Back this year, Delta Air Lines is offering a promotion that gives Delta SkyMiles members the opportunity to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) towards elite status. From now until February 29, members can earn 1 MQD per base dollar spent on hotel and car rental reservations booked through the Travel Extras portal. Travel must be completed by May 31 to qualify for this promotion.
To earn MQDs on hotel stays, members simply need to book through Delta’s travel portal. In addition to the 2 redeemable SkyMiles members already earn for every dollar spent at most hotels, they will now earn 1 MQD per dollar spent on the base cost of the hotel room before taxes and fees are charged. For example, a three-night stay at the Grayson Hotel in midtown Manhattan could earn members MQDs.
Similarly, members can also earn 1 MQD per dollar spent on the base car rental rate for every completed rental booking made through the Travel Extras portal. However, MQDs will not be earned on charges such as taxes, one-way rental fees, fuel services, or tolls. For example, a weeklong rental at John F. Kennedy International Airport could earn members MQDs and SkyMiles.
It’s important to note that elite members earn more miles with Hertz, but this will not affect the number of MQDs earned. Basic members earn 4 miles per dollar spent, Silver Medallion members earn 5 miles per dollar spent, Gold Medallion members earn 6 miles per dollar spent, Platinum Medallion members earn 7 miles per dollar spent, and Diamond Medallion members earn 8 miles per dollar spent. For Dollar and Thrifty reservations, all SkyMiles members earn 4 miles per dollar, and for Alamo, Enterprise, National, Avis, Budget, and Payless reservations, members earn 2 miles per dollar.
There are some important terms and conditions to consider for this promotion. The first and last names on the credit card used for payment must match the information on the SkyMiles account in order to earn MQDs. It may take up to eight weeks to receive the MQDs after completing the travel. Additionally, Delta cobranded cardholders can earn up to $100 or up to $250 Delta Stays statement credits annually when using the card to purchase prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays. Prepaid Delta Stays reservations now qualify as Delta purchases on cobranded cards, with Delta Platinum and Reserve cardholders earning 3 miles per dollar spent, and Delta Gold cardmembers earning 2 miles per dollar spent.
This promotion offers a new way for Delta SkyMiles members to earn Medallion status without flying. It seems that Delta is sending emails to SkyMiles members in batches with this promotion, and hopefully, there will be more opportunities like this in the future to earn MQDs through non-flight activities and outside of the airline’s cobranded credit cards.