Delta Backpedals on Major Changes to SkyMiles Program and Lounge Access

25.10.2023 - 16:55 / afar.com / Ed Bastian

In mid-September, Delta announced an overhaul to its SkyMiles loyalty program and proprietary Sky Club lounge access policies that would take effect in 2024. The anticipated changes—which made obtaining elite frequent flier status and accessing its airport lounges much harder—resulted in significant backlash, such that Delta’s chief executive Ed Bastian said the airline would backpedal and make “modifications” to the changes.

Here’s what you need to know about the updated plans for both SkyMiles and Sky Clubs, beginning in 2024.

Currently, the SkyMiles loyalty program is rooted in three metrics for obtaining status: Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs), Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs), and Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). Earning status requires a combination of actual flying (reflected in either MQMs or MQSs) and specific thresholds for spending on Delta.com, Delta operated flights, and partner airline flights (reflected in MQDs).

As originally proposed, Delta will move to a single metric, Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), as the basis for earning status in 2024. Though spending will still be the sole method for achieving elite status, Delta lowered its initial spend requirements to the following:

These changes mark a 16.67 percent decrease in spend requirement to achieve Silver, Gold, or Platinum status and a 20 percent decrease to achieve Diamond status.

Additionally, Delta announced that Delta SkyMiles Platinum, Platinum Business, Reserve, and Reserve Business American Express card members will receive a head start of 2,500 MQDs per card for the Medallion Qualification Year. With this head start, Delta SkyMiles Platinum cardholders can get elite Silver Medallion status after hitting just $2,500 MQDs. (That makes it easier than the current path to Silver, which requires $3,000 MQDs and either 25,000 MQMs or 30 MQSs.)

In addition to the head start, eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express cardholders will be eligible for MQD boosts when charging purchases to their cards. Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business American Express Card Members will earn $1 MQD for every $10 spent, while Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express cardholders will earn $1 MQD for every $20 spent.

This new boost structure will replace that of the current program for Delta SkyMiles American Express cardholders, which granted an MQD waiver after making $25,000 or more in eligible purchases during the calendar year. This new structure grants at least Silver status for Reserve cardmembers after spending $25,000: $1 MQD for every $10 spend, which is $2,500 MQDs, plus the head start of $2,500 MQDs, reaching the $5,000 MQDs required for Silver.

Delta also revisited the updates to Sky