Buying medallion club tickets can seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be! Medallion club tickets provide access to exclusive airport lounges, priority services, and other elite travel perks on Delta Air Lines. While regular tickets get you from point A to point B, medallion club tickets offer an elevated travel experience.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about the Delta medallion program, the different tiers and benefits, and how to earn and buy medallion club tickets. Whether you take a couple flights a year or travel every week for business, understanding the ins and outs of medallion status can help you get the most out of your travels.
What is the Delta Medallion Program?
The Delta Medallion program is Delta Air Line’s loyalty and frequent flyer program. It offers a variety of perks and amenities to reward flyers based on how often they fly with Delta in a calendar year.
There are four published elite tiers in the medallion program:
- Silver Medallion – Requires 25,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or 30 Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) + $3,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs)
- Gold Medallion – Requires 50,000 MQMs or 60 MQSs + $6,000 MQDs
- Platinum Medallion – Requires 75,000 MQMs or 100 MQSs + $9,000 MQDs
- Diamond Medallion – Requires 125,000 MQMs or 140 MQSs + $15,000 MQDs
The more you fly with Delta and the more money you spend, the higher tier status you can earn. As you reach the higher tiers, you unlock better perks and benefits.
What are the benefits of Medallion status?
Here are some of the key benefits unlocked at each tier:
Medallion Tier | Key Benefits |
---|---|
Silver Medallion | Complimentary upgrades |
Gold Medallion | Higher complimentary upgrade priority + 1 free checked bag |
Platinum Medallion | Highest complimentary upgrade priority + 2 free checked bags + SkyClub access |
Diamond Medallion | Top complimentary upgrade priority + 3 free checked bags + SkyClub access + Delta Concierge service |
As you can see, the higher status you earn, the more perks you can enjoy to make your Delta travel experience smoother and more enjoyable.
How to Earn Medallion Status
There are a few key ways to earn medallion status:
Fly frequently
To earn status, you need to rack up a certain amount of Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) by taking flights on Delta. The further the distance flown, the more MQMs earned:
- 25,000 MQMs for Silver
- 50,000 MQMs for Gold
- 75,000 MQMs for Platinum
- 125,000 MQMs for Diamond
You can also earn status by hitting Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs). An MQS is a single flight segment, so earning 25 segments means taking 25 flights.
This is a helpful option for those who take a lot of short-haul flights. The MQS requirements are:
- 30 MQS for Silver
- 60 MQS for Gold
- 100 MQS for Platinum
- 140 MQS for Diamond
Spend Money
In addition to miles/segments, you need to hit annual spending thresholds on airfare and other Delta purchases with your SkyMiles credit card. The Medallion® Qualification Dollar (MQD) requirements are:
- $3,000 MQD for Silver
- $6,000 MQD for Gold
- $9,000 MQD for Platinum
- $15,000 MQD for Diamond
Any Delta flights purchased count toward the MQD requirement. So the more expensive the flight, the quicker you reach the threshold.
MQD thresholds can be waived for Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Members who spend $25,000 in a calendar year.
Credit Card Spending
Having a Delta-branded credit card and using it to pay for all your Delta (and everyday) purchases will accelerate your progress.
Certain cards offer bonus miles and Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) for hitting spending thresholds. For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after spending $25,000 in a calendar year.
Check your Delta credit card’s terms for bonus miles and MQM offers.
How to Buy Medallion Club Tickets
Once you’ve earned an elite medallion tier, you unlock access to medallion club tickets. Here’s what you need to know:
Logging Into Your Delta Account
The first step is to log into your SkyMiles account on Delta.com or the Fly Delta app. You can also call reservations at 800-221-1212 for assistance.
You will only see the medallion ticket options once logged into an account that has active medallion status.
Searching for Flights
Search for flights as normal on Delta.com, entering your origin, destination, and travel dates.
On the results page, be sure to toggle “Medallion Club” to “Yes” in the filters section on the left side of the screen. This will filter to only show medallion fare classes.
Understanding Medallion Fare Classes
Delta offers various medallion ticket types depending on your status tier. Higher tiers unlock more exclusive fare classes.
Here is an overview:
Fare Class | Medallion Tier | Key Perks |
---|---|---|
PZ | Diamond Medallion | Highest priority complimentary upgrades |
PM | Platinum Medallion | High priority complimentary upgrades |
AM | Gold Medallion | Complimentary upgrades + 1 free checked bag |
SM | Silver Medallion | Low priority complimentary upgrades |
Checking the fare details will show aircraft type, experience (Main Cabin vs. Delta Comfort+ vs. First Class), and other flight amenities.
Booking the Flight
Once you’ve found a suitable medallion fare flight, you can book it directly on Delta.com.
The booking process is the same as any regular flight. You will select your seats and input passenger information.
The key difference is that the specialized medallion fares will be reflected in the total ticket price.
Upgrading After Booking
One unique perk of being a medallion member is the ability to upgrade from Main Cabin to Delta Comfort+ or First Class after booking.
Higher status tiers have greater upgrade priority. But even Silver Medallion members can request a paid upgrade to Delta Comfort+ after booking a Main Cabin medallion fare.
To take advantage of this option:
- Log into your SkyMiles account after booking.
- Visit the “My Trips” section.
- Select your reservation.
- Click “Upgrade Flight” to see available upgrade options.
- Pay the fare difference to confirm the upgrade.
Checking back frequently as your departure date approaches can help find cheap upgrade offers as they become available.
Do Medallion Fares Have Restrictions?
Medallion fares do come with a few restrictions compared to regular Delta tickets:
- No free cancellations or changes – fees apply to change/refund medallion tickets
- Prices may be higher than regular fares
- Availability can be limited on certain routes and dates
- Requires active medallion status to purchase and access benefits
However, medallion fares will also have perks like:
- Access to more desirable Economy Comfort and First Class seats
- Priority boarding and security access
- Lounge access for Platinum/Diamond fliers
- Free checked bags
- Priority complimentary upgrades
For frequent Delta flyers, these elite amenities often make the higher fares worthwhile on important trips.
Do All Delta Flights Have Medallion Fares?
No, medallion fare classes are not available on all flights. Here are some key things to be aware of:
- More common on hub-to-hub routes (e.g. NYC to Atlanta) vs regional routes
- Typically not offered on delta connection flights operated by regional partners
- Less availability on high demand routes or travel dates
- Certain discount fare classes like Basic Economy may not offer medallion options
Checking flight options as soon as schedules open can help increase chances of finding medallion availability. Being flexible on travel dates also opens up more possibilities.
But for many routes, flying at least a few weeks out, medallion tickets should be bookable depending on status tier.
Can Non-Medallion Members Book Medallion Fares?
No, you must have active Delta Medallion elite status to book medallion club fares. Your SkyMiles account will be verified to confirm your current status tier before booking.
However, all travelers are eligible for general First Class and Delta Comfort+ fares. While more expensive, these will still get you preferred seats and amenities without needing status.
Of course, earning Delta Medallion status is worthwhile for frequent flyers to unlock the very best fares and perks. Non-members can work toward status by opening a Delta credit card, flying more each year, and spending with Delta.
What’s the Best Way to Find and Book Medallion Fares?
Here are some top tips for finding and booking medallion fares:
- Book as early as possible – inventory is limited
- Be flexible on dates if possible – mid-week travel is best
- Fly hub-to-hub routes – more options on major routes
- Use Delta’s website or app – partners can’t book medallion fares
- Filter for medallion fares – verify you see your status type
- Know upgrade priorities – higher tiers clear first
- Monitor prices to snag cheap upgrades
- Use a Delta Amex card – better availability
Using these strategies can help ensure you lock in the best medallion tickets for your upcoming travels.
Conclusion
While complex on the surface, Delta’s medallion program offers big rewards to loyal flyers. Understanding the tier benefits, how to earn status, and how to find and book medallion fares opens up an elevated travel experience.
The ability to access preferred seats, early upgrades, lounge perks, and priority service make hitting medallion thresholds each year worthwhile for frequent Delta flyers.
Hopefully this guide provides everything you need to know to maximize your next Delta trip with medallion club ticketing and services. Safe travels!