It’s time for another short-lived promotion to earn Delta elite status (MQD) from hotel stays, car rentals, and cruises, but why not make it permanent?

Delta SkyMiles awards MQDs for certain activity

If you have any interest in earning Delta elite status, you should be aware that Delta standardly only allows earning MQD (Medallion-Qualifying Dollars) on flights, vacation packages, and spend on credit cards. However, periodically, Delta will open up the floodgates for other activities, which is what takes us to their latest promotion.

Now through May 18, 2026, if you book any of the following through the Delta Stays website, you’ll earn MQD on travel between April 5, 2026 and November 30, 2026.

• Booking hotel stays (outside a package)
  • This includes vacation rentals
• Car rentals (outside a package)
• Cruises booked through Delta Cruises (every $5 spent = $1 MQD)

For each of the above, MQD is only earned on the base price of each and not on taxes or fees.

You’ll earn this MQD on top of a minimum of 2 redeemable miles per dollar spent (you’ll earn more with Hertz if you have elite status). It may take up to 8 weeks for MQD credit to post to your account after travel. In my experience, it’s quicker than that, but not quite as quick as Delta flights post.

Also, if you already have travel booked within the travel between dates but it was booked outside the book between dates, you’ll need to rebook to have the promotion applied.

…But only when they feel like it

Naturally, this only happens when they run this promotion. However, they run it quite often. Here is a brief history of how frequently this promotion happens:

It sure makes you wonder why not offer it as a standing benefit the whole year if they offer it this frequently. They tend to avoid awarding travel in November and December–heaven forbid someone get credit when hotel pricing might be at its highest levels.

Double-dip with Delta credit cards

Full disclosure: in this section are refer-a-friend links where I may earn some points for referring. There is no requirement to use the below referral links to apply but note your offer may differ when going directly to the card issuer.

There’s one thing to keep in mind with this promotion: you can get a discount if you’re holding certain Delta credit cards:

• $150 Delta Stays Credit:
  • Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card (standard link from issuer)
• $200 Delta Stays Credit:
  • Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card (standard link from issuer)
  • Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business Card (standard link from issuer)
• $250 Delta Stays Credit:
  • Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business Card (referral link)

One underrated feature of these Delta credit cards is the ability to earn a statement credit with your hotel stay. Using a card with this benefit doesn’t rob you of any MQDs from the hotel stay. Just make sure you pay for the stay now (even if it’s a refundable rate) since it won’t register as a Delta Stays charge if you pay for it at the hotel.

Confused if the stay you’ve selected will count? Just check the Payment section right when entering your credit card. You should see the words “This reservation is eligible for the Delta Stays benefit” in a greenish color.

Sure enough, a few days later, you should also receive an email from Delta congratulating you on using your credit.

Considerations on when it’s worthwhile

Before you rush out and book everything, here are a few considerations to keep in mind regarding this promotion:

• This is only going to be useful to those chasing Delta status. If you have no interest in earning Delta elite status, this promotion isn’t for you.
  
• Don’t expect to earn hotel elite credit, use hotel elite benefits, or earn hotel loyalty points with your hotel stay. We surprisingly earned IHG points and received elite benefits when we did this at Tahiti, but that’s an anomaly. Consider it a bank error in your favor.
  • By that metric, perhaps stay at a hotel that doesn’t confer loyalty benefits (like a Four Seasons or Mandarin Oriental).
    
• If you’re booking multiple rooms, this might be a way to earn elite credit (MQD) on all rooms. Typically, hotel loyalty programs only give elite credit (and sometimes points too) on one room.
  
• How much do you value Delta elite status over hotel elite status? You won’t be able to earn credit for both, so you’ll need to pick what’s more valuable to you.
  
• Check the pricing in the Delta Stays portal against pricing elsewhere. Sometimes you can stack benefits directly through the hotel website that you can’t get elsewhere (like AAA discounts).
  
• Perhaps you should consider mattress running for MQD if you have Delta credit cards and otherwise no use for the statement credit?
  
• If you’re signed up for a Delta status match/challenge, the MQD earned from hotel stays should also count towards retaining status.

However you slice it, this promotion itself isn’t a reason to go crazy, but it’s worth double-checking your reservations to make sure you get the best deal possible.

Are you trying to earn Delta elite status through this promotion?

Suggested reading:

• Life After Delta Diamond: All MQD Thresholds Above Diamond
• Will Delta Bring Back Upgrades for Elites?
• How to Use Delta GUCs on KLM