MQD headstart for easy Delta status

In September 2023, Delta made national headlines when it announced a massive jump in elite status requirements.

To their credit, they backtracked a month later, rolling back most of the increases and adding other benefits to hold onto customers who threatened to jump to American or United.

One of those added benefits was adding a 2,500 MQD headstart to the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.

That meant you could earn Delta status without taking a single flight or even spending on your cards!

Those cards have limited-time welcome bonuses through 4/2.

You can read about Delta status benefits here, which include bonus miles on flights, upgrades, elite call centers, free and expedited checked baggage, waived same-day flight changes, priority boarding, choice benefits, and more.

While United raised status requirements this year, Delta kept its requirements the same.

Earning status from Delta cards

Here’s how you can earn Delta status faster with Delta cards:

• If you want Silver status through 1/31/27, you need 5,000 MQDs.
  • You can get that by having 2 Delta Platinum or Reserve cards, without needing to spend anything, as that will award 5,000 MQDs.
  • Or you can get that by having 1 Delta Platinum or Reserve card, which will award 2,500 MQDs, together with spending $25,000 on a Reserve card or $50,000 on a Platinum card for another 2,500 MQDs.
• If you want Gold status through 1/31/27, you need 10,000 MQDs.
  • You can get that by having 4 Delta Platinum or Reserve cards, without needing to spend anything, as that will award 10,000 MQDs.
  • Or you can get that by having 3 Delta Platinum or Reserve cards, which will award 7,500 MQDs, together with spending $25,000 on a Reserve card or $50,000 on a Platinum card for another 2,500 MQDs.
  • Or you can get that by having 2 Delta Platinum or Reserve cards, which will award 5,000 MQDs, together with spending $50,000 on a Reserve card or $100,000 on a Platinum card for another 5,000 MQDs.
  • Or you can get that by having 1 Delta Platinum or Reserve card, which will award 2,500 MQDs, together with spending $75,000 on a Reserve card or $150,000 on a Platinum card for another 7,500 MQDs.
• If you want Platinum status through 1/31/27, you need 15,000 MQDs.
  • You can get that by having 4 Delta Platinum or Reserve cards, which will award 10,000 MQDs, together with spending $50,000 on a Reserve card or $100,000 on a Platinum card for another 5,000 MQDs.
  • Or you can get that by having 3 Delta Platinum or Reserve cards, which will award 7,500 MQDs, together with spending $75,000 on a Reserve card or $150,000 on a Platinum card for another 7,500 MQDs.
  • Or you can get that by having 2 Delta Platinum or Reserve cards, which will award 5,000 MQDs, together with spending $100,000 on a Reserve card or $200,000 on a Platinum card for another 10,000 MQDs.
  • Or you can get that by having 1 Delta Platinum or Reserve card, which will award 2,500 MQDs, together with spending $125,000 on a Reserve card or $250,000 on a Platinum card for another 12,500 MQDs.

• If you want Diamond status through 1/31/27, you need 28,000 MQDs.
  • You can get that by having 4 Delta Platinum or Reserve cards, which will award 10,000 MQDs, together with spending $180,000 on a Reserve card or $360,000 on a Platinum card for another 18,000 MQDs.
  • Or you can get that by having 3 Delta Platinum or Reserve cards, which will award 7,500 MQDs, together with spending $205,000 on a Reserve card or $410,000 on a Platinum card for another 20,500 MQDs.
  • Or you can get that by having 2 Delta Platinum or Reserve cards, which will award 5,000 MQDs, together with spending $230,000 on a Reserve card or $460,000 on a Platinum card for another 23,000 MQDs.
  • Or you can get that by having 1 Delta Platinum or Reserve card, which will award 2,500 MQDs, together with spending $255,000 on a Reserve card or $510,000 on a Platinum card for another 25,500 MQDs.

Of course, those numbers will be lower if you also earn MQDs from flying on paid or award tickets. Basic economy tickets don’t earn MQDs or million miler status.

Tax season

You can pay federal taxes and estimated taxes on an AMEX card in 2025 for a 1.85% fee via ACI Payments.

While there are cards that are more rewarding for your spending than Delta cards, if you want Delta elite status, it can be worth putting tax payments on your Delta cards.

If you overpay your taxes, you can also claim a cash refund on your tax return.

Every other year strategy

If you are spending for status, you may want to take advantage of an every-other-year strategy rather than spending every year.

In other words, if you spend your way to status in 2025, you’ll keep the status through 1/31/27.

That means you can skip spending in 2026, when you’ll already have status. If you spend in 2026, your status would be extended to 1/31/28.

But if you spend in January 2027, your status will be extended through 1/31/29. Of course with this strategy, if you can’t finish the spending in January, your status would drop until you are able to meet the spending requirements.

Status match challenge shortcut

If you have status on another airline, another option is taking a status match challenge.

Delta will match the status of non-partner airlines up to Platinum. You get status for 90 days and if you complete the challenge, you’ll keep the status through 1/31/27.

You can’t enroll in a challenge if you have taken one since 2022.

You’ll have 3 months with the matched status to earn 1,250 MQDs to keep Silver, 2,500 MQDs to keep Gold, or 3,750 MQDs to keep Platinum. You can’t earn a status higher than what you matched from, but you can keep a lower status if you fall short of the level you matched from.

While headstart MQDs don’t count for the status match challenge, spending on the Platinum or Reserve cards does count.

You do need to take 1 Delta-marketed flight (excluding Basic Economy) during the Match Period.

If you have a Delta SkyMiles Reserve Consumer AMEX or Delta Reserve Business AMEX, you’ll have to spend $12,500 to keep Silver, $25,000 to keep Gold, or $37,500 to keep Platinum as those cards earn 1 MQD per $10 spent.

If you have a Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Delta Platinum Business, you’ll have to spend $25,000 to keep Silver, $50,000 to keep Gold, or $75,000 to keep Platinum as those cards earn 1 MQD per $20 spent.

Those numbers will be lower if you also earn MQDs from flying on paid or award tickets. Basic economy tickets don’t earn MQDs or million miler status.

Card fees and benefits

Of course, the annual fees for these cards do add up, but there are other card benefits that can help cover those fees. Plus, Platinum and Diamond medallions can select a $400 or $700 respective statement credit on their Delta Platinum or Reserve cards with their choice benefits.

• Delta Platinum Consumer AMEX
  • Until 4/2, earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first 6 months of card membership.
  • Receive $2,500 MQDs annually just for being a cardholder.
  • Earn 1 MQD per $20 spent everywhere.
  • Get up to $150 back in statement credits per calendar year for Delta Stays prepaid hotels or vacation rentals. Note that some hotels are refundable and others are non-refundable, but both qualify for this credit.
  • Get up to $10 back in statement credits per month for Resy restaurants. You can buy gift cards from restaurants on Resy to lock in monthly savings. See this thread for kosher restaurants that are on Resy.
  • Get up to $10 back in statement credits per month for Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, and Alto rides. You can buy gift cards from Lyft to lock in monthly savings.
  • Access for non-elites to get complimentary upgrades on Delta domestic flights.
  • Receive a Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. This is now valid in the US50, Caribbean, and Central America.
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.
  • Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on hotels.
  • Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on every dollar spent on eligible U.S. purchases at supermarkets, and on every eligible dollar spent on dining at restaurants.
  • $800 of Cell phone protection when previous month’s cell phone bill is paid on card.
  • Free checked bag and Priority Boarding on Delta flights for the primary cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation, even on basic economy. You do not need to book tickets on your Delta card for this benefit, you only need to have your Skymiles number in the reservation.
  • Save 15% off mileage tickets on Delta flights.
  • 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on in-flight food and beverages.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • $350 annual fee.
  • For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit here.

• Delta Reserve Consumer AMEX
  • Until 4/2, earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive $2,500 MQDs annually just for being a cardholder.
  • Earn 1 MQD per $10 spent everywhere.
  • Get up to $200 back in statement credits per calendar year for Delta Stays prepaid hotels or vacation rentals. Note that some hotels are refundable and others are non-refundable, but both qualify for this credit.
  • Get up to $10 back in statement credits per month for Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, and Alto rides. You can buy gift cards from Lyft to lock in monthly savings.
  • Get up to $20 back in statement credits per month for Resy restaurants. You can buy gift cards from restaurants on Resy to lock in monthly savings. See this thread for kosher restaurants that are on Resy.
  • Receive a round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card that is valid for a round-trip First Class, Premium, Comfort+, or Main Cabin. This is now valid in the US50, Caribbean, and Central America. Note that Delta One is excluded.
  • Hertz President’s Circle status.
  • Upgrade priority for elite members.
  • Access for non-elites to get complimentary upgrades on Delta domestic flights.
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.
  • Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
  • Complimentary Delta Sky Club® Access and complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. 15 free Sky Club visits per year, unless you spend $75K/year on card. Additional visits are $50 each. You’ll also receive four Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year.
  • $800 of Cell phone protection when previous month’s cell phone bill is paid on card.
  • Free checked bag and Priority Boarding on Delta flights for the primary cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation, even on basic economy. You do not need to book tickets on your Delta card for this benefit, you only need to have your Skymiles number in the reservation.
  • Save 15% off mileage tickets on Delta flights.
  • 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on in-flight food and beverages.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • $650 annual fee.
  • For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit here.

• Delta Platinum Business AMEX
  • Until 4/2, earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months of card membership.
  • Receive $2,500 MQDs annually just for being a cardholder.
  • Earn 1 MQD per $20 spent everywhere.
  • Get up to $200 back in statement credits per calendar year for Delta Stays prepaid hotels or vacation rentals. Note that some hotels are refundable and others are non-refundable, but both qualify for this credit.
  • Get up to $10 back in statement credits per month for Resy restaurants. You can buy gift cards from restaurants on Resy to lock in monthly savings. See this thread for kosher restaurants that are on Resy.
  • Get up to $10 back in statement credits per month for Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, and Alto rides. You can buy gift cards from Lyft to lock in monthly savings.
  • Access for non-elites to get complimentary upgrades on Delta domestic flights.
  • Receive a Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. This is now valid in the US50, Caribbean, and Central America.
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.
  • Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent on purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 1.5 miles per dollar on transit, U.S. shipping, and on all purchases of $5,000 or more, up to $100,000 of combined spending per year.
  • Receive a Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card, good for domestic, Caribbean, or Central American flights.
  • $800 of Cell phone protection when previous month’s cell phone bill is paid on card.
  • Free checked bag and Priority Boarding on Delta flights for the primary cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation, even on basic economy. You do not need to book tickets on your Delta card for this benefit, you only need to have your Skymiles number in the reservation.
  • Save 15% off mileage tickets on Delta flights.
  • 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on in-flight food and beverages.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • $350 annual fee.
  • For rates and fees of the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express, please visit here.

• Delta Reserve Business AMEX
  • Until 4/2, earn 110,000 bonus miles after you spend $12,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive $2,500 MQDs annually just for being a cardholder.
  • Earn 1 MQD per $10 spent everywhere.
  • Get up to $250 back in statement credits per calendar year for Delta Stays prepaid hotels or vacation rentals. Note that some hotels are refundable and others are non-refundable, but both qualify for this credit.
  • Get up to $10 back in statement credits per month for Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, and Alto rides. You can buy gift cards from Lyft to lock in monthly savings.
  • Get up to $20 back in statement credits per month for Resy restaurants. You can buy gift cards from restaurants on Resy to lock in monthly savings. See this thread for kosher restaurants that are on Resy.
  • Receive a round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card that is valid for a round-trip First Class, Premium, Comfort+, or Main Cabin. This is now valid in the US50, Caribbean, and Central America. Note that Delta One is excluded.
  • Hertz President’s Circle status.
  • Upgrade priority for elite members.
  • Access for non-elites to get complimentary upgrades on Delta domestic flights.
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.
  • Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
  • Earn 1.5 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible transit, U.S. shipping & office supply store purchases.
  • After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 Miles per dollar on eligible purchases the rest of the year.  Eligible purchases after spending $150,000 do not include Delta purchases.
  • Complimentary Delta Sky Club® Access and complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. 15 free Sky Club visits per year, unless you spend $75K/year on card. Additional visits are $50 each. You’ll also receive four Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year.
  • $800 of Cell phone protection when previous month’s cell phone bill is paid on card.
  • Free checked bag and Priority Boarding on Delta flights for the primary cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation, even on basic economy. You do not need to book tickets on your Delta card for this benefit, you only need to have your Skymiles number in the reservation.
  • Save 15% off mileage tickets on Delta flights.
  • 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on in-flight food and beverages.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • $650 annual fee.
  • For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card, please visit here.

Comparison Chart

Here is a current breakdown on Delta card benefits:

Is it worth it?

Not long ago, elite status meant easy complimentary upgrades to first class. Airlines have become far more adept at selling first class seats and upgrades, which means fewer free upgrades going to elites.

There are definitely still benefits to having status, especially in irregular operations when airlines take care of their elites, but it’s certainly not what it used to be. Then again, you didn’t used to be able to earn status from spending or just having the right cards!

Do you earn Delta status from Delta AMEX cards?