Boost Delta Elite Status with Stays & Rentals

Hey, frequent fliers and road trippers, Delta SkyMiles is back on the scene with a tempting offer! For a limited time, hotel stays, vacation rentals, and rental cars can earn you elite status miles. Remember 2024 and 2025 when Delta flirted with this idea a few times? Well, it’s back. Maybe they’re warming up to the idea of making this a regular feature.

Delta SkyMiles awarding MQDs for lodging & rental cars

Let’s be honest. All major airlines have these portals where you can score bonus miles by booking hotels and renting cars. It’s a money-making trick. Frequent flyers are naturally hotel loungers and car renters. Historically, though, Delta only threw you a bone with redeemable miles. That’s changing — but only for a while. Right now, Delta SkyMiles is throwing in a Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) for every buck you spend on hotel bookings, vacation rentals, or rental cars. But beware, terms and conditions apply:

• Book your stays or rides between August 29 and October 24, 2025.
• Travel must wrap up by October 31, 2025.
• One MQD for each dollar spent on base hotel and rental rates — taxes and fees don’t count.
• The SkyMiles account must match the traveler’s name.
• Wait up to eight weeks post-trip for those MQDs to appear in your account.

A quick heads-up: While snagging miles and elite status for your hotel or car bookings might sound like a steal, remember there’s often a hidden cost. Hotel points become a mirage, and those elite perks, well, forget it. Plus, you might just unearth better rates somewhere else.

This is an interesting promotion from Delta SkyMiles

Delta revamped its SkyMiles playground in 2024, so listen up. Now, your status hinges solely on your MQDs — that’s Medallion Qualifying Dollars in airline speak. Need status? Rack up between 5,000 and 28,000 MQDs in a year.

But wait, how do you tally up those precious MQDs?

• Fly Delta? That’s one MQD per dollar spent.
• Book a holiday with Delta Vacations? Same deal — one MQD per dollar shelled out.
• Use a Delta Amex card? You’re looking at one MQD for every $10-20 spent, depending on the card in your wallet.

Originally, Delta thought they’d let bookings for hotels and cars get in on the MQD action. But after a kickback from the crowd and a few changes to the elite game plan, hotels and car hires were axed from the status circus.

It makes sense, though, that Delta’s circling back to include MQDs for hotel and car bookings, even if it’s just a limited show. It’s a savvy business move. Delta grabs a commission while giving you a sprinkle of perks.

Here’s the part I can’t quite figure out — Delta keeps playing the “limited time” card on this promo. Are we seeing too few people shooting for elite status? Or maybe Delta’s afraid of firing up another backlash over their status tweak?

Bottom line

Delta’s momentary MQD bonanza for hotels, rentals, and cars is a tempting bait for SkyMiles earners. While it’s a sweetener for now, there’s no telling if this candy will last. Delta seems to enjoy teasing us with this gimmick — six times since last year, in fact.

So, are you ready to earn some MQDs for your next trip, be it a Val Seny ski resort escapade or anywhere else?

What do you think of Delta SkyMiles’ promotion?