Delta Air Lines has just launched lifetime Diamond Medallion status for Million Milers who have earned over 6 million Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs). Previously, the highest lifetime status you could earn was Platinum Medallion after 4 million MQMs.

Million Milers can expect the following improvements:

• Members who reach 6 Million Miler Status and above will now enjoy annual complimentary Diamond Medallion Status. If you have already earned this level of Million Miler Status, your account will be updated automatically with no action needed from you.
• All new Million Miler earners* will receive a special gift box in the mail and an electronic Delta Gift Card via e-mail that welcomes you to Million Miler Status. Delta Gift Cards are a gift that never expires and can be gifted to someone, so you can bring along a loved one on your next well-deserved vacation.

To put this in perspective solely based on earning 125K MQMs each year, it would take someone 48 years to earn lifetime Diamond Medallion status. I don’t think Delta is going to be seeing a large amount of lifetime Diamond Medallion members as a result of this new milestone.

For comparison, on United Airlines, you can earn top-tier lifetime United 1K status after 3 million miles, which is half of what Delta expects for lifetime Diamond status.

I would like to see Delta adjust all the lifetime Medallion tiers to make these more attainable. Lifetime Silver Medallion after 1 million MQMs is fine, however it should be lifetime Gold Medallion after 2 million MQMs; lifetime Platinum Medallion after 3 million MQMs; and lifetime Diamond after 4 million MQMs.

What are your thoughts on Delta’s new lifetime Diamond Medallion status option for those fliers who earn 6 million MQMs. Feel free to share in the comments below.