We are in the last week of the year.  If you keep track of your Delta Skymiles Points, you are likely thinking about whether you are keeping your Medalliona status or maybe upgrading to the next level.  There are books of information about Delta Medallion Qualification Miles.  But how do you get them fast in order to qualify by year end, next week?

1.     Buy Points

Buying points rarely makes sense.  Generally when you buy points you are charged full retail prices for the points, which negates the value created from using points.  In other words, you are usually better off paying cash for a ticket than buying points to then spend on a ticket.  Below is the price for buying Delta MQMs

2.     Take a Trip

You have probably heard of someone taking a flight just to get the frequent flyer miles, often called a 'miles run'.  It is becoming less common, but there are many urban myths about people who have taken a flight to some far flung destination like Tokyo, just to get back on the return flight in order to obtain the points.  We don’t generally recommend this tactic either, but it might be an option if you have time on your hands and are getting close to achieving your medallian status.

3.     Apply for a Delta Reserve American Express

The Delta Reserve American Express will give you 10,000 MQMs when you make your first purchase.  Whether the Delta Reserve Amex is the right card for you needs a little more analysis. But you can always email us your situation to get a free analysis.  Remember its always easy to talk with us—just ask us a question on Facebook (www.facebook.com/creditsense) and we will answer it usually on the same day.

Remember, you have to qualify for the Delta Reserve Amex and make the purchase in 2011 for MQMs to apply to your 2011 statistics. However, if you are close you can always call Delta to plead your case.  You would be surprised how often they will let you slide into the next medallion level by calling them.  It is just like convincing your teacher to give you that A when you are 2 points short of the cut off.

The annual fee is $450, but you get a few perks with that fee.

·      Sky Club Membership which normally costs $450

·      A free domestic companion ticket

·      Enhanced upgrade priority

·      15,000 bonus Medallion Milles if you spend $30,000 in a calendar year

·      An additional 15,000 Medallion Miles if you spend $60,000 in a calendar year

If you want to spend less or if you need less miles to qualify, sign up for the Delta Platinum American Express.  The annual fee is only $150 the difference is as follows:

·      5,000 Medallion Miles after first purchase

·      A free domestic companion ticket

·      10,000 bonus Medallion Miles if you spend $25,000 in a calendar year

·      An additional 10,000 Medallion Miles if you spend $50,000 in a calendar year

If you are worried about the annual fee, notice that to purchase 10,000 Medallion Miles you would have to pay $895 normally.  That is twice the annual fee for the Amex Reserve.  Also, you get a number of other perks from the credit card versus simply buying the points or taking the flight.

Happy New Year!