How & When to Roll Over Your Delta Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs)

Delta's unpopular Medallion program changes have finally killed off Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs), once a core building block for earning status. But before they go the way of the French franc, ultra-frequent Delta flyers will soon have a final shot to put their extra MQMs to use.

For years, Delta flyers have rolled over their excess Medallion Qualifying Miles – whatever they'd earned above their current tier – to get a head start on the next year's status. According to an update from Delta, flyers with status will be given one last chance to turn those extra MQMs into something else entirely beginning Feb. 28. And there are some potentially lucrative options to choose from.

You can turn those rollover MQMs into redeemable SkyMiles, convert them to Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) for a boost toward status this year, or even turn a large stash into an automatic year (or longer) extension of Medallion Status. If you're a lucky Delta traveler with plenty of MQMs to go around, you can even mix and match your choices.

It's still unclear exactly how Delta flyers will handle this choice – Delta has previously said that it'll be processed through a dedicated conversion page for travelers with MQMs to roll over. But no matter how it works, it's a unique (and final) opportunity to put the miles you racked up with Delta last year to use.

Read on for everything you need to know about what to do with your rollover MQMs.

Read more: Did Delta Actually Make Earning Elite Status … Easier in 2024?
 

 

Rollover MQM Conversion Options

Rolling over excess MQMs has been a novel feature of Delta's elite status program.

Each and every year, Delta rolls over any MQMs you've earned above your current tier into the following year. Did you earn Delta Gold Status for this year but amass a whopping 70,000 MQMs, 20,000 above what you needed? You'd get those extra 20,000 MQMs to be off and running the next year, thereby encouraging travelers to continue flying (and spending) on Delta and giving life to the mileage run.
 

 

Shifting away from measuring mileage was at the heart of Delta's botched overhaul of Medallion Status as the airline will instead focus only on the almighty Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) for status. In 2024 and beyond, it's all about spending – and a lot of it.

But Delta is giving travelers a chance to convert their hard-earned Medallion Qualifying Miles into free travel, boosted status, and even extended elite status. With a dedicated page to convert your extra MQMs set to launch at the end of February, it's time for many travelers to begin thinking about what to do.

There are three options, and some are better than others. But you can also mix and match, Delta says: “SkyMiles members can split their Rollover MQM balance conversion between miles and MQDs based on 25% increments.”

Just be sure to make your selection by Dec. 31, 2024, otherwise else your entire batch of extra MQMs will automatically be converted into MQDs. And make sure you're confident in your decision: Whatever you pick, it can't be reversed.

Oh, and remember: You can only rollover the excess MQMs beyond the status you earned last year. So if you earned Delta Gold Status (which required 50,000 MQMs) but had 125,000 MQMs at the end of the year, you've got 75,000 MQMs to roll over – not the full, 125,000 balance.

 

Convert MQMs into SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles get a bad rap for being “worthless.” And while we acknowledge that they're worth less than some of their competitors, consistent SkyMiles flash sales and other redemption options still make them worth having.

If you decide that extra SkyMiles are just what you need, you can convert your rollover MQMs to SkyMiles at a 2:1 ratio. This means that if you've got 100,000 rollover MQMs, you could turn those into 50,000 redeemable SkyMiles.
 

 

Given all the ways there are to earn SkyMiles, like spending on a Delta co-branded credit card or by transferring in Amex Membership Rewards, this probably shouldn't be your first choice unless you've got a really good use in mind.

Related reading: Fly Delta One Suites to Tokyo from 85k SkyMiles!

 

Turn MQMs into MQDs

I know! By now you're probably sick of hearing about Delta's new requirements for earning status, but the only thing that matters going forward is how much you spend with the airline.

And even with new avenues for earning those all-important Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) – like purchasing a Delta Vacations package or the MQD Headstart benefit coming to select Delta credit cards – elite status in 2024 requires earning more MQDs than ever. Here's a look at what you need to qualify for elite status this year:
 

 

One of the best options on the list for rollover MQMs is turning them into MQDs on a 10:1 basis. So if you had a balance of 100,000 extra MQMs, you could turn that into 10,000 MQDs. That alone is enough for instant Gold status this year or maybe a big enough boost to vault you even higher, depending on which Delta Amex cards you have, your spending, and your Delta flights in 2024.

Since you can mix-and-match your conversion options, you could also opt to convert 50,000 of those MQMs into 5,000 MQDs (enough for Silver Medallion status) and turn the other 50,000 into 25,000 SkyMiles. So long as you're converting your rollover MQM balance in 25% increments, you can end up with any combination of MQMs and MQDs that you like.

Unless earning Medallion status in 2024 is a cinch, turning some of your rollover MQMs into MQDs will likely be a good choice – especially for those with MQM balances under 100,000. Keep reading to see why…

Read more: Is Delta Elite Status Worth it Anymore?

 

Extend Your Medallion Status Automatically

This could easily be the single-best option of all the rollover MQM conversion choices. But here's the thing: It won't be a choice for every Delta flyer with status – or even many.

If you're an ultra-frequent Delta flyer with at least a balance of at least 100,000 MQMs, you can extend your high-level Medallion status for an extra year (or more). You'd need to trade 100,000 MQMs for an extra year of status – and if you've got several hundred thousand rollover MQMs, you can lock in several years of automatic status with each 100,000-MQM sum.

That's right: You can lock in years Medallion status without setting foot on a Delta plane.

Just as with previous options, you can mix and match, too. So if you have a balance of 150,000 MQMs you could choose to extend your current elite status by one year and turn the remaining 50,000 MQMs into 5,000 MQDs or 25,000 SkyMiles.

But fair warning: It many not make much sense to extend your status and get some extra MQDs, too. Travelers who extend their status can't double-dip by earning status again next year. Delta has confirmed there will not be “an extension of the extension.”

So unless you've locked in a year or more of Delta Platinum status but could hit Diamond with an extra boost, for example, there's little reason to add to your stash of MQDs. And frequent flyers (or heavy spenders) who would naturally earn whatever status they could extend would probably be wise to select another option altogether.

On the plus side, a Delta spokesman previously confirmed that travelers who opt for extra years of Platinum or Diamond Medallion Status will even be able to select Choice Benefits each year. And with new benefits on the way in 2025, that's a big deal.

 

Bottom Line

Long a vital piece of Delta's Medallion status program, MQMs are on their way out the door. But before they disappear, Delta flyers who racked up serious miles last year will have a chance to put them to use – and soon.

Come Feb. 28, 2024, travelers will finally get the option to convert their hard-earned extra MQMs from last year into redeemable SkyMiles, extra MQDs, a year or more of automatic elite status … or even a combination of all three.
 

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