So here is the big question …. How to make Delta work for you; In less than a year I was able to earn Medallion Status with Delta Airlines. That is part of the reason why I am writing this. I want others to know how simple it is to achieve Medallion Status. This is not an ad. This is not a commercial. It’s my real life. My messed up crazy – are you kidding me life! Within Delta there are multiple ways to make Delta work for you. By using the Delta Skymiles American Express in conjunction with your planned trips for 2019, 2020 and beyond you can rack up a slew of miles and use them for free flights, upgrades and even Dom Perignon! < – – – YES! That happened at the Sky Club in LAX. I was able to have my first sip of Dom thanks to a few miles that I had in my account!
This was over a 6 month period.
My medallion status has been amazing since I earned it last December. So far I have had so many complimentary upgrades on flights for 2019 I have lost count. I would LOVE to keep that ratio going, yet another reason why the American Express pays for itself. I will say a lot of it had to do with the Delta American Express card in the beginning but depending on how much flying you are doing you might qualify faster. 
So what is Medallion status and why do you want it? There are quite a few perks for Medallion members but my favorite is the automatic and complementary upgrades issued 24 hours before the flight. Once you check in for your flight if there are any open Delta Comfort or First Class seats available you will be automatically upgraded to that section. This is all of course based on status and a Diamond member will out weigh and Silver member everyday but thats just another level to strive for! Another perk of the Medallion program is you can choose the Sky Club as one of your perks! I LOVE the Sky Club. I have actually been a member for over a year now. That’s a whole different article that I guess I need to write next!
One of the biggest questions is how much money do you spend per year that could be paid for using an American Express? If that number is $25,000 or more than you need to get one of these cards ASAP. Why not get a ton of perks just for what you normally spend. A little back story on me, I am a 31 year old photographer trying to make a living here on planet earth. I LOVE to travel and I convinced Scott to get the Gold American Express. It wasn’t until later that I discovered it all needed to be in my name with my skymiles account to have all the benefits work together. Hence, another reason why I am writing this. I want to help by allowing them to learn from my mistakes instead of having to make them also. You want to start off by figuring out how many flights you will or plan to take in the next 12 to 24 months. Are they International? Domestic? Some of both? I say this because you don’t want to use a card for say Southwest Airlines if you always plan to travel to France or Alaska. There are better cards and programs for you. But back to Delta … my one true love! I have been flying with Delta almost exclusively for the past 7 years. I had to decide between American and Delta when I was living in Key West. Delta’s route was better hands down, you hop on a 737 and fly from Key West to Atlanta and then Atlanta to anywhere! Whereas, with American I would have to get on a little puddle jumper to Miami then fly from Miami to my destination. Why not get where you are going on the first try?
If you travel domestically for the most part and then add a few international trips in there then Delta is for you! That is what my next 12 to 24 months looks like. Before you go and invest all of your time and money into a program, really look at what will work best for you. With Delta they have 3 different cards, the gold, platinum or reserve American Express. I started with the gold and now have the platinum. The annual fee on mine is $198 but it includes a roundtrip companion ticket to anywhere in the world I want to go. The reserve has the companion ticket as well for business class. The annual fee on that card is upwards of $500 last time I checked. Maybe someday…. but for now I am happy to have the 1 ticket for $200! That’s a steal!
Ok so now what? You know Delta will work for you but you don’t know where to begin. Once you have your American Express card you will want to see what things you do in daily life that can get you more miles. I personally use the card as my debit card. Anything and everything that can be charged to that card will be. Another way to pick up a few extra miles is when you’re out with friends and everyone is throwing in cash, pick up the bill and pocket the cash. You will get yourself anywhere from 20 to 200 miles just for doing something simple like making sure to use your card. There are also partner programs that allow you to earn double and triple miles. If you connect them they will automatically deposit miles into your account. I have that set up with the Delta hotel bookings, Airbnb and Lyft. Delta even has an entire section of their website just to show you different ways to earn more miles here. I am not going to lie. I will be putting a link in this article for you to sign up for your own Delta American Express card. I will be 100% upfront and honest that yes it gets me some bonus miles but for me personally I just want to help other people travel the world and see what a wonderful place we live in and what magical things are out there waiting for you! Apply for an American Express Card with this link. We can both get rewarded if you’re approved!
This pandemic also known as the Corona Virus, COVID – 19 or to some just the Rona now is still full steam ahead. In the past few days they have released a vaccine but most have yet to receive it. Above is me making a quick stop at the Crowne Plaza in Seattle to park my car before flying to Chicago in December 2020.
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