Whether you’re an avid business traveler or an avid globe-trotter, achieving Delta Air Lines Million Miler status demonstrates your unwavering loyalty to the Delta SkyMiles program and rewards you with lifetime Delta Medallion status.
Only a small percentage of Delta SkyMiles members will achieve million miler status, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth striving for. So, let’s know the details of Delta Million Mileer status.
Delta Lifetime Flight Miles
Until January 1, 2024, it was possible to earn Delta Million Mileer status based on your Medallion Qualification Miles. However, you will now earn Delta Million Mileer status based on your Lifetime flight miles (excluding basic economy fares). Any MQMs you earned before 2024 will still count towards your Million Mileer balance.
To check your lifetime flight miles, log into your SkyMiles account, click on your name in the upper right corner and select “My SkyMiles”. In the “SkyMiles Overview” section, you’ll see your lifetime miles flown.
Delta awards million miler status based on your lifetime flight miles (excluding basic economy fares):
- Gold Medal for Life: 1 million
- Platinum Medallion for Life: 2 million
- Diamond Medallion for Life: 3 million
- Annual invitation to Delta 360: 5 million
It’s great that Delta offers million miler travelers more than just its entry-level elite status. Once you reach Delta Million Mileer status, you will have at least lifetime Gold Medallion status. Gold Medallion members enjoy a variety of benefits, including:
- 8 miles per dollar spent on qualifying flights
- Free space-available upgrades on qualifying Delta-operated and Aeromexico-operated flights
- First Check Bag Free on Delta and select airline partners for you and up to eight travel companions
- Fee waived for flight changes confirmed on the same day
- Sky Priority Check-in, Priority Security Line Access, Expedited Baggage Service and Sky Priority Boarding
- SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits
- Five Star status in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program
Of course, the lifetime benefits get better as you reach the higher Delta Million Mileer status tiers.
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Related: Things You Need to Know About Delta SkyMiles
Delta Million Miller gift selection
Once you reach the new Delta Million Mileer threshold, you will receive a congratulatory email within 24 hours. This email will guide you to Delta Million Mileers Gift website.
The website offers a personalized menu with different gift options based on your million miler tier. If you do not make a selection within 90 days, Delta will automatically send you the pre-selected gift.
Delta will also mail million miler bag tags to the address on your SkyMiles profile when you reach the million miler milestone.
Related: Is It Worth Pursuing Lifetime Elite Status?
How long does it take to reach million miler status?
Earning 1 million lifetime flight miles is not easy. Even if you earn 100,000 lifetime flight miles per year, it will take you a decade to earn 1 million lifetime flight miles.
If you fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – Distance 2,579 miles – Fully qualified for lifetime elite status on one-way flights – Here’s what it takes to secure status
- Gold Medallion: 388 flights
- Platinum Medallion: 776 flights
- Diamond medallion: 1,164 flights
- Delta 360: 1,939 flights
Of course, if you frequently travel on long-haul routes, you can achieve Delta Million Mileer status with fewer flights. However, remember that basic economy fares will not accrue any lifetime flight miles toward Delta Million Mileer status.
Related: How to redeem your Delta SkyMiles for maximum value
The bottom line
For Delta loyalists, it’s worth checking your million miler balance to measure your progress toward lifetime levels. Finally, achieving Delta Million Miler status is a way to lock in lifetime medallion status and eliminate the need to re-qualify each year.