How Airline Elite Status Works Now: Loyalty Points, PQP, and MQDs

By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated June 2026

The short answer: The big three US airlines have shifted elite status from miles flown to dollars spent. American uses Loyalty Points, the most card-friendly system, United uses Premier Qualifying Points plus a flight-segment minimum, and Delta uses Medallion Qualification Dollars, which are almost pure spending. Here is how each works in 2026, with current thresholds and how credit cards feed them.

The shift from flying to spending

For decades, airline status was earned by miles flown or segments, which rewarded travel itself. Over the past few years all three US legacy carriers rebuilt status around revenue, how much you spend with the airline and its partners, including through co-branded credit cards. The effect is that a big spender who flies little can now outrank a frequent flyer who buys cheap fares. It also makes credit cards central, because card spend and card-linked bonuses now count toward status, more in some programs than others. See earning status from credit cards.

The three programs at a glance

Each program uses its own currency and thresholds. American is generally the most attainable without flying, Delta the most spend-driven, and United sits in between but adds a minimum number of flights you cannot buy your way around.

Program	What you earn	Entry tier	Top tier
American AAdvantage	Loyalty Points, from flights, cards, shopping, and dining	Gold at 40,000	Executive Platinum at 200,000
United MileagePlus	Premier Qualifying Points plus a flight-segment minimum	Silver at 5,000 PQP and 15 flights, or 6,000 PQP	1K at 22,000 PQP and 60 flights, or 28,000 PQP
Delta SkyMiles	Medallion Qualification Dollars, almost entirely spending	Silver at $5,000 MQD	Diamond at $28,000 MQD

American AAdvantage: Loyalty Points

American folded everything into one currency, Loyalty Points, earned from flights, from AAdvantage credit card spend, and from shopping, dining, and partners. There is no separate flight requirement, so a cardholder can reach Gold or even Platinum largely through everyday spending and bonuses. That makes AAdvantage the friendliest of the three for people who want status without living on planes. Thresholds have held steady for three years: Gold at 40,000, Platinum at 75,000, Platinum Pro at 125,000, and Executive Platinum at 200,000 Loyalty Points.

United and Delta: more spending, fewer shortcuts

United requires Premier Qualifying Points, earned mostly from airfare and some card spend, plus a minimum number of United flights, four at the low end and rising with tier, so you cannot reach status on card spend alone. Delta went furthest, basing Medallion status almost entirely on Medallion Qualification Dollars, which come from what you pay for tickets and from its Amex cards, including a yearly MQD head start and spending toward the totals. For Delta and United, the co-branded cards help, but the programs are built for people who spend heavily on travel. See how cards feed status and status matches and challenges.

Frequently asked questions

How is airline elite status earned now?

Mostly by spending, not miles flown. American uses Loyalty Points from flights, cards, and partners; United uses Premier Qualifying Points plus a minimum number of flights; and Delta uses Medallion Qualification Dollars, which are almost entirely based on what you spend. Credit cards feed all three, most powerfully with American.

Which airline status is easiest to earn with a credit card?

American AAdvantage. Because everything counts as Loyalty Points and there is no separate flight requirement, you can reach Gold or Platinum largely through card spend, shopping, and dining. United requires a minimum number of flights, and Delta is built around heavy spending, so both are harder to earn from cards alone.

What are MQDs and PQPs?

MQDs are Delta Medallion Qualification Dollars, earned almost entirely from spending on tickets and Delta Amex cards. PQPs are United Premier Qualifying Points, earned mainly from airfare and some card spend, and United also requires a minimum number of flights. Both reflect the industry shift to revenue-based status.

Can you get airline status without flying?

With American, largely yes, since Loyalty Points come from card spend, shopping, and dining with no flight minimum. With United you still need a minimum number of flights, and with Delta you need substantial spending, so card spend helps but does not fully replace flying for those two.