This is a Voyescape podcast.

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Welcome to Freakimilers Coffee Break, where we focus on a single topic related to miles and points.

And each coffee break is limited to 20 minutes or less, pour your money back.

Today's coffee break.

Shortcuts to Delta Elite status in 2026.

So Delta has not changed their requirements for earning elite status in 2026 versus what it was in 2025 and even in 2024.

So we're going to basically rehash quickly these shortcuts to get to Delta elite status. The amazing thing here is that Delta is probably

the easiest major airline to get elite status in if you don't mind getting a few credit cards.

And so we'll talk briefly about that.

Elite status, of course, can get you things like free upgrades, waive fees,

waived, you know, check bag fees, priority check-in. Often you get free preferred seat

assignments, things like that. So, and of course, the level of benefits increase as you go up

and level in elite status. So let's get into this. Now, Nick, you don't have any elite status with Delta. Is that

correct? That is correct. Yes. I've only once ever had elite status with Delta, and that was based on a match.

But I do know the requirements for Delta elite status. So let's go over those. and then Greg can tell you more about how to get there

quickly. So I know silver status with Delta requires 5,000 MQDs. That's medallion qualifying dollars.

So the idea generally would be that you'd have to spend $5,000 on Delta flights. We'll tell you how to do that much more easily.

But that's the idea behind the MQDs. So silver

would require $5,000 worth of MQDs, gold would require $10,000 worth of MQDs, platinum, $15,000 worth of MQDs. And diamond, $28,000 worth of MQDs. So if you were somebody doing this the old-fashioned way, it doesn't matter how far you fly or how often you fly, it matters how much money you spend with Delta.

And so they would add that up and say, okay, you spent $5, $10, $15,000, $28,000 with Delta. Here's your status. But we can get it much more easily. Welcome to our first ever homemade host red ad. Built is a loyalty program that famously rewards you for paying rent.

But of course, there are many other ways to earn built points. You can earn points booking travel or fitness classes or just by linking the credit cards that you already use every day at participating restaurants, Walgreens, and when you pick up a lift.

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