Many vacationers consider the Delta SkyMiles program has decreased in worth through the years. Nevertheless, Delta Medallion status will be extraordinarily invaluable if you happen to journey with Delta commonly. One notably invaluable perk is the Alternative Advantages program obtainable to Platinum and Diamond Medallion members.
Whether or not you are a newly minted Delta Medallion member or a longtime Delta Air Strains loyalist, this is what you might want to find out about Delta Alternative Advantages, together with tips on how to earn them, when to pick them and which advantages are finest.
The way to earn Delta Alternative Advantages
You earn Delta Alternative Advantages every calendar 12 months you qualify for Platinum or Diamond Medallion standing. Particularly, you earn one Alternative Profit while you qualify for Platinum Medallion standing and three Alternative Advantages while you qualify for Diamond Medallion standing.
Delta now solely makes use of one metric — Medallion Qualification {Dollars} — for elite qualification. Listed here are the present calendar 12 months necessities for the 2 tiers of Delta Medallion standing that provide Alternative Advantages as a perk:
- Platinum Medallion standing: 15,000 MQDs
- Diamond Medallion standing: 28,000 MQDs
You possibly can earn MQDs on flights and different transactions with Delta and its companions, together with trip packages and spending on cobranded Delta credit 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 kind. Having a number of of those premium Delta playing cards in your pockets will be extraordinarily useful if you wish to earn Delta Medallion status.
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When to pick Delta Alternative Advantages
You possibly can choose Delta Alternative Advantages after incomes Platinum or Diamond Medallion standing primarily based on exercise inside a calendar 12 months. You will need to choose your Alternative Advantages by the day your standing expires if you happen to do not requalify.
So, if you happen to certified for 2024 Medallion 12 months standing primarily based on exercise in 2023, you’d want to pick your Alternative Advantages by Jan. 31, 2025. Likewise, if you happen to certified for 2025 Medallion 12 months standing primarily based on exercise in 2024, you’d want to pick your Alternative Advantages by Jan. 31, 2026.
You possibly can at present choose Delta Alternative Advantages by way of the Delta web site. Beginning Feb. 1, 2025, you’ll be able to choose Alternative Advantages via the Delta app — and as of June 1, 2025, you may have to make use of the Delta app to pick Alternative Advantages (you may not be capable to choose them by way of the Delta web site).
Some Alternative Advantages expire on a set date no matter when you choose the profit. So, you may get probably the most worth from some Alternative Advantages by choosing the profit as quickly as you are eligible.
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Choices you’ll be able to choose as Delta Alternative Advantages
Delta hasn’t but introduced the Alternative Advantages for the 2026 Medallion 12 months. Here is a take a look at your choices if you happen to earned Platinum or Diamond standing for the 2024 or 2025 Medallion 12 months:
| Platinum Alternative Advantages (select one) | Diamond Alternative Advantages (select three) | |
|---|---|---|
| Improve certificates | 4 regional | 4 world, eight regional, or two world and 4 regional (could solely choose this Diamond Alternative Profit as soon as per Medallion 12 months) |
| Bonus miles | 20,000 if you happen to earned Platinum standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months
30,000 if you happen to earned Platinum standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months |
25,000 if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months
35,000 if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months |
| Delta Sky Membership advantages | None | One govt membership (requires three decisions) if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months
One govt membership (requires three decisions) or one particular person membership (requires two decisions) if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months |
| Medallion Qualification {Dollars} towards the subsequent Medallion 12 months | 500 (towards the 2025 Medallion 12 months) if you happen to earned Platinum standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months
1,000 (towards the 2026 Medallion 12 months) if you happen to earned Platinum standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months |
1,000 (towards the 2025 Medallion 12 months) if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months
2,000 (towards the 2026 Medallion 12 months) if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months |
| Present Delta Medallion standing | Two Silver Medallion | Two Gold Medallion |
| Delta Holidays Expertise credit score (can solely choose as soon as per Medallion 12 months) | $400 | $500 |
| Delta American Specific assertion credit score (solely obtainable on choose playing cards; can solely choose as soon as per Medallion tier per Medallion 12 months) | $200 if you happen to earned Platinum standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months
$400 if you happen to earned Platinum standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months |
$500 if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months
$700 if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months |
| Delta journey voucher | $250 if you happen to earned Platinum standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months
$300 if you happen to earned Platinum standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months |
$250 if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months
$350 if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months |
| Wheels Up flight credit score (can solely be chosen as soon as per Medallion tier per Medallion 12 months) | $1,500 if you happen to earned Platinum standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months (not obtainable if you happen to earned Platinum standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months) | $2,000 if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months (not obtainable if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months) |
| Sustainable aviation gas contribution | $250 | $250 |
| Starbucks Rewards Stars (can solely be chosen as soon as per Medallion tier per Medallion 12 months) | 4,000 if you happen to earned Platinum standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months
6,000 if you happen to earned Platinum standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months |
4,000 if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months
6,000 if you happen to earned Diamond standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months |
Now, let’s look at every possibility for many who earned Platinum or Diamond standing for the 2024 or 2025 Medallion 12 months and the worth they may present.
Improve certificates
After incomes Platinum Medallion standing, you might use your one Alternative Advantages choice for 4 regional improve certificates. And if you happen to earned Diamond Medallion standing, you might use a option to get one of many following:
- 4 world improve certificates
- Eight regional improve certificates
- Two world and 4 regional improve certificates
These improve certificates give increased precedence than Medallion complimentary improve requests and may get you a one-class, space-available improve on most fares besides Delta basic economy.
Nevertheless, no matter when you choose your Alternative Advantages, you could e book and fly utilizing these certificates by the tip of the Medallion 12 months related to that Alternative Advantages choice. So, if you happen to earned Platinum or Diamond standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months, you’d have to fly utilizing these certificates by Jan. 31, 2025.
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Bonus miles
Together with your Alternative Advantages, you’ll be able to choose bonus miles for your self, one other SkyMiles member or a SkyWish charity.
With Alternative Advantages tied to the 2024 Medallion 12 months, you might 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 selection on the Diamond Medallion tier.
In the meantime, you might select 30,000 bonus miles (price $360) on the Platinum Medallion tier and 35,000 bonus miles (price $420) per selection on the Diamond Medallion tier with Alternative Advantages tied to the 2025 Medallion 12 months.
Delta Sky Membership advantages
On the Delta Diamond Medallion tier, you might commerce all three Alternative Advantages decisions for a Delta Sky Membership govt membership. Vacationers who earned Diamond Medallion standing for the 2025 Medallion 12 months even have the choice to commerce two Alternative Advantages decisions for a person Delta Sky Membership membership.
The chief membership — usually costing $1,495 or 149,500 miles — offers you and as much as two visitors (or your partner or home accomplice and kids beneath 21) limitless complimentary Delta Sky Club access. In the meantime, the person membership — usually costing $695 or 69,500 miles — offers you limitless complimentary Delta Sky Membership entry for your self.
Nevertheless, these Delta Sky Membership memberships are solely legitimate via the tip of the Medallion 12 months related to that Alternative Advantages choice. So, if you happen to earned Diamond Medallion standing for the 2024 Medallion 12 months and used all three decisions for an govt membership, it might solely be legitimate via Jan. 31, 2025.
MQDs towards the subsequent Medallion 12 months
You need to use Alternative Advantages alternatives for MQDs towards the subsequent Medallion 12 months.
With Alternative Advantages tied to the 2024 Medallion 12 months, you might select 500 MQDs towards Medallion qualification for the 2025 Medallion 12 months on the Platinum Medallion tier and 1,000 MQDs per selection for the 2025 Medallion 12 months on the Diamond Medallion tier.
In the meantime, with Alternative Advantages tied to the 2025 Medallion 12 months, you might select 1,000 MQDs towards Medallion qualification for the 2026 Medallion 12 months on the Platinum Medallion tier and a pair of,000 MQDs per selection for the 2026 Medallion 12 months on the Diamond Medallion tier.
Present Delta Medallion standing
You need to use your Alternative Advantages to reward Delta Medallion standing to another person. Every selection is price two presents, with Platinum Medallion members capable of reward Silver Medallion standing to a pair of vacationers and Diamond Medallion members capable of reward Gold Medallion standing.
The gifted standing is legitimate via the tip of the Medallion 12 months related to the Alternative Advantages choice. So, for Alternative Advantages tied to the 2024 Medallion 12 months, the gifted standing would final via Jan. 31, 2025.
Delta Holidays Expertise credit score
You might use your one Alternative Advantages choice after you earn Platinum Medallion standing for a $400 credit score towards a Delta Holidays bundle. Or you might wait till you earn Diamond Medallion standing for a $500 credit score. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to solely choose a Delta Holidays Expertise credit score as a Alternative Profit as soon as per Medallion 12 months.
The credit score is legitimate for one 12 months after it is issued for a flight and lodge bundle. You’re the just one who can use the credit score, and a two-night minimal keep is required.
Delta American Specific assertion credit score
In case you are the first cardmember of the Delta Platinum Amex, Delta Platinum Business Amex, Delta Reserve Amex or Delta Reserve Business Amex, you’ll be able to select a press release credit score in your card as a Alternative Profit at every Medallion standing tier.
For Alternative Advantages tied to the 2024 Medallion 12 months, you’ll be able to select a $200 assertion credit score on the Platinum Medallion tier and a $500 assertion credit score on the Diamond Medallion tier. In the meantime, you’ll be able to select a $400 assertion credit score on the Platinum Medallion tier and a $700 assertion credit score on the Diamond Medallion tier with Alternative Advantages tied to the 2025 Medallion 12 months. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to’t use a number of Alternative Advantages to get a number of assertion credit on the Diamond Medallion tier.
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Delta journey voucher
You possibly can choose a Delta journey voucher together with your Alternative Advantages. For Alternative Advantages tied to the 2024 Medallion 12 months, every selection is price $250. However for Alternative Advantages tied to the 2025 Medallion 12 months, a Platinum Medallion selection is price $300 and every Diamond Medallion selection is price $350.
You are the one one who can use the voucher, however you should utilize it towards the Delta flight portion of a Delta Holidays 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 Alternative Advantages possibility for the 2025 Medallion 12 months. Flight credit score can solely be utilized to new Wheels Up bookings (excluding Wheels Up Shared Flights and Scorching Flights) and expires 12 months after issuance. You possibly can solely choose a Wheels Up flight credit score as soon as per Medallion 12 months.
With a 2025 Medallion 12 months Alternative Profit, you might 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 gas contribution
You need to use your Alternative Advantages to assist Delta’s use of sustainable aviation gas. Delta will apply $250 for every selection towards the incremental value of sustainable aviation gas as an alternative of conventional jet gas.
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Starbucks Rewards Stars
Lastly, U.S.-based SkyMiles members enrolled in Starbucks Rewards could select Starbucks Rewards Stars as a Alternative Profit as soon as at every tier. Nevertheless, Stars will expire six months after the calendar month they had been deposited.
Every selection tied to the 2024 Medallion 12 months will present 4,000 Stars, whereas every selection tied to the 2025 Medallion 12 months will present 6,000 Stars.
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Which Delta Alternative Profit is finest?
In case you have 2024 Medallion 12 months Alternative Advantages that you could choose by Jan. 31, 2025, you may seemingly wish to keep away from advantages that expire on that date. As such, the perfect Delta Alternative Advantages for the 2024 Medallion 12 months might be bonus miles or the Delta Holidays Expertise credit score for many vacationers.
You could have extra time to make use of Alternative Advantages for the 2025 Medallion 12 months. As such, the perfect Delta Alternative Advantages for the 2025 Medallion 12 months will normally be improve certificates, bonus miles, American Specific assertion credit or a Wheels Up personal aviation flight credit score. After all, you’ll be able to’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 if you happen to needn’t fly privately at the very least as soon as per 12 months.
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Backside line
There are numerous choices in terms of Delta Alternative Advantages. These advantages can present vital worth, so making an knowledgeable selection is vital — particularly since some perks could expire rapidly if you happen to select them close to the tip of your Medallion 12 months.
