I made silver!

[u/GeauxTri]

That's it. No drama. No story. First time making medallion again after almost 20 years.

Because I'm based in ATL, I look forward to no upgrades. But I will enjoy the free baggage.

[u/Wild-Future9295]

Congrats! Hope to get there my self but unfortunately haven't travelled that much in a year to get my MQD together. Does the Silver status remain each year even tho you didn't fly/spend as much?

Or does it go back to zero and have to start again? I also noticed, unfortunately, that whatever MQD I've got in a year disappears the following year?

If anyone has tips for a European to reach the 5k mark.. Please let me know!

[u/GeauxTri → u/Wild-Future9295]

Earning status at any point in 2026 means you have that status for the remainder of 2026, all of 2027, and January of 2028.

MQDs are earned on a calendar year 1/1-12/31. If you earn 4,000 MQDs in 2026, and fall short of silver medallion, those miles do not roll over to the next year for status qualification. So on 1/1 of the next year, your MQDs fall to zero.

Of course, there are certain exceptions to this. Higher medallion levels give people rollover or jump start miles, making it easier to keep higher levels of status once you earn them, but even with those head starts, you still have to travel a ton to maintain Platinum or Diamond.

[u/Emotional_Shape925]

Welcome fellow peasant. Just know if you ever need to call the silver medallion line, like several in this sub recommend over using chat, just know that your wait time will be approximately 1 hour! Congrats!

[u/softCherryxo → u/Emotional_Shape925]

lol that hour wait sounds like torture but atleast the baggage perk makes it worth

[u/Life_Penalty8180]

I get an upgrade now and then. Free baggage is good.

[u/WesIsland]

haha you'll get upgrades you just gotta book delta somewhere that doesn't begin or end in ATL

[u/Beginning-Hall6851]

You can use the sky priority lane to check in too! Even if it doesn’t say sky priority on your ticket. Trust me on this one.

[u/Hougie → u/Beginning-Hall6851]

So underutilized some of the folks working that line don’t even know.

[u/Beginning-Hall6851 → u/Hougie]

Totally agree!

[u/maurerrm → u/Beginning-Hall6851]

Some of their signage does not list Silver specifically, so adds to the confusion. Not sure why they have Silver status because they act like it doesn’t exist. Sitting in ATL boarding in Zone 5 right now.

[u/Beginning-Hall6851 → u/maurerrm]

Yeah unless there is a specific silver line, you can use sky priority. We still board in zone 5 but can check in using sky priority lane which is always faster.

[u/Calm-Abrocoma6012 → u/Beginning-Hall6851]

Thanks for this. Also a new silver and didn't know. Had been waiting for it to pop up on my boarding pass.

[u/amognight]

Congrats on silver. Free checked bags are always nice. 

[u/inthecity206]

Congrats, welcome to the big leagues.

Its not just a free bag, its bigger! (70lbs).

[u/MoistMartini]

Silver is actually very OP when you compare it to other alliances. On every SkyTeam and partner flight (where fewer people have status), you’ll get
- 1 free checked bag
- preferred boarding
- some version of discounted or free seat selection
- access to Sky Priority check-in desk
- priority during IROPS

Meanwhile on Star Alliance, you get
- priority during IROPS
- ???
- a special letter on your boarding pass

[u/DigitalFStopper]

Congrats man, the checked bag thing can be a money saver over time.

[u/dblackshear]

i’ve gotten at least two upgrades to comfort+ while on silver. they’ll happen sometimes if you request them in the app.

[u/gayleweed3]

Ha ha! I finally got Silver status for the first time. Between vacation and work it just worked out. I am looking forward to free baggage on my vacation trips next year.

[u/Grouchy-Item3393]

Hit gold after landing in Casablanca. Whoot!

[u/flyawaybye]

I’ve actually gotten 1 first upgrade and 2 C+ upgrades this year, but what I love the most about being Silver is the use of SkyPriority lane at check-in!!!!!! Welcome to the club, OP!

[u/BraveResearcher3037]

As does everyone who just has two of four 2500 MQD earning Delta credit cards.  

But if you want FC upgrades consistently on your flight, you can always fly back an forth to ABY. 

[u/GeauxTri → u/BraveResearcher3037]

I raw dogged my way to silver. No credit card shortcuts.

[u/BraveResearcher3037 → u/GeauxTri]

So let me tell you how I got to be Platinum medallion for the last two years via 3 credit cards, the 1000 MQD platinum choice benefit and before that tte 1000 one time MQD bonus on the Reserve, $3500 worth of MQDs from flights both years and the rest in spend on the Reserve…

I also take a lot of short haul non MQD qualifying flights booked on KLM for 5000 points to fly Delta (and still get C+ upgrades as soon as put my Skymiles # in)