7 Min Read | Last updated: April 25, 2024

MQD Headstart and MQD Boost: What You Need to Know

Q: Is MQD Headstart annual?

YES – Card Members will receive $2,500 MQDs each Medallion Qualification Year. MQDs will be deposited within 6 to 8 weeks of February 1 for existing Card Members. MQDs for New Card Members and Card Members upgrading to an Eligible Card will be deposited within 6 to 8 weeks after an Eligible Card is opened, and thereafter every subsequent year within 6 to 8 weeks after February 1.

Q: Is there a required spend for MQD Headstart?

NO – there’s no required spend for MQD Headstart. Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Card Members will automatically receive the $2,500 MQDs each Medallion Qualification Year, regardless of spend.

Q: If I have multiple eligible Cards, can I receive MQD Headstart multiple times?

YES – with certain limits. Regardless of the number of Eligible Cards a SkyMiles Member may hold, each SkyMiles Member may only receive one $2,500 MQD deposit per Eligible Card type each Medallion Qualification Year and is limited to a maximum of four deposits across all Eligible Cards each Medallion Qualification Year (for $10,000 MQDs total).

Q: Do MQDs roll over?

NO – MQDs don’t roll over into a new year. To earn Medallion Status, you must meet the requirements within the Medallion Qualification Year.

Now, Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express and Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card Members can reach Delta’s Medallion^® Status faster with two new Card benefits: MQD Headstart & MQD Boost.

Prepare for landing: The new limited edition Boeing 747 Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Card design has arrived. Made with 33% metal from a Boeing 747 aircraft and created exclusively for the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Card. Learn more.

At-A-Glance

Delta Air Lines Medallion^® Status can help you unlock opportunities to fly in comfort, move to the front of the boarding line, and more.

To achieve Medallion Status and reach the next tier, you need to reach a threshold of Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), which can be earned in a few different ways. One way to earn is by being a Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express or Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card Member.

With the newly added MQD Headstart and MQD Boost benefits, Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Card Members can now accelerate their path toward Medallion Status for the next Medallion Year.

Seasoned travelers know how valuable loyalty programs can be. Whether you’re embarking on a new adventure or the usual monthly work trip, programs like Delta SkyMiles^® allow members to earn miles and redeem them for flights, upgrades, and other rewards.

If you’re a regular Delta traveler, having Medallion^® Status with Delta can help make your travels more fulfilling – with benefits like complimentary upgrades, priority boarding, waived fees, and more. To achieve Medallion Status, you must reach a threshold of Medallion Qualification Dollars, also known as MQDs, which can be earned in a few different ways.

One way to earn MQDs is by being a Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express or Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card Member. Now, Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Card Members can get closer Medallion Status for the next Medallion Year, thanks to the rollout of two new Card benefits: MQD Headstart and MQD Boost.

To start, here’s a quick overview of Medallion Status and how it works.

What is Medallion Status?

Each of the four tiers of Medallion Status is designed to elevate travel. To achieve Medallion Status and reach the next tier, you need to reach a threshold of MQDs.

The four Medallion Status tiers are:

Diamond Medallion (the highest)
Platinum Medallion
Gold Medallion
Silver Medallion

Here’s how many MQDs you’ll need to reach Medallion Status and a few examples of benefits across the four tiers:

	SILVER $5,000 MQDs	GOLD $10,000 MQDs	PLATINUM $15,000 MQDs	DIAMOND $28,000 MQDs
COMPLIMENTARY FIRST-CLASS UPGRADES	Upgrade to first class on domestic and short-haul international flights from 24 hours before departure	Upgrade to first class on domestic and short-haul international flights from 3 days before departure	Upgrade to first class on domestic and short-haul international flights from 5 days before departure	Upgrade to first class on domestic and short-haul international flights from 5 days before departure
COMFORT+ UPGRADES	Can upgrade within 24 hours of departure	Can upgrade within 3 days of departure	Can upgrade at time of booking	Can upgrade at time of booking
CHECKED BAGS	1 bag	2 bags	3 bags	3 bags
OTHER BENEFITS	Priority boarding & check-in Complimentary CLEAR® Plus Membership Complimentary CLEAR® Plus Membership Complimentary CLEAR® Plus Membership	Priority boarding & check-in Waived same-day confirmed changes to your travel plans Complimentary CLEAR® Plus Membership Complimentary CLEAR® Plus Membership	Priority boarding & check-in Waived same-day confirmed changes to your travel plans Your pick of 3 Delta Choice benefits Complimentary CLEAR® Plus Membership	Priority boarding & check-in Waived same-day confirmed travel changes Your pick of 3 Delta Choice benefits Complimentary CLEAR® Plus Membership

Terms and conditions apply, and all benefits are subject to change. For more on the different tiers of Medallion Status, visit Delta’s Get to Know Medallion Status.

What Are MQDs and How Can I Earn Them?

Medallion Qualification Dollars, or MQDs, are the metric used by Delta when it comes to earning Medallion Status for the next Medallion Year. MQDs are calculated by how much you spend on Delta flights, Delta’s partner airline flights, bookings through Delta Vacations^®, or on your eligible Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Reserve Card with MQD Headstart and Boost (more on that below).

For flights and vacations, you’ll earn $1 MQD per $1 spent on flight tickets or vacation bookings. However, the MQDs you earn won’t equal the cost dollar for dollar – as the calculation excludes taxes, fees (including government-imposed fees), and other applicable charges. For example, if you purchased a Delta flight that costed $478 (including $64 in government-imposed taxes/fees), you would earn $414 MQDs for that flight.

Reach Medallion Status Faster with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost

With MQD Headstart and MQD Boost, Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members have new opportunities to earn MQDs toward Medallion Status. Combined, these benefits replace the previous Status Boost and MQD Waiver benefits. Here’s how they work:

MQD Headstart: Earn MQDs Every Medallion Qualification Year

With MQD Headstart, eligible Card Members will receive $2,500 MQDs deposited in their card-linked SkyMiles account during each Medallion Qualification Year. This annual bonus could help you hit the ground running and achieve Medallion Status even faster.

MQD Boost: Earn MQDs With Everyday Purchases

With MQD Boost, everything from filling up your tank to enjoying a morning coffee and bagel can bring you closer to Medallion Status:

Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Members can earn $1 MQD for every $20 of purchases on the Card.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members can earn $1 MQD for every $10 of purchases on the Card.

For example: if you’re a Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Member and make $3,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a month, that would equate to $150 MQDs earned with MQD Boost.

Plus, Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Card Members have access to statement credits that are eligible for MQD Boost. For example:

Resy Credit: Earn up to $10 or $20 back per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Reserve Card.

Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 or $20 back per month in statement credits on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Reserve Card.

Whether you’re flying, on the road, or dining at your favorite restaurant, you could be moving closer to Medallion Status and the benefits that come with it.

Did you know?

American Express offers a range of Delta SkyMiles Cards that can help you earn your way towards your next vacation. Enjoy exclusive Card Member benefits and everyday rewards. Learn more.

Is Medallion Status Worth It?

Medallion Status makes travel easier from the moment you begin booking your trip. Each tier offers benefits such as priority boarding and check-in, complimentary checked bag(s), upgrades, and more. Whether or not Medallion Status is worth it depends on your own preferences and goals, but many frequent travelers can appreciate the benefits that Medallion Status offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MQD Headstart annual? YES – Card Members will receive $2,500 MQDs each Medallion Qualification Year. MQDs will be deposited within 6 to 8 weeks of February 1 for existing Card Members. MQDs for New Card Members and Card Members upgrading to an Eligible Card will be deposited within 6 to 8 weeks after an Eligible Card is opened, and thereafter every subsequent year within 6 to 8 weeks after February 1.

Is there a required spend for MQD Headstart? NO – there’s no required spend for MQD Headstart. Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Card Members will automatically receive the $2,500 MQDs each Medallion Qualification Year, regardless of spend.

If I have multiple eligible Cards, can I receive MQD Headstart multiple times? YES – with certain limits. Regardless of the number of Eligible Cards a SkyMiles Member may hold, each SkyMiles Member may only receive one $2,500 MQD deposit per Eligible Card type each Medallion Qualification Year and is limited to a maximum of four deposits across all Eligible Cards each Medallion Qualification Year (for $10,000 MQDs total).

Do MQDs roll over? NO – MQDs don’t roll over into a new year. To earn Medallion Status, you must meet the requirements within the Medallion Qualification Year.

How are MQDs different than miles? MQDs are earned based on the total amount you spend on Delta flights, flights with partner airlines, Delta Vacations bookings, and qualifying purchases on eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards (excluding taxes, fees, and other applicable charges) – while miles are earned based on the distance and fare class you travel in on eligible flights. Aside from miles no longer counting towards Medallion Status, there are no other changes to how you can earn or redeem miles.

¹ For more on Offer and Benefit Terms for the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, click here.

² For more on Offer and Benefit Terms for the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card, click here.

Cailin Potami is a New York-based writer and editor with an M.A. in Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism. Their work focuses on business, personal finance, and technology.

All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.