**Delta SkyMiles Unveils Promotion for Elite Status through Hotel and Car Rentals**
Delta SkyMiles has launched a temporary promotion that enables hotel stays, vacation rentals, and car rentals to contribute toward elite status. This offer, seen in both 2024 and 2025 on three occasions, indicates that Delta may eventually consider making it a lasting feature.
### Delta SkyMiles Offering MQDs for Accommodations & Rental Vehicles
Most prominent airlines provide additional miles for reserving hotels and rental cars via their platforms, leveraging commissions. Traditionally, Delta SkyMiles exclusively awarded redeemable miles for these activities. Nevertheless, for a limited time, Delta is offering one Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) for every dollar spent on hotel, vacation rental, or rental car bookings via their portal, in addition to two redeemable miles. Important details include:
– Reservations must be made from January 5 to February 16, 2026.
– Travel should be completed by September 13, 2026.
– MQDs are calculated on base rates prior to taxes and fees.
– The SkyMiles account must coincide with the reservation name.
– MQDs may take as long as eight weeks to appear.
While accruing MQDs through these reservations is enticing, it may entail opportunity costs, such as forgoing hotel loyalty points and elite benefits, along with potentially higher rates.
### This is an Engaging Promotion from Delta SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles elite status is currently determined solely by MQDs, necessitating between 5,000 and 28,000 MQDs each year. MQDs can be amassed through:
– Spending on Delta flights.
– Booking Delta Vacations.
– Charges on eligible Delta Amex cards.
Initially, Delta intended for hotel and rental car bookings to count toward status in 2024, but reverted this decision after receiving criticism. The present limited-time promotion suggests Delta is testing the waters for a permanent adjustment, potentially due to lower than expected qualifications for status.
### Final Thoughts
Delta SkyMiles has revived a promotion allowing MQDs to be accrued on hotel, vacation rental, and rental car bookings through its portal. This initiative, which has reappeared since 2024, offers one MQD for every dollar spent, plus two redeemable miles. While it was originally envisioned as a permanent offering, Delta has settled on temporary promotions, possibly to assess customer feedback or mitigate negative reactions.
**What is your opinion on this Delta SkyMiles promotion?**