Diamond picks any 3 Choice Benefits. The upgrade certificate option comes in three mixes: 4 Global, 8 Regional, or a pairing of 2 Global with 4 Regional.

Frequent flyer program for Switzerland, Germany and Austria

Delta has resumed seasonal service to Zurich (ZRH) and Munich (MUC). The source gives no period, so Delta’s flight schedule shows whether the flights run right now. We cannot verify more airports, and we name none for Austria.

We could not verify country-specific earning paths, such as through credit cards, on Delta’s country pages for any of the three markets. We make no statement on them. Medallion status follows MQDs regardless of country of residence.

Who SkyMiles is not for

Miles & More alternatives and how programs compare

Which mile program is best depends on which airline you fly. At SkyMiles, miles as well as MQDs follow the ticket price you pay. If you fly mostly with the Lufthansa Group, look at Miles & More. More programs are listed in the program archive.