Delta Air Lines SkyMiles members will now be able to earn status on award travel permanently. The airline let SkyMiles members earn status on award tickets last year and this year, but have announced it will now become a permanent benefit.

SkyMiles members who redeem SkyMiles, will earn MQMs, MQDs, and MQSs on award tickets as they would on paid tickets, allowing Medallion status to be earned easier. This counts on Delta-marketed and -operated flights only.

Per Delta,

Delta continues to make the SkyMiles Program more rewarding and easier to use. Starting March 31, the ability to earn toward Medallion Status on Delta-marketed Award Travel will become a permanent feature of the program. Delta is also removing the 75,000 mileage earn cap, retroactive starting Jan. 1, 2022 – an industry-leading move that will give SkyMiles Members unlimited earning potential.

Last March, Delta announced special benefits and extensions to give SkyMiles Members more value and flexibility as they returned to travel, including making Award Travel temporarily eligible for Status earn through Dec. 31, 2022. In advance of the busy summer travel season, Delta is making Status earn on Award Travel on Delta-marketed flights a permanent benefit and removing the 75,000 mileage cap, a standard among U.S. legacy carriers, to reward loyal customers who choose to fly Delta for their leisure and business needs.

It’s great to see Delta permanently allow SkyMiles members to earn status on award travel. I’m sure all Medallion members and those looking to earn Medallion status see this as a positive change.

Essentially, you could redeem SkyMiles and earn MQMs and then spend $25,000 on a Delta co-brand card and hit Silver, Gold, or Platinum Medallion status without spending any money on paid Delta tickets.

Note, you won’t earn any SkyMiles on award tickets, just the ability to earn Medallion status, and Basic Economy award tickets will not count toward status.