Delta Silver Status: The Real Guide to Delta SkyMiles’ Entry-Level Elite

Delta Silver status is the first level of elite status with Delta Air Lines. It offers perks like service upgrades, free baggage allowance, and priority benefits that make flying a little more enjoyable.

This guide explains what Silver Medallion actually offers, how you can earn this status (and when it takes effect), and how to get the most out of it. We’ll answer the most common questions, such as: What benefits does Silver Medallion offer? Does Silver Medallion include Sky Priority check-in or boarding? What’s not actually included? And is it worth the effort and expense to obtain Delta Silver Medallion status in 2026? Let’s get started.

How Delta Silver Status Actually Works

Here’s how it fits together: Delta Silver status is designed as a “taste of elite” for frequent (but not ultra-frequent) flyers and heavy Delta credit card users. It’s not a guaranteed first-class experience, but it does offer real, tangible perks — if you play by the rules.

You earn Silver status by accumulating $5,000 MQDs in a calendar year. This can be done through:

• Delta & SkyTeam flights: 1 MQD per 1 spent on Delta-marketed flights or SkyTeam partner tickets (excluding Basic Economy fares).
• Delta AmEx spending (MQD Boost): You can earn MQDs on everyday spend with Delta SkyMiles American Express Reserve or Platinum cards. Specifically, 10 of spending on the Reserve equals 1 MQD; for the Platinum card it’s 20 for 1 MQD (plus a $2,500 MQD head start each year if you hold one). This so-called “MQD Boost” makes status accessible even if you don’t fly often.
• Delta Vacations: 1 MQD per 1 on Delta Vacations packages.

Once you hit $5,000 MQDs, Silver Medallion status kicks in and lasts through January 31 of the following Medallion year. For example, hitting the threshold in 2024 means your Silver benefits apply immediately and run through Jan 31, 2026.

Silver Medallion Qualification Table (2026)

Qualification & Status Timeline

Example: If you reach $5,000 MQDs in November 2025, you would hold Silver Medallion immediately and through January 31, 2027. If you qualify by December 2025, your new Silver status effectively covers Feb 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027.

All the Ways to Earn Delta Silver Status

1. Fly Paid Delta or SkyTeam Flights

When you book a Delta flight with a DL flight number in Main Cabin or higher, you get 1 MQD for every $1 you spend on the base fare (not including taxes or airport fees). This applies to both Delta flights and partner flights that are booked through Delta and have a DL flight number. Make sure to include your SkyMiles number when booking, and try to book your ticket directly through Delta (starting with 006) to make sure you get the correct MQD credit.

If you book a flight marketed by a partner airline (like AF, KL, or KE), you can still earn MQDs, but Delta figures them out based on how far you fly and what fare class you booked instead of the ticket price. This can either work out well or not. For short, expensive flights, booking through Delta with a DL flight number is usually better. But for long flights with discounted premium fares, you might get more MQDs with the distance-based partner credit. Either way, save your boarding passes and e-receipts until the MQDs show up in your account, and if you need to, use Delta’s Request Missing Miles tool.

Do Basic Economy tickets earn MQDs? Nope. E fares don’t earn MQDs or Medallion perks, even if you have your SkyMiles number on file.

Do award tickets, Miles + Cash, or Pay with Miles tickets earn MQDs? It’s better to assume they don’t so you don’t set yourself up for disappointment. If you happen to get any credit on a hybrid ticket, it’ll only be for the cash portion of the fare. To make sure you’re earning MQDs, stick to paid Main Cabin or higher tickets.

Sometimes when you book through third-party sites, your frequent flyer number gets dropped or the fare is coded wrong, and you don’t get the MQDs you should. To avoid trouble, book directly with Delta or a partner that consistently honors your SkyMiles number.

2. Use Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards (MQD Boost)

Delta’s co-brand cards let you turn everyday spend into MQDs:

• Delta SkyMiles Reserve (Personal or Business): 1 MQD per $10 in net purchases ($20,000 on a Reserve = 2,000 MQD)
• Delta SkyMiles Platinum (Personal or Business): 1 MQD per $20 in net purchases ($60,000 on a Platinum = 3,000 MQD)

On top of that, each of these four card flavors comes with a 2,500 MQD Headstart each Medallion year — and they stack.

Hold Reserve + Platinum (e.g., personal + business, or one of each) and you’ll start the year with 5,000 MQD — that’s Silver on day one, before a single flight.

Make sure each card is linked to your SkyMiles account (and the link shows in your AmEx/Delta profiles) before you put spend on it. MQD Boost posts separately from flight activity and can take a statement cycle to appear.

3. Delta Vacations

When you book a Delta Vacations package, you get 1 MQD for every $1 you spend on the package price (not including taxes and fees). The credit usually shows up after your trip. This is one of the easier ways to get more MQDs besides just buying flights. So, if you’re already planning to book a flight and hotel for a family vacation, checking the price through Delta Vacations could give your MQD balance a nice bump.

4. Limited-time Promos, Status Matches & Challenges

Delta sometimes has deals to help you earn Medallion status faster, like bonus miles on certain routes or a status match. If you get a status match, you get to try out a Medallion level for a bit. To keep it, you’ll need to earn a certain amount of Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) by flying within a set time.

Below are examples of Status Matches and other promotions that helped travelers accumulate MQDs faster in 2025:

• Delta Status Match Challenge (2025): How to Qualify & Keep Medallion Status
• Delta’s Business Travel Fast-Track: Strategic Medallion Access
• Hilton & Delta Status Match Offers
• Limited-Time Offer: Earn Medallion Status with Delta Cars and Stays
• JetBlue Status Match: Elite Members from Alaska, American, Delta, and United Can Now Join the Mosaic
• Delta’s Limited-Time MQD Promo (Aug 29–Oct 24, 2025): Earn Status on Hotels, Vacation & Car Rentals

What Benefits Does a Silver Medallion Actually Offer?

Okay, let’s look at the real benefits of having Delta Silver Medallion status and see what they’re actually worth.

Complimentary Upgrades

If you’re a Silver Medallion member, you and one travel buddy can get free upgrades to First Class and Delta Comfort+ on Delta flights. These upgrades start clearing 24 hours before takeoff for Comfort+ or domestic First Class flights (but you’re behind Gold, Platinum, and Diamond members in priority). Upgrades to domestic Delta One happen on the departure day. Keep in mind that Silver is at the bottom of the upgrade list, so you’ll probably only get upgraded on flights that aren’t super busy or have a lot of open seats (like late-night flights or less popular routes). Getting even a few free upgrades each year can make chasing status worth it, Just don’t count on it too much.

You can’t upgrade Basic Economy tickets, and as a Silver member, you can’t upgrade to international Delta One or Premium Select on long flights. You need higher status for those cabins. For upgrades in the U.S., Silver is at the back of the line after all the higher-level elites, so think of any upgrade as a bonus.

Free Checked Bag

Delta will waive the fee for your first checked bag on any Delta flight (and this might work on many SkyTeam partners). This perk even covers up to 8 people traveling with you on the same reservation, saving you $35 per person each way within the U.S.

For instance, if you and a friend are traveling, that’s $70 saved on a round trip if you would have paid for bags. For a family of five on one reservation, Silver status covers ten bags (you + up to 8 companions + yourself).

Keep in Mind: This doesn’t apply to Basic Economy fares. Also, Delta says that the free bag perk for companions doesn’t apply to Delta flights leaving Paris (CDG) or Amsterdam (AMS). So, if you’re flying Delta out of those cities, the Silver free bag and priority perks don’t work for your companions. Also, Silver members who have a Delta AmEx card that qualifies can check a second bag without charge on flights within the U.S. and Canada. Without the card, you only get one free bag.

Priority Boarding

Silver Medallion members get to board in Zone 5, which is ahead of the main economy group but after all the higher-status members. You’ll usually get on after zones 1–4 (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and premium cabin passengers) but before the regular economy passengers. This makes it easier to find space in the overhead bins and makes boarding a bit less stressful.

Delta says that Silver Medallion members won’t have a special priority boarding zone on flights from Amsterdam or Paris (AMS/CDG) because of Air France–KLM rules. On Delta flights leaving from those airports, Silver members board with the general crowd (often later than Zone 5).

Bonus SkyMiles

With Silver status, you’ll get 7 SkyMiles for every dollar you spend on the base fare (that’s 5 base miles + 2 bonus miles) on eligible tickets. If you paid in a higher class fare, you may get up to 9 miles per dollar (5 base + 4 bonus) if they are in Delta’s top earning categories. If you don’t have elite status, you only get 5 miles per dollar. This bonus can add up if you fly often using paid tickets.

You won’t earn any miles at all on Basic Economy tickets, so the Silver bonus doesn’t help you if you Go Basic. The government taxes and fees will be excluded from SkyMiles earning and the bonus only applies to the fare part of the ticket on Delta flights.

SkyTeam Elite Status

When flying on SkyTeam partner airlines (like Air France, KLM, Aeromexico, China Eastern), Silver Medallion equals SkyTeam Elite status. This usually means you get basic SkyTeam Elite perks: priority boarding (usually Zone 3 on Air France/KLM flights) and access to preferred/exit row seats if available. If you fly a SkyTeam ticket, you’ll also get the usual 7 miles/$ that Silver earns when flying on those partners.

The partner perks for Silver aren’t much. You don’t get SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits like lounge access and extra baggage. SkyTeam lounges only let in Elite Plus members, so Silver Medallion status doesn’t include access to Sky Club or partner lounges. Also, you usually only get one free checked bag on partner flights if your ticket already includes a free bag (like a low-tier Flying Blue member). Basically, expect a small boarding priority and some seat choices, but not a ton of perks when flying with partners.

Other Perks

Silver Medallion also has a few random extras:

• Priority Phone Service: When you call Delta’s SkyMiles line, you’ll get connected to an agent faster than regular customers. This can save you hold time when things go wrong or you’re trying to rebook flights.
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards – Five Star Status: Book Hertz car rentals through Delta’s website and you’ll automatically get Hertz Five Star status (which is the second-highest level in Hertz’s program, giving you faster service and good upgrade chances). You’ll also receive 5 miles per dollar on eligible Hertz rentals booked through Delta.
• CLEAR Discount: Silver members receive a $40 credit each year toward CLEAR+ membership, which makes this expedited security program cheaper. If you often visit airports that have CLEAR, this perk can help you save on wait times.
• Bag Tags: Each time you qualify for Silver, Delta lets you get a set of free bag tags. It’s a fun little status symbol that loyal members enjoy.

What You Don’t Get

Even with its good points, don’t expect too much from Silver Medallion status. Here’s what you don’t get:

• No Sky Priority Check-in or Security: Only Gold and higher get these perks. Silver members might find special Medallion check-in lines at some airports, but they aren’t Sky Priority. So, Silver won’t get you through the airport quickly on its own as SkyPriority is just for Diamond, Platinum, and Gold members.
• No Lounge Access: Silver (SkyTeam Elite) doesn’t come with lounge access. To get into airport lounges, aim for a higher Medallion level or get a credit card or lounge pass.
• Upgrade Limitations: Silver can’t get upgraded to Delta Premium Select or Delta One on international flights and can’t upgrade from Basic Economy at all. This limits how much you can rely on upgrades.
• No Lifetime Silver Status: Unlike Gold and higher levels, Delta doesn’t offer a Lifetime Silver Medallion no matter how many years you’ve flown. You have to earn Silver status each year.
• Some Perks Have Conditions: For instance, the free second checked bag only applies if you have a Delta AmEx card that qualifies or if you bought a ticket which includes a two-bag allowance. Without the card, you only get one free bag.

If a Silver benefit doesn’t happen on your trip, keep your documents (boarding passes, receipts, screenshots from the app) and contact Delta’s Medallion support. Getting in touch with them through the status line or online can sometimes fix a missed upgrade or refund a bag fee if you do it quickly.

How to Maximize Value from Silver

So, you think going for Silver status with Delta is worth it? Here’s how to get the most from it:

• Try to earn most of your MQDs before summer. If you are not on track, you can change what you are doing (like using your AmEx more) . The monthly MQD tracker from Delta can help.
• If you need a few more MQDs, the Delta Reserve or Platinum AmEx card can help. If you need 2,000 MQDs, you have to spend 20,000 on Reserve or 40,000 on Platinum. Make sure the card perks and points you can use for travel are worth the spend. If you use these cards often, MQD Boost gives you free status.
• If you are traveling with someone, book them on the same trip. You can share your free bag perk, and maybe both get upgrades. This makes Silver status a family perk.
• Never Book Basic Economy. Silver status doesn’t work with Basic Economy tickets. You won’t get upgrades, free bags, or bonus miles. Make sure you are booking Main Cabin or higher.
• Delta changes the MQD and benefit rules. Check Delta’s SkyMiles updates every January. The 2026 changes here are based on the 2024-2026 SkyMiles rules. Things might change. Sign up for Delta’s announcements or read points blogs to know what’s coming.

Doing these things can help you get the perks you want. For example. If you travel during off-peak times and with someone else, you can get those upgrades. If you read the rules, you won’t be surprised.dentally board a flight from AMS expecting a free bag only to be surprised with a charge.

Is Delta Silver Status Worth It?

If you fly Delta sometimes, or if you’re a family that does, Silver Medallion might be useful. But that’s only if you fly enough to get it without trying too hard. It’s like a basic status level. You get some nice stuff like free bags and maybe better upgrades on certain flights. Still, you won’t get the really fancy perks like lounge access or special security lines. Go for Silver if you’re already planning trips. If you have to spend extra just to reach $5K MQDs, it’s probably not worth it.

Bottom Line

Delta Silver Medallion status is a reliable entry-level elite tier. Its real benefit lies in the accumulation of all the small perks: an unexpected upgrade on a night flight, the waiver of a $35 baggage fee per trip, a few thousand bonus miles on an expensive ticket.