The New Rules You Need to Follow on Delta Airlines in 2025

Are you ready to fly?

There is quite a bit of change happening in the travel world right now! From Southwest’s major updates to potential new train routes to Disney World, there’s a lot to keep up with. We’re breaking down the NEW rules you will need to follow with Delta in 2025.

Delta Air Lines is a favorite of ours thanks to the service and the comfort while flying! In 2025, we’ve seen some major changes with popular airlines in the last few months, and this airline is no different, starting with changes to Delta’s Status Requirements!

In the past, Delta had 3 ways of determining status requirements for people who travel frequently with the brand. They were Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs), Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs), and Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). Now in 2025, the airline will only use Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) as the only way to determine status! 

The changes will officially take place in 2026, but it means that your status with the airline won’t depend on hours flown; it will depend on money spent! Travelers can earn 1 MQD for every dollar spent on a ticket for a flight marketed or operated by Delta or a partner airline.  For Silver status, you need 5,000 MQDs, Gold Status is 10,000 MQDs, Platinum is 15,000 MQDs, and Diamond requires 28,000 MQDs. 

The second major change is updates to the Sky Club Access rules. Anyone with a Delta Reserve card, a Delta Reserve Business card, a Platinum Card from American Express, and a  Business Platinum Card from American Express can currently access the Sky Club. The access was previously changed to quite a bit of outcry from cardholders, so these newest updates are in response to fan reaction online.

With the new update, Delta Reserve and Delta Reserve Business cardholders get 15 visits annually.  Amex Platinum cardholders and Amex Business  Platinum cardholders get 10 days annually. If travelers have connecting flights and visit the Sky Club twice in one day, that will count a 1 day annually. Previously, this would have cost cardholders 2 visits.

The third rule in 2025 is that Delta will be requiring Real IDs for national travel! Beginning on May 7th, 2025, the airline will require a license or identification card that is a Real ID card or a passport for people to travel within the country. This new ID has a star on it and will be required for all travel by the TSA so it’s not just for Delta.

Fourth, you can now switch to Delta’s loyalty program from another airline’s program for free! It’s called the Medallion Status Match Challenge, and it’s “designed to give you the opportunity to switch your airline loyalty to Delta.” If you have elite status with a different airline, Delta will give you the Medallion Status equivalent for 90 days for free.

If you are able to earn the required MQDs during your 90-day period, you can extend your status past the 90 days. Members who enroll from January 1st through December 31st, 2025, and complete the challenge, will be awarded status through  January 31, 2027.

Finally, rule number 5 is to remember that the app has received a big update! The app now has an AI-powered Delta Concierge that aims to increase personalization, provide more insights, and offer experiences. Delta says the assistant will “work on behalf of the customer to better understand arrival and departure needs and create efficiencies that save time and stress.”

Overall, there are some big changes hitting the airline this year! If planning sounds like too much stress, consider getting some help! If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you! 

2025 has been a busy year already, and we’re only a few months in! Be sure to follow these rules and keep following AllEars.Net for more travel updates and news.

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Which airline is your favorite? Tell me in the comments!

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