{"slug":"delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus","title":"Delta SkyMiles vs United MileagePlus: Status Rules","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus","faqCount":6,"faqs":[{"question":"How do I earn Delta Medallion status?","answer":"Earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs): $5,000 for Silver, $10,000 for Gold, $15,000 for Platinum and $28,000 for Diamond in a calendar year. MQDs come from Delta flights, Delta Vacations and eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards."},{"question":"How do I earn United Premier status?","answer":"Earn Premier qualifying points (PQP) with Premier qualifying flights (PQF), or a higher number of PQP alone, and take at least 4 United or United Express flights. Silver needs 15 PQF and 5,000 PQP, or 6,000 PQP."},{"question":"Do SkyMiles or MileagePlus miles expire?","answer":"No. Miles don't expire in either program."},{"question":"What is changing at United in 2027?","answer":"Starting January 1, 2027, United will remove Premier qualifying flights (PQF), and PQP will become the primary way to earn Premier status."},{"question":"Do basic economy tickets count?","answer":"Delta Main Basic tickets earn no miles or MQDs. United Basic Economy tickets earn PQP but not PQF."},{"question":"Can a credit card help me earn status?","answer":"Yes. Eligible Delta SkyMiles Amex cards give a $2,500 MQD Headstart each year and MQDs on spend. Eligible United Chase cards earn PQP on purchases up to a yearly cap."}],"faqPageSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#faq","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"Delta SkyMiles vs United MileagePlus: Status Rules — FAQ","description":"Frequently asked questions about Delta SkyMiles vs United MileagePlus: Status Rules","dateModified":"2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"isPartOf":{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#article"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#faq-speakable","cssSelector":[".faq-answer"]},"mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#q1","name":"How do I earn Delta Medallion status?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#a1","text":"Earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs): $5,000 for Silver, $10,000 for Gold, $15,000 for Platinum and $28,000 for Diamond in a calendar year. MQDs come from Delta flights, Delta Vacations and eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#q2","name":"How do I earn United Premier status?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#a2","text":"Earn Premier qualifying points (PQP) with Premier qualifying flights (PQF), or a higher number of PQP alone, and take at least 4 United or United Express flights. Silver needs 15 PQF and 5,000 PQP, or 6,000 PQP.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#q3","name":"Do SkyMiles or MileagePlus miles expire?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#a3","text":"No. Miles don't expire in either program.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#q4","name":"What is changing at United in 2027?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#a4","text":"Starting January 1, 2027, United will remove Premier qualifying flights (PQF), and PQP will become the primary way to earn Premier status.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#q5","name":"Do basic economy tickets count?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#a5","text":"Delta Main Basic tickets earn no miles or MQDs. United Basic Economy tickets earn PQP but not PQF.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#q6","name":"Can a credit card help me earn status?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus#a6","text":"Yes. Eligible Delta SkyMiles Amex cards give a $2,500 MQD Headstart each year and MQDs on spend. Eligible United Chase cards earn PQP on purchases up to a yearly cap.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/delta-skymiles-vs-united-mileageplus","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}}]}}