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When SkyMiles members reach Platinum or Diamond status, they are entitled to Delta Choice Benefits which are additional travel perks they get on top of the fixed status benefits they get.
As the name implies, members of the top two tiers in the Delta Medallion program have the freedom to choose the benefits they want. Platinum and Diamond members will each receive different Choice benefits which can range from upgrade certificates, Sky Club memberships to bonus miles.
Read More: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card: Full Guide & Tips
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Delta Platinum Choice Benefits
Once Medallion members immediately reach Delta Platinum status, they can select one benefit from the following Choice Benefits below.
20k Bonus SkyMiles
Automatically get 20,000 Delta SkyMiles which can you use to book award stays, vacation packages, or award flights on Delta flights or Delta Partner flights. You can even donate these miles to another Skymiles member or to a SkyWish charity.
$200 Delta Voucher
Get a $200 Delta Travel Voucher (good for 12 months) which you can use towards in-flight purchases and air travel expenses of Delta Vacations packages.
Four Regional Upgrade Certificates
These are one-way Regional Upgrade Certificates which you can use on all paid, published Main Cabin, and Delta Comfort+ fares (except Basic Economy). The certificates can also be used on traveling companions who are on the same booking and flight as you are.
You can even use these upgrade certificates on different payment methods such as:
- Award Travel tickets
- Miles + cash tickets on Delta-operated flights
- Pay with Miles tickets
- Companion Certificates
- Flight tickets that were booked in a Delta Vacations® package
Gift Silver Medallion To A SkyMiles Member
Platinum status holders have the ability to gift Silver status to another Medallion member. Silver status is the 4th tier in the Medallion program which comes with benefits such as complimentary upgrades, 2 bonus miles per dollar, priority check-in, priority boarding, seat selection, a free first checked bag, and more.
Read More: Is The Delta SkyMiles Gold Worth It?
Delta Diamond Choice Benefits
Diamond status holders can select up to three Choice Benefits from the following options below:
Delta SkyClub Membership
A SkyClub membership will give you unlimited access to all Delta SkyClub locations around the world. If you select this Choice benefit, you have the option to pick between an Executive Membership or an Individual Membership.
- Individual SkyClub Membership – The primary member will have unlimited access to all SkyClub locations. You can bring up to two additional guests for $39 per guest per visit.
- Executive Membership (Requires Two Choice Benefits)- Executive members can bring two guests at SkyClub lounges for free. You can bring up to two more additional guests for $39 per guest per visit. Only guests who fly with Delta or its partners are allowed to use this perk.
Delta SkyClub Guest Pass
The SkyClub Guest pass is available to Delta Diamond members who already have complimentary SkyClub access that they got from an eligible credit card such as the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card. Primary members can bring up to two guests per visit for free, provided that they enter the lounge together.
Having an eligible credit card means that you can reserve one of your Choice Benefits for a much more valuable option such as an Upgrade certificate.
This is a big deal because members who don’t have eligible credit cards would need to select the Executive Membership option if they want to have two complimentary guests, and that requires two Choice benefits.
Choose A Combination Of Upgrade Certificates
Diamond status holders can choose only one batch of upgrade certificates from the three combinations below:
- Four (4) Global or
- Eight (8) Regional OR
- Two (2) Global AND Four (4) Regional
Global certificates are hard to come by and it’s highly recommended that you select this Choice Benefit because they are worth thousands of dollars.
25K Bonus SkyMiles
Get 25,000 Delta SkyMiles which can you use to book hotel stays, vacation packages, or flights on Delta flights/Delta Partner flights. You can also transfer these miles to another Skymiles member or donate them to a SkyWish charity.
$200 Delta travel voucher
Complimentary $200 Delta Travel Voucher that’s good for 12 months. It can be used towards in-flight purchases and air travel expenses of Delta Vacation packages.
Gift Gold Medallion Status To A SkyMiles Member
Gold status is the 3rd tier in the Delta Medallion Program and it comes with benefits such as complimentary upgrades, priority check-in, priority boarding, seat selection, 8 bonus miles per dollar, waived fees, a free first checked bag, and more.
Read More: Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles Review
Delta Choice Benefits Deadline
For the 2022 Medallion year, members who can qualify for Platinum or Medallion status will have until January 31, 2023 to select their Choice Benefit/s. The same schedule will apply for the 2023 Medallion year as stated by Delta.
Doubling Up: If you’re a Delta Gold member who reached Delta Platinum and Delta Diamond status within the same calendar year, you’ll have the ability to choose 1 Platinum Choice Benefit and 3 Diamond Choice Benefits for the following year – a total of four Choice Benefits.
Which Delta Choice Benefits Should You Pick?
Picking the right Delta Choice Benefit all depends on preference, travel goals, and budget. Value-wise, upgrade certificates are the clear-cut choice since they are worth thousands of dollars but that would also mean that you’d have to take a flight (which costs a lot of money or miles) to be able to use them.
There aren’t bad picks when it comes to choosing your Choice Benefits. The only scenario where it’s worth choosing upgrade certificates is when you’re a Diamond member who has an eligible credit card that comes with complimentary SkyClub access, and someone who’s planning on an international trip with family/friends.
If you have eligible cards, you can choose the SkyClub Guest Pass (only requires 1 Choice Benefit) which will allow you to bring two complimentary guests to SkyClub lounges. This leaves you with two more Choice Benefits and of course, the perfect choice would be the Global Upgrade certificates and the 25,000 bonus SkyMiles which would greatly reduce the cost of your travel expenses.
Cards With SkyClub Access
If you want to fully maximize your Choice Benefits, it’s worth getting credit cards that come with complimentary SkyClub Access. Here are some cards that you can apply for:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card – Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months. Offer ends 8/3/2022.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card – Earn 110,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in the first three months (offer ends 8/3/22).
- The Platinum Card® from American Express – Get a welcome bonus of 100,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Make sure to check the CardMatch Tool to see if you’re targeted for a 100,000-point welcome bonus; targeted offer subject to change at anytime). Terms apply.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – Earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 within the first three months of card membership. Terms apply.
Bottomline
Choice Benefits have huge differences in terms of value but that’s why they’re called “Choice Benefits” in the first place because you have the freedom to choose which benefit fits your needs.
But as personal advice, stay away from the $200 travel vouchers whether you’re a Platinum or Diamond member. These vouchers are lesser in value when compared to the 20k or 25k bonus SkyMiles.
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