Delta Announces Major Changes to SkyMiles for 2025 - Explained

Delta Air Lines has recently unveiled a major overhaul to its SkyMiles loyalty program, set to take full effect by the end of 2025. If you’re a frequent flier or Delta loyalist, you need to be up to date with the changes. Some perks are becoming harder to access, and others are being rolled out to reward those who spend the most. I’ll share my thoughts on how these changes are likely to shake up the flying experience for everyone, from elite travelers to casual flyers.

Delta is eliminating the MQM (Medallion Qualifying Miles) and MQS (Medallion Qualifying Segments) system entirely. Now, Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) will be the sole metric for earning status. It doesn’t matter how much you travel; the bills you rack up (whether through flight purchases or co-branded credit cards) will determine your eligibility for Medallion status.

After some customer backlash to initially higher numbers, Delta lowered the MQD thresholds to make status “more accessible”. Here are the current MQD requirements for status in the 2025 program year:

• Silver Medallion: $5,000 MQDs (down from $6,000 previously)


• Gold Medallion: $10,000 MQDs (down from $12,000)


• Platinum Medallion: $15,000 MQDs (down from $18,000)


• Diamond Medallion: $28,000 MQDs (down from $35,000 initially proposed)

Delta is rewarding revenue above all else. This could be an easy win for big spenders (think business travelers or those with expensive premium cabins). But for budget-conscious flyers? It’s definitely a hurdle. I personally don’t like this change, because it reduces the opportunities for those who fly more often but don't always spend big. I do appreciate Delta rolling back the initial higher thresholds, but the reality is that getting Diamond status will be more difficult for the average traveler.

Starting October 1st, 2025, Delta will roll out a revamped fare structure under the “Experiences” umbrella.

• The Basic Experience is essentially the same as Basic Economy: no seat selection until check-in, no upgrades, and no SkyMiles earned. Basically, if you’re looking for the cheapest option and don’t care about perks, this is it.


• Then there’s Classic—the “normal” Main Cabin fare most of us are familiar with. You get to pick your seat, earn miles, and, importantly, you earn MQDs toward status. In my mind, this is still the sweet spot for most travelers. It gives you a fair balance between price and benefits.


• The Extra fare is Delta’s attempt to upsell you within the same cabin. Think premium economy perks, like fully refundable tickets, free same-day confirmed flight changes, and a slight edge in upgrade priority. Now, I’m not sold on this yet. The flexibility is nice, but you’re paying a premium for what seems like a marginal upgrade in priority. I wouldn’t jump to Extra unless the price difference is small.

Delta has similarly split Comfort+, First Class, Premium Select, and Delta One into Classic and Extra versions. For example, you can buy a “Delta One Extra” business class fare which would be fully refundable and come with those same-day change perks, versus a cheaper “Delta One Classic” fare that might have more restrictions.

I’ve always thought lounge access was one of the best perks, especially for those of us who’ve enjoyed the luxury of unlimited access through the Amex Platinum or Delta Reserve cards. Well, that’s about to change. Starting February 2025, Delta will limit Sky Club access to 10 visits per year for Amex Platinum cardholders and 15 visits for Delta Reserve cardholders.

Previously, you could waltz in as much as you wanted, but now you’ll need to plan your visits carefully. For regular travelers, 10 visits per year might be enough, but frequent flyers (who basically live in the Sky Club) will be left scrambling. If you spend $75,000 annually on your Amex card, you’ll unlock unlimited access, but let’s face it, that’s more of an elite-level perk.

Honestly, I’m torn here. The overcrowding in Sky Clubs was real, and I’ve had my own frustrating moments trying to find a seat in the lounge. Delta's lounges were easily the most packed lounges in all of the U.S., so I get that Delta is trying to manage that, but this new cap is more about revenue generation than improving the overall lounge experience. That's just the side effect.

Delta has recently terminated their partnership with Lyft. Instead, they’ve paired up with Uber to allow travelers to earn SkyMiles on Uber rides and Uber Eats deliveries. The earning structure is pretty solid:

• 3 SkyMiles per $1 spent on Uber Reserve rides


• 2 SkyMiles per $1 on Uber premium rides


• 1 SkyMile per $1 on UberX rides to/from the airport


• 1 SkyMile per $1 on Uber Eats orders of $40+

If you’ve been using Uber already, it’s a no-brainer to link your SkyMiles account and rack up those extra miles. Even if you’re not flying Delta every week, you can still accumulate miles just from your daily commute and food deliveries. It’s a nice touch that adds more value to the SkyMiles program outside of the airport.

Looking at the new direction Delta is taking, it’s clear the airline is doubling down on a revenue-based strategy that rewards premium customers while making status harder to attain for the average flyer.

As someone who enjoys the perks of status, I’m a little skeptical of how this will impact the average traveler. But as a business move, Delta has found a way to reward its most loyal (and highest-spending) customers while giving less incentive to bargain-hungry flyers. For those of us who travel frequently for business or enjoy the occasional splurge, the new “Experiences” fares and Choice Benefits are pretty appealing.

But will I be missing the days when earning status was more about mileage runs than credit card swipes? Maybe. But in the end, Delta’s bet on spend-driven loyalty is likely to pay off. As the frequent flyer landscape evolves, we’ll just have to adapt. :)

If you’re a high spender, you’re probably going to love the new changes—status is easier to attain, and there are more perks to enjoy. For those who rely on mileage runs or budget flying, however, the overhaul may feel like a setback. Delta is clearly catering to its most profitable customers with these moves, so the challenge now is to decide where you fit in and adjust your loyalty strategy accordingly.