Do Any Delta MQDs Rollover?

Delta SkyMiles members who earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) often wonder whether their extra earnings can carry into the next year. For example, if you earn more MQDs than you need for Diamond Medallion status, you may hope to use the remaining amount toward next year's qualification. Understanding the rules can help you plan your flights, credit card spending, and travel budget more effectively.

The short answer is no, Delta MQDs do not roll over from one qualification year to the next. Delta calculates Medallion status annually, using eligible activity earned during the calendar year. Any unused MQDs do not become a starting balance for the following year.

This guide explains the mqd rollover policy, when MQDs reset, what happens to excess earnings, and how you can make the most of your SkyMiles membership.

What Are Delta MQDs?

Medallion Qualification Dollars, commonly called MQDs, are Delta Air Lines' primary measure for determining eligibility for Medallion elite status. Unlike redeemable SkyMiles, which can be used for eligible award travel and other rewards, MQDs measure your progress toward elite membership benefits.

Delta members can earn MQDs through qualifying activities, including:

• Eligible Delta-marketed flights.

• Qualifying flights on eligible partner airlines.

• Eligible award tickets booked through qualifying Delta channels.

• Eligible purchases made with certain Delta SkyMiles American Express credit cards.

• Qualifying Delta Vacations packages.

The amount you earn depends on the activity, fare, booking method, and applicable program terms. Not every purchase or ticket qualifies. For example, Delta Main Basic tickets are generally ineligible for MQD earnings.

MQDs are not cash, cannot be redeemed for flights like regular SkyMiles, and generally cannot be transferred to another member. Their main purpose is to help determine whether you meet the spending requirements for Medallion status.

Do Delta MQDs Roll Over to the Next Year?

No. Delta does not allow members to carry unused MQDs into a future qualification year. According to its program rules, the MQD balance resets to zero on or around January 1 each calendar year.

The qualification year runs from January 1 through December 31. Your eligible earnings during that period determine the Medallion status you qualify for in the following Medallion year.

For example, MQDs earned during 2026 count toward 2027 Medallion status. Any remaining MQDs from the 2026 qualification year will not be added to your 2027 earning balance.

Here is a simple breakdown:

MQD situation

What happens?

You earn more MQDs than your status requires

Excess MQDs do not roll over

You fall short of the next status tier

The shortfall does not carry forward

You qualify for a Medallion tier

Your earned status applies to the following Medallion year

The calendar year ends

Your MQD qualification balance resets

You earn new MQDs in January

They count toward the new qualification year

The key distinction is that your earned Medallion status and your MQD balance are not the same thing. You may continue enjoying status you qualified for in the previous year, but your progress toward the next qualification year starts again.

How Does the Delta MQD Rollover Policy Work?

The term mqd rollover can be confusing because Delta previously offered a rollover benefit involving a different qualification metric: Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs).

Under the current system, MQDs are the main metric used to qualify for Medallion status. MQMs are no longer earned as part of the standard qualification system, following Delta's program changes that took effect in 2024.

MQDs Reset Every January

Delta evaluates eligible MQD earnings over a calendar year. Once the qualification year ends on December 31, the balance resets around January 1.

Consider this example:

Suppose you earn $30,000 MQDs during 2026. You have enough to qualify for Diamond Medallion status for 2027, which requires $28,000 MQDs under the published thresholds. The additional $2,000 does not become credit toward 2028 status.

To qualify for 2028 status, you must earn the applicable MQD threshold through qualifying activity during 2027.

This is why tracking your annual total matters. Once you reach your desired status tier, additional MQDs may not help you qualify for another tier or provide an automatic head start in the following year.

What Happens If You Earn More MQDs Than You Need?

Excess MQDs are not converted automatically into redeemable SkyMiles, travel credits, or a cash refund. They also cannot be transferred to another SkyMiles member.

However, reaching certain earnings milestones may unlock other benefits under the applicable Delta program rules. Eligible members should review the benefits available to their status level and any qualifying Choice Benefits or promotional offers.

The important point is to distinguish between earning extra MQDs and receiving additional rewards. They are not automatically the same thing.

Delta Medallion Status Requirements

Delta offers four primary Medallion status tiers: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Each tier has a different MQD qualification threshold.

For the 2027 Medallion year, the published thresholds are:

Medallion status

Required MQDs

Silver Medallion

$5,000

Gold Medallion

$10,000

Platinum Medallion

$15,000

Diamond Medallion

$28,000

These thresholds apply to qualification activity during the 2026 calendar year. Delta may change program rules or requirements, so members should check their account and the current terms when planning future travel.

How to Plan Around the MQD Reset

Since unused MQDs do not carry forward, it helps to plan your spending and travel around the status tier you actually want to achieve.

Here are some practical strategies:

• Check your progress regularly. Use your SkyMiles account or the Fly Delta app to monitor your current MQD balance.

• Calculate your remaining requirement. Subtract your current MQDs from the threshold for your target status.

• Review eligible flights. MQDs on qualifying Delta-marketed flights are generally based on eligible ticket prices, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees.

• Understand credit card benefits. Eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express cards may provide an MQD Headstart or MQD earnings on eligible purchases, subject to the applicable terms.

• Check posting timelines. Eligible activity may take time to appear in your account. Avoid assuming that a purchase or flight completed near December 31 will count in a particular year without checking the applicable rules.

• Avoid unnecessary spending. Do not book extra travel or make purchases solely to earn MQDs unless the status benefits are worth the cost to you.

A clear plan can help you avoid ending the year with more qualifying activity than you need while still falling short of your next goal in a later year.

MQD Rollover vs. Rollover MQMs: What's the Difference?

One reason travelers still search for an MQD rollover is that Delta previously allowed certain members to carry excess MQMs into a subsequent qualification year.

The older system used both MQMs and MQDs as qualification measures. Members who met the applicable requirements could receive rollover MQMs, which helped them make progress toward future status.

Delta changed this system in 2024. Members with eligible rollover MQM balances from the previous system received a limited-time opportunity to convert those balances into redeemable miles, MQDs, or eligible Medallion status extensions, subject to the program rules and deadlines.

That historical conversion opportunity is different from rolling over MQDs earned today.

Feature

Current MQDs

Historical rollover MQMs

Purpose

Determine Medallion status qualification

Previously helped members qualify in future years

Earned under the current standard system

Yes

No

Carry forward automatically each year

No

Applied under the former program rules

Conversion opportunity

No general rollover conversion

A limited-time conversion was offered for eligible legacy balances

If you read an older article claiming Delta allows rollover qualification credit, check whether it refers to MQMs rather than MQDs. The distinction is essential when planning your current-year status.

How to Make the Most of Your Delta MQDs

Although Delta does not offer a standard MQD rollover, members can still take steps to get more value from their qualification activity.

Focus on Eligible Travel Spending

Eligible spending on Delta-marketed flights can earn MQDs based on the qualifying ticket price. Government-imposed taxes and fees generally do not count, and certain ticket types are excluded.

If you travel regularly, review your expected trips and estimate how much eligible spending they may generate. Remember that MQDs are credited to the eligible traveler, not necessarily the person who paid for the ticket.

Consider Eligible Credit Card Benefits

Certain Delta SkyMiles American Express cards offer MQD-related benefits, including an annual MQD Headstart and MQD Boost on eligible purchases. The exact benefits depend on the card and its terms.

Before applying for a card or increasing your spending, compare the annual fee and your normal purchasing habits with the value of the status benefits you expect to receive. Spending more than you otherwise would simply to earn qualification credit may not be financially worthwhile.

Review Your Account Before Year-End

As December approaches, review your posted MQDs and any eligible activity that has not yet appeared in your account.

Keep in mind that the date a transaction posts or is reported may affect the qualification year in which it counts. If you believe eligible activity is missing, follow Delta's published procedures for requesting mileage or MQD credit.

Planning ahead is particularly important if you are close to a status threshold. A small difference in eligible earnings can affect which tier you qualify for, while an excess balance will not provide a rollover benefit in the next year.

Conclusion

Do any Delta MQDs rollover? No. Delta resets MQD balances each calendar year, and any excess qualification credit does not carry into the next year. The current program uses MQDs to determine eligibility for Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallion status.

The best approach is to monitor your balance, understand which activities qualify, and plan your spending around a realistic status goal. Remember that the old rollover benefit applied to MQMs under Delta's former qualification system, not to MQDs earned under today's standard rules.

By understanding the annual reset and planning before December 31, you can make better decisions about your travel and avoid relying on a rollover benefit that no longer applies.

Frequently Asked Questions?

1. Do any Delta MQDs roll over to the next year?

No. Delta MQDs do not roll over from one qualification year to another. The balance resets to zero around January 1 each year.

2. What happens to excess Delta MQDs?

Excess MQDs do not automatically become redeemable miles, cash, or credit toward the next qualification year. They also cannot be transferred to another member.

3. When do Delta MQDs reset?

The MQD qualification year ends on December 31, and the balance resets to zero on or around January 1. Your new qualification activity then begins accumulating for the next status year.

4. Do Delta MQDs expire?

MQDs are qualification credits for a specific calendar year rather than a bank of redeemable rewards. Because they do not roll over, unused qualification credit is not carried into the following year.

5. Can I use last year's MQDs to qualify for a higher status?

No. You must meet the applicable MQD threshold through eligible activity during the relevant qualification year. MQDs from a previous year cannot be added to your current-year balance.

6. Are MQDs and MQMs the same thing?

No. MQDs measure qualifying dollar activity, while MQMs were a mileage-based qualification metric used under Delta's former program. Delta discontinued standard MQM earning in 2024.

7. Can I convert excess MQDs into SkyMiles?

There is no standard program option to convert excess MQDs into redeemable SkyMiles. MQDs are used for status qualification, not regular award redemptions.

8. Do Delta credit card MQDs roll over?

No. MQDs earned through eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express card benefits are subject to the same annual qualification rules. They do not roll over into the following year.

9. Can Delta MQDs be transferred to another person?

No. MQDs are generally nontransferable and are credited to the eligible member's SkyMiles account under the applicable program rules.

10. How can I check my current MQD balance?

Sign in to your SkyMiles account on Delta's website or open the Fly Delta app. Check your Medallion status progress to see your posted MQDs and how close you are to your target tier.