Qualifying for medallion status works a bit differently than simply earning bonus miles. You can qualify for Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond Medallion Status as you fly with Delta and earn these three currencies:
Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs): Earned from your yearly Delta and partner flight spending
Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs): Earned from the distance of your flights and your airfare class
Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs): Earned from how many flights you take
Although you can earn these with your SkyMiles Gold, it would take more time and effort than using one of the higher-caliber, more expensive Delta cards since the Gold doesn’t come with elite status-oriented features like Status Boost or the MQD Waiver. Status Boost provides an extra 10,000+ MQMs after the required spend (up to twice or more per year, depending on the Delta card), while the MQD Waiver is obtained after spending $25,000 in one calendar year and waives the MQD requirement for elite status. These perks make it easier to earn elite status since spending outside Delta can count toward your Medallion level.
If you’re just relying on the SkyMiles Gold, here are the requirements you’ll have to meet for each Medallion Status tier:
Silver Medallion Status: $3,000 MQDs + 25,000 MQMs, or 30MQSs
Gold Medallion Status: $6,000 MQDs + 50,000 MQMs, or 60MQSs
Platinum Medallion Status: $9,000 MQDs + 75,000 MQMs, or 100 MQSs
Diamond Medallion Status: $15,000 MQDs + 125,000 MQMs, or 140 MQSs