The Benefits You Get As A Delta SkyMiles Silver Medallion Member

Like any airline loyalty program, Delta SkyMiles

has an elite status scheme that offers elevated perks to some of the airline’s most loyal and highest-spending customers. As an airline focused primarily on business travelers (a little less so today than in decades prior), the carrier has to have a way to reward the loyal high-spending travelers who routinely travel for business on Delta flights. Pleasing this very small and specific niche of the travel market is essential for airlines like Delta, as it accounts for a major portion of its revenue generation.

As a result, Delta offers Medallion status to those who fly enough with the airline during a calendar year to earn the set of perks that come along with each tier of the airline’s status scheme. For starters, those who can earn Silver Medallion status will be eligible for a broad array of benefits, and these can be earned simply by flying a few times per year with Delta while also spending on the carrier’s cobranded credit cards. As a result, this status tier is fairly easily attainable, making it one of the first statuses that a flier will likely ever hold with an airline.

Higher-level tiers of the Delta Medallion scheme are significantly more rewarding, as they will offer passengers far higher accrual rates, upgrade privileges, and access to Delta Sky Club lounges. While having Silver Medallion status may not offer benefits as flashy as these, it still does bring a lot to the table for the customer. In this article, we will take a deeper look at the benefits that come along with being a Silver Medallion member of the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles loyalty program.

A quick look at qualification for Silver Medallion status

There are multiple ways to receive Delta Air Lines Silver Medallion status, but regardless of which method one receives the status, one will likely have flown Delta several times. For starters, qualification for Silver Medallion status requires a passenger to have earned 5,000 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs). The easiest way to earn MQDs is simply to fly Delta, as all tickets besides basic economy tickets will allow passengers to earn them. For example, if one books a $1,000 flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), they will be able to receive 1,000 MQDs.

As a result, one can pretty much just spend $5,000 on Delta Air Lines tickets to earn the 5,000 MQDs needed to qualify. However, there are a few ways to make qualification for Silver Medallion status significantly easier. Delta Air Lines credit cards offer customers a status-earning boost, one of the many premium benefits that the carrier offers to those who spend the hundreds required for premium cards. For example, those who pay $350 per year for a Delta SkyMiles Platinum card will be eligible to receive a 2,500 MQD headstart, which makes earning medallion status even easier. Furthermore, the SkyMiles Platinum card offers passengers MQDs as a reward for spending on the card, earning 1 MQD for each $20 spent on the card.

The third way to receive silver status is to inherit it. There are ways to be given silver status, although they typically involve having a friend, family member, or significant other who is a Diamond or Platinum Medallion member. These members can give silver status to others as one of their many benefit options.

A deeper look at the benefits that come along with Silver Medallion status

Silver Medallion status will not bring along the most lucrative benefits, as one would expect. Nonetheless, it can be very rewarding and offers passengers the ability to elevate their passenger experience. The first thing to note is that Silver Medallion members will be able to earn Delta SkyMiles far more quickly than standard SkyMiles program members.

While ordinary SkyMiles members (those that don’t hold Medallion status) will expect to earn just five SkyMiles per dollar spent on Delta flights, Silver Medallion members will earn seven miles per dollar. The ability to rapidly accumulate miles helps Delta passengers rack up the miles needed to book award flights much more quickly.

Delta SkyMiles Silver Medallion members will be eligible for complimentary upgrades, one of the key benefits offered by this status tier. While those with premium credit cards can also be eligible to join upgrade lists, they will be placed behind Medallion members on these lists, making their access to these upgrades significantly more restrictive.

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Passengers can join upgrade lists for first class and Delta Comfort+ up to 24 hours before departure. They are also eligible to join the upgrade list for Domestic Delta One seats on the day of departure. New SkyMiles members are encouraged to select their seat preferences in advance, according to the Delta Air Lines website.

Pre-departure benefits are also extensive

Those who have Silver Medallion status will receive their first checked bag free on Delta Air Lines flights and partner airline flights marketed by Delta. This benefit extends to eight different travel companions, which can offer passengers an impressive value. This benefit is similar to that which is offered to pretty much all Delta Air Lines cobranded American Express cardholders.

Those with Silver Medallion status will also be able to access Delta priority check-in, offering a faster experience at the airport. Passengers with Silver Medallion status will also be eligible for priority boarding. Another unique airport benefit offered to Silver Medallion members is preferred CLEAR pricing, allowing them to receive $40 off an annual CLEAR Plus membership, which offers them access to expedited airport security screening procedures.

Additional benefits that extend beyond the Delta flight experience

There are many other benefits offered to Delta Silver Medallion members, many of which go beyond what is offered on Delta flights. Those who are Silver Medallion members are eligible for perks with car rental company Hertz. For example, they will earn five Delta miles per $1 spent on Hertz rental car bookings. In addition, Silver Medallion members will also receive complimentary Hertz Five Star Status, which offers shorter lines at counters and car upgrades.

In addition, Silver Medallion members are eligible to receive priority waitlist status on paid flights. Furthermore, Silver Medallion members will receive customized bag tags, a $250 discount on Delta Air Lines vacation packages, and access to the airline’s priority customer service line.

The final important thing to note is that those who are lucky enough to earn Delta SkyMiles Silver Medallion status will also be eligible to reap the benefits of their status across the airline’s network of SkyTeam partners. The first and most obvious way in which this manifests is with SkyTeam Elite status. This is the lowest of the two status tiers offered by the global airline alliance, with most of the most valuable benefits being reserved for passengers with SkyTeam Elite Plus status.

Nonetheless, the alliance does offer some benefits to Elite members. For starters, those who have SkyTeam Elite status will be able to enjoy access to priority reservation wait lists when flying with any SkyTeam carrier. This can be extremely valuable to passengers flying during the busiest parts of the year. Passengers with SkyTeam Elite status will also be able to access priority check-in counters at airports across the globe.

Much like when they are flying Delta, SkyMiles Silver Medallion members will be able to access priority boarding for all SkyTeam flights, allowing them to get onboard their aircraft faster. Furthermore, passengers flying on a SkyTeam carrier with elite status will also be eligible for an extra baggage allowance, which could save them hundreds in fees. In addition, Silver Medallion members may also be able to access cabin upgrades when flying with Mexican flag carrier Aeromexico, one of the airline’s most important SkyTeam partners. Across the board, having Delta SkyMiles Silver Medallion status will improve your passenger experience tremendously.