Delta Extends Medallion Status & Club Memberships To Help Members
The day we have been waiting for is now here. A major airline has decided to to extend elite status for current members. This is just days after we finally got the good news from Hyatt that they are extending hotel status and other perks. Delta, just as they were with cancellations, is an early adopter to this practice. This is a day that many of us predicted would come and have been waiting on. With planes being grounded right and left, and people quarantined at home, there was no way airlines could punish people that earned status last year. A lot of effort and money goes into earning airline status so I am glad to see Delta extend Medallion status for their members.
Details
Here is what their press release had to say:
Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members will enjoy the same loyalty benefits throughout 2021 as they have in 2020. The 12-month Status extension is part of Delta’s work to offer greater flexibility as coronavirus impacts travel plans, so customers can rest assured their Status will be there when they’re ready to fly.
“On behalf of all of us at Delta, I want to thank our customers for your continued loyalty during these unprecedented times. While our focus is on keeping customers and employees safe and healthy today and always, you are a part of the Delta family and we know how important these benefits are to you,” said Sandeep Dube, Delta’s Senior Vice President – Customer Engagement and Loyalty, and CEO of Delta Vacations. “That’s why as coronavirus continues to dramatically impact travel across the globe, you don’t have to worry about your benefits – they’ll be extended so you can enjoy them when you are ready to travel again.”
The following updates will happen automatically over the coming weeks, with no action needed from customers.
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Medallion Members:
- All Medallion Status for 2020 will be automatically extended for the 2021 Medallion Year.
- All Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) from 2020 are being rolled over to 2021 to qualify for 2022 Medallion Status.
- Delta Sky Club Individual and Executive memberships with an expiration of March 1, 2020, or later will receive six additional months of Delta Sky Club access beyond their expiration date.
- Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members:
- If you have one of the following in your SkyMiles profile “My Wallet” that is valid now or has expired since March 1, 2020, we are extending the expiration dates to give you additional time to enjoy your benefits:
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card Members with a $100 Delta flight credit will get a six-month extension beyond their current expiration date.
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Members with Companion Certificates with an original expiration date between March 1 and June 30, 2020, can use them when they book and fly by Dec. 31, 2020, and those that expire between July 1, 2020, and April 1, 2021, will receive an additional six months beyond the current expiration date.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members with Companion Certificates with an original expiration date between March 1 and June 30, 2020, can use them when they book and fly by Dec. 31, 2020, and those that expire between July 1, 2020, and April 1, 2021, will receive an additional six months beyond the current expiration date.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members will also get a six-month extension to use their Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes beyond their current expiration date.
- If you have one of the following in your SkyMiles profile “My Wallet” that is valid now or has expired since March 1, 2020, we are extending the expiration dates to give you additional time to enjoy your benefits:
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SkyMiles Members:
- If you have one of the following in your SkyMiles profile “My Wallet” that is valid now or has expired since March 1, 2020, we are extending the expiration dates to give you additional time to enjoy your benefits:
- Upgrade Certificates or $200 Travel Vouchers with an original expiration date between March 1 and June 30, 2020, are extended – now, they can be booked and flown by Dec. 31, 2020. And, SkyMiles Members with Upgrade Certificates or $200 Travel Vouchers that expire after June 30, 2020, will receive an additional six months beyond the current expiration date.
- SkyMiles Select members will receive a six-month extension to the Priority Boarding benefit and any unused drink vouchers.
- If you have one of the following in your SkyMiles profile “My Wallet” that is valid now or has expired since March 1, 2020, we are extending the expiration dates to give you additional time to enjoy your benefits:
Final Thoughts
This is great news and hopefully other major airlines follow Delta’s lead. I do wonder how much of a hit this will be to American Express Delta cards since many people put large spend on those to reach status. It looks like they can focus on other, more rewarding avenues now if they earned status last year.
Does Delta extending Medallion status make you more loyal to them? I think there are some companies that are going to come out of this pandemic with increased loyalty. And I think there will be others that turned off people for good with the way they handled things (cough cough United). Delta falls into the category of companies that has earned more of my business with the way they have handled everything so far.
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The author suggests people will stop using their Delta AMEX, but I assume the Delta AMEX MQM I earn this year will carry over to next year (and be added to the AMEX MQM I earn in 2021), so I’ll probably keep using that card until I hit bonus spend.
OR am I missing something?
You could use it as a way to lesson the load you need to spend each year. That is a good point. You would still have to spend enough next year to get the MQD waiver so I think a lot of people will simply wait.
Good for DL & definitely gives me yet another reason TO fly DL vs. AA which just keeps coming up w/reasons NOT to fly them.
Yup – I think Delta is winning some people over with how they have handled everything.
I have lifetime Gold status with American and would convert that over to lifetime Delta Silver in a New York Minute if Delta had a program that would allow me to do that. In today’s US airline world, Delta leads in terms of customer service and appreciation. No one but Southwest comes even close
I agree with that Sam. While people hate their mileage program I think others have closed that gap towards the bottom that their service more than makes up for it. For business travelers I don’t think there is another option that is better than Delta.
BE NICE IF ALASKA AIRLINES WOULD EXTEND THEIR COMPANION CERTIFICATES. HOPEFULLY REAL SOON. MINE WILL EXPIRE BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
Hopefully they do – it is big when one domino falls, usually the other airlines fall in line after Delta does something.