Many vacationers imagine the Delta SkyMiles program has decreased in worth through the years. However, Delta Medallion standing may be extraordinarily invaluable when you journey with Delta often. One significantly invaluable perk is the Choice Benefits program out there to Platinum and Diamond Medallion members.
Whether you are a newly minted Delta Medallion member or a longtime Delta Air Lines loyalist, this is what it’s essential learn about Delta Choice Benefits, together with the way to earn them, when to pick them and which advantages are finest.
How to earn Delta Choice Benefits
You earn Delta Choice Benefits every calendar yr you qualify for Platinum or Diamond Medallion standing. Specifically, you earn one Choice Benefit if you qualify for Platinum Medallion standing and three Choice Benefits if you qualify for Diamond Medallion standing.
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Delta now solely makes use of one metric — Medallion Qualification Dollars — for elite qualification. Here are the present calendar yr necessities for the 2 tiers of Delta Medallion standing that provide Choice Benefits as a perk:
Platinum Medallion standing: 15,000 MQDsDiamond Medallion standing: 28,000 MQDs
You can earn MQDs on flights and different transactions with Delta and its companions, together with trip packages and spending on cobranded Delta bank cards. Plus, these with the next premium cobranded Delta bank cards get a lift of two,500 MQDs towards standing qualification yearly:
You earn one 2,500-MQD increase for every card sort. Having a number of of those premium Delta playing cards in your pockets may be extraordinarily useful if you wish to earn Delta Medallion standing.
Related: Which bank card do you have to use for Delta Air Lines flights?
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When to pick Delta Choice Benefits
You can choose Delta Choice Benefits after incomes Platinum or Diamond Medallion standing primarily based on exercise inside a calendar yr. You should choose your Choice Benefits by the day your standing expires when you do not requalify.
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So, when you certified for 2024 Medallion yr standing primarily based on exercise in 2023, you’d want to pick your Choice Benefits by Jan. 31, 2025. Likewise, when you certified for 2025 Medallion yr standing primarily based on exercise in 2024, you’d want to pick your Choice Benefits by Jan. 31, 2026.
You can presently choose Delta Choice Benefits by way of the Delta web site. Starting Feb. 1, 2025, you may choose Choice Benefits by the Delta app — and as of June 1, 2025, you may have to make use of the Delta app to pick Choice Benefits (you may not have the ability to choose them by way of the Delta web site).
Some Choice Benefits expire on a set date no matter when you choose the profit. So, you may get probably the most worth from some Choice Benefits by choosing the profit as quickly as you are eligible.
Related: Your information to Delta Million Miler lifetime standing
Options you may choose as Delta Choice Benefits
Delta hasn’t but introduced the Choice Benefits for the 2026 Medallion yr. Here’s a have a look at your choices when you earned Platinum or Diamond standing for the 2024 or 2025 Medallion yr:
Platinum Choice Benefits (select one)Diamond Choice Benefits (select three)Upgrade certificatesFour regionalFour world, eight regional, or two world and 4 regional (might solely choose this Diamond Choice Benefit as soon as per Medallion yr)Bonus miles20,000 when you earned Platinum standing for the 2024 Medallion yr
30,000 when you earned Platinum standing for the 2025 Medallion yr
25,000 when you earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion yr
35,000 when you earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion yr
Delta Sky Club benefitsNoneOne government membership (requires three selections) when you earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion yr
One government membership (requires three selections) or one particular person membership (requires two selections) when you earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion yr
Medallion Qualification Dollars towards the subsequent Medallion year500 (towards the 2025 Medallion yr) when you earned Platinum standing for the 2024 Medallion yr
1,000 (towards the 2026 Medallion yr) when you earned Platinum standing for the 2025 Medallion yr
1,000 (towards the 2025 Medallion yr) when you earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion yr
2,000 (towards the 2026 Medallion yr) when you earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion yr
Gift Delta Medallion statusTwo Silver MedallionTwo Gold MedallionDelta Vacations Experience credit score (can solely choose as soon as per Medallion yr)$400$500Delta American Express assertion credit score (solely out there on choose playing cards; can solely choose as soon as per Medallion tier per Medallion yr)$200 when you earned Platinum standing for the 2024 Medallion yr
$400 when you earned Platinum standing for the 2025 Medallion yr
$500 when you earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion yr
$700 when you earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion yr
Delta journey voucher$250 when you earned Platinum standing for the 2024 Medallion yr
$300 when you earned Platinum standing for the 2025 Medallion yr
$250 when you earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion yr
$350 when you earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion yr
Wheels Up flight credit score (can solely be chosen as soon as per Medallion tier per Medallion yr)$1,500 when you earned Platinum standing for the 2025 Medallion yr (not out there when you earned Platinum standing for the 2024 Medallion yr)$2,000 when you earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion yr (not out there when you earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion yr)Sustainable aviation gasoline contribution$250$250Starbucks Rewards Stars (can solely be chosen as soon as per Medallion tier per Medallion yr)4,000 when you earned Platinum standing for the 2024 Medallion yr
6,000 when you earned Platinum standing for the 2025 Medallion yr
4,000 when you earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion yr
6,000 when you earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion yr
Now, let’s look at every choice for many who earned Platinum or Diamond standing for the 2024 or 2025 Medallion yr and the worth they may present.
Upgrade certificates
After incomes Platinum Medallion standing, you could possibly use your one Choice Benefits choice for 4 regional improve certificates. And when you earned Diamond Medallion standing, you could possibly use a option to get one of many following:
Four world improve certificatesEight regional improve certificatesTwo world and 4 regional improve certificatesKYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
These improve certificates give greater precedence than Medallion complimentary improve requests and may get you a one-class, space-available improve on most fares besides Delta fundamental financial system.
However, no matter when you choose your Choice Benefits, you need to ebook and fly utilizing these certificates by the tip of the Medallion yr related to that Choice Benefits choice. So, when you earned Platinum or Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion yr, you’d have to fly utilizing these certificates by Jan. 31, 2025.
Related: The final information to getting upgraded on Delta flights
Bonus miles
With your Choice Benefits, you may choose bonus miles for your self, one other SkyMiles member or a SkyWant charity.
With Choice Benefits tied to the 2024 Medallion yr, you could possibly select 20,000 bonus miles (price $240 primarily based on TPG’s December 2024 valuations) on the Platinum Medallion tier and 25,000 bonus miles (price $300) per alternative on the Diamond Medallion tier.
Meanwhile, you could possibly select 30,000 bonus miles (price $360) on the Platinum Medallion tier and 35,000 bonus miles (price $420) per alternative on the Diamond Medallion tier with Choice Benefits tied to the 2025 Medallion yr.
Delta Sky Club advantages
At the Delta Diamond Medallion tier, you could possibly commerce all three Choice Benefits selections for a Delta Sky Club government membership. Travelers who earned Diamond Medallion standing for the 2025 Medallion yr even have the choice to commerce two Choice Benefits selections for a person Delta Sky Club membership.
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The government membership — usually costing $1,495 or 149,500 miles — provides you and as much as two friends (or your partner or home accomplice and kids below 21) limitless complimentary Delta Sky Club entry. Meanwhile, the person membership — usually costing $695 or 69,500 miles — provides you limitless complimentary Delta Sky Club entry for your self.
However, these Delta Sky Club memberships are solely legitimate by the tip of the Medallion yr related to that Choice Benefits choice. So, when you earned Diamond Medallion standing for the 2024 Medallion yr and used all three selections for an government membership, it will solely be legitimate by Jan. 31, 2025.
MQDs towards the subsequent Medallion yr
You can use Choice Benefits alternatives for MQDs towards the subsequent Medallion yr.
With Choice Benefits tied to the 2024 Medallion yr, you could possibly select 500 MQDs towards Medallion qualification for the 2025 Medallion yr on the Platinum Medallion tier and 1,000 MQDs per alternative for the 2025 Medallion yr on the Diamond Medallion tier.
Meanwhile, with Choice Benefits tied to the 2025 Medallion yr, you could possibly select 1,000 MQDs towards Medallion qualification for the 2026 Medallion yr on the Platinum Medallion tier and a pair of,000 MQDs per alternative for the 2026 Medallion yr on the Diamond Medallion tier.
Gift Delta Medallion standing
You can use your Choice Benefits to present Delta Medallion standing to another person. Each alternative is price two items, with Platinum Medallion members capable of present Silver Medallion standing to a pair of vacationers and Diamond Medallion members capable of present Gold Medallion standing.
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The gifted standing is legitimate by the tip of the Medallion yr related to the Choice Benefits choice. So, for Choice Benefits tied to the 2024 Medallion yr, the gifted standing would final by Jan. 31, 2025.
Delta Vacations Experience credit score
You may use your one Choice Benefits choice after you earn Platinum Medallion standing for a $400 credit score towards a Delta Vacations bundle. Or you could possibly wait till you earn Diamond Medallion standing for a $500 credit score. However, you may solely choose a Delta Vacations Experience credit score as a Choice Benefit as soon as per Medallion yr.
The credit score is legitimate for one yr after it is issued for a flight and lodge bundle. You are the one one who can use the credit score, and a two-night minimal keep is required.
Delta American Express assertion credit score
If you’re the major cardmember of the Delta Platinum Amex, Delta Platinum Business Amex, Delta Reserve Amex or Delta Reserve Business Amex, you may select a press release credit score in your card as a Choice Benefit at every Medallion standing tier.
For Choice Benefits tied to the 2024 Medallion yr, you may select a $200 assertion credit score on the Platinum Medallion tier and a $500 assertion credit score on the Diamond Medallion tier. Meanwhile, you may select a $400 assertion credit score on the Platinum Medallion tier and a $700 assertion credit score on the Diamond Medallion tier with Choice Benefits tied to the 2025 Medallion yr. However, you may’t use a number of Choice Benefits to get a number of assertion credit on the Diamond Medallion tier.
Related: Delta SkyMiles Reserve vs. Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business: Which card is best for you?
Delta journey voucher
You can choose a Delta journey voucher together with your Choice Benefits. For Choice Benefits tied to the 2024 Medallion yr, every alternative is price $250. But for Choice Benefits tied to the 2025 Medallion yr, a Platinum Medallion alternative is price $300 and every Diamond Medallion alternative is price $350.
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You’re the one one who can use the voucher, however you need to use it towards the Delta flight portion of a Delta Vacations bundle. Vouchers are legitimate for 12 months from their issuance, which ought to happen inside 48 hours of when you choose the voucher.
Wheels Up flight credit score
Delta added Wheels Up personal aviation flight credit as a Choice Benefits choice for the 2025 Medallion yr. Flight credit score can solely be utilized to new Wheels Up bookings (excluding Wheels Up Shared Flights and Hot Flights) and expires 12 months after issuance. You can solely choose a Wheels Up flight credit score as soon as per Medallion yr.
With a 2025 Medallion yr Choice Benefit, you could possibly select a $1,500 Wheels Up flight credit score on the Platinum Medallion tier or a $2,000 flight credit score on the Diamond Medallion tier.
Sustainable aviation gasoline contribution
You can use your Choice Benefits to help Delta’s use of sustainable aviation gasoline. Delta will apply $250 for every alternative towards the incremental value of sustainable aviation gasoline as a substitute of conventional jet gasoline.
Related: How you may donate your factors and miles to charity
Starbucks Rewards Stars
Finally, U.S.-based SkyMiles members enrolled in Starbucks Rewards might select Starbucks Rewards Stars as a Choice Benefit as soon as at every tier. However, Stars will expire six months after the calendar month they have been deposited.
Each alternative tied to the 2024 Medallion yr will present 4,000 Stars, whereas every alternative tied to the 2025 Medallion yr will present 6,000 Stars.
Related: The finest bank cards to make use of at Starbucks
Which Delta Choice Benefit is finest?
If you will have 2024 Medallion yr Choice Benefits that you need to choose by Jan. 31, 2025, you may possible wish to keep away from advantages that expire on that date. As such, one of the best Delta Choice Benefits for the 2024 Medallion yr can be bonus miles or the Delta Vacations Experience credit score for many vacationers.
You have extra time to make use of Choice Benefits for the 2025 Medallion yr. As such, one of the best Delta Choice Benefits for the 2025 Medallion yr will often be improve certificates, bonus miles, American Express assertion credit or a Wheels Up personal aviation flight credit score. Of course, you may’t get the assertion credit score if you do not have an eligible Delta Amex card. And you will not discover the Wheels Up flight credit score invaluable when you need not fly privately a minimum of as soon as per yr.
Related: Breakfast, upgrades and extra: TPG staffers reveal their favourite elite standing perks
Bottom line
There are many choices on the subject of Delta Choice Benefits. These advantages can present vital worth, so making an knowledgeable alternative is essential — particularly since some perks might expire rapidly when you select them close to the tip of your Medallion yr.