--- title: "Delta Choice Benefits by tier: GUCs, RUCs and the rest" description: "Platinum picks 1 Choice Benefit and Diamond picks 3. The full menu by tier, when selection closes, how long certificates last, and how to pick GUCs or RUCs." canonical: "https://2lnr.com/about/dl/choice-benefits" url: "https://2lnr.com/about/dl/choice-benefits.md" date_modified: "2026-10-07T00:00:00Z" --- # Delta Choice Benefits: picking GUCs, RUCs or something else Platinum Medallion members make 1 Choice Benefits selection and can take 4 Regional Upgrade Certificates with it. Diamond members make 3 selections, and one of them can be 4 Global Upgrade Certificates, 8 Regional, or 2 Global plus 4 Regional. Selections for the 2026 Medallion Year close January 31, 2027. Reviewed October 7, 2026. The menu is as of October 2026. Delta changes the non-certificate options from year to year, so re-read its page before you pick. Part of the [Delta upgrades guide](https://2lnr.com/about/dl/upgrades.md) ## What can Platinum and Diamond choose? Choice Benefits are made in the Delta app as soon as you earn the status. Diamond members get the Platinum list, mostly in larger sizes, plus a short list of their own. We name the non-certificate options and leave them unpriced, because Delta sets and changes those amounts. Choice Benefits menu by tier | Tier | Selections | Upgrade certificates | Other options | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Platinum Medallion | 1 | 4 Regional Upgrade Certificates | Amex statement credit (needs a Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Reserve American Express Card), Starbucks Rewards Stars, an MQD Accelerator, Silver Medallion gifts, bonus miles, Delta Vacations savings, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, a Delta travel voucher, a Wheels Up credit | | Diamond Medallion | 3 | 4 Global, or 8 Regional, or 2 Global plus 4 Regional, from one selection only | The Platinum options, with Gold Medallion gifts in place of Silver, plus a Delta Sky Club membership (Individual uses 2 selections, Executive uses 3). The credit, MQD Accelerator, bonus miles, Delta Vacations, travel voucher and Wheels Up options also come in larger Diamond sizes. | Delta says Diamond members may only select Upgrade Certificates once for their 2026 or 2027 Medallion Year selections, so a certificate bundle takes one of the three. Delta also limits Sky Club memberships, Delta Vacations savings and the Wheels Up credit to once per Medallion Year, while MQD Accelerators and status gifting can be selected more than once. Once you redeem a Choice Benefit you can't exchange or replace it. Delta's travel voucher, Delta Vacations savings and Wheels Up credit run 12 months from issue. Upgrade certificates follow the Medallion Year rule below. ## When do you select, and when does it close? You select in the Delta app, and the option opens as soon as you earn Platinum or Diamond. For the 2026 Medallion Year, selections must be made by January 31, 2027. For the 2027 Medallion Year the deadline is January 31, 2028. One catch: status you earn in 2026 is 2027 status, so its choices count toward the 2027 Medallion Year. In Delta's example, a member who reaches Diamond on August 1, 2026 gets certificates valid until January 31, 2028. Because you can select any time before the deadline, the question is less when than what you'll fly. Pick after you know which trips you want certificates for. ## Global, Regional or something else? Start from where you fly. Diamond members can take a certificate bundle with only one selection, so the choice is which bundle, not how many. Then check whether upgrade space has opened on those routes before you commit. ### Mostly long-haul A [Global Upgrade Certificate](https://2lnr.com/about/dl/global-upgrade-certificates.md) is the one that reaches Delta One on long-haul flights and select partner business cabins. Only Diamond members can select them. ### Mostly domestic and short-haul A [Regional Upgrade Certificate](https://2lnr.com/about/dl/regional-upgrade-certificates.md) covers domestic and short-haul flights inside its regions. It is the only certificate Platinum members can pick. A Diamond selection gets you 8 Regional in place of 4 Global, and that is still one selection, because certificates can be selected only once. Before you choose, look at your own routes. 2LNR's [upgrade dashboard](https://2lnr.com/lp/upgrade-dashboard.md) shows where Delta upgrade space has opened, so you can see whether the cabin you want ever has room. Our Delta coverage is still growing, so treat what you see as a guide, not a clearing rate. A certificate only confirms into open space, whichever type you hold. ## When do the certificates expire? One rule covers both types: a certificate is good through the end of the Medallion Year it was selected for, which is January 31, 2027 for 2026 selections. The flight has to be flown by then, not only booked. The details, including the year a mid-year selection counts toward, are on the [GUC](https://2lnr.com/about/dl/global-upgrade-certificates.md) and [RUC](https://2lnr.com/about/dl/regional-upgrade-certificates.md) pages. ## Frequently asked questions about Choice Benefits **What are Delta Choice Benefits?** They are the rewards Platinum and Diamond Medallion members pick in the Delta app when they earn status. The menu includes upgrade certificates, bonus miles, a Sky Club membership for Diamond, and several credits. **How many choices do Platinum and Diamond get?** Platinum members make one selection and Diamond members make three. Diamond members may select upgrade certificates with only one of those three, so the choice is which bundle, not how many. Delta's certificate bundles are 4 Regional Upgrade Certificates for Platinum, and 4 Global, 8 Regional, or 2 Global plus 4 Regional for Diamond. **Should I pick Global or Regional Upgrade Certificates?** Pick Global if your trips are long-haul and you want Delta One. Pick Regional if you mostly fly domestic and short-haul. Check how often upgrade space opens on your own routes first, since a certificate only confirms into open space. **When do I have to select, and when do certificates expire?** Selections for the 2026 Medallion Year close January 31, 2027, and certificates chosen for it must be flown by then. Status you earn during 2026 is 2027 status, so those selections and certificates run to January 31, 2028. **Can I change a Choice Benefit after I pick it?** No. Delta says a redeemed Choice Benefit can't be exchanged or replaced. ## Sources - [Delta: Medallion Choice Benefits](https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/medallion-program/choice-benefits) The selection counts, the full option list, the certificate bundles, the selection deadlines and the once-per-year limits, the one-time certificate selection rule for Diamond and the no-exchange rule above. (accessed October 6, 2026; the whole page re-read October 7, 2026) - [Delta: Medallion Upgrades](https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/medallion-program/medallion-upgrades) Delta's certificate terms, including expiry at the end of the Medallion Year a certificate was selected for and the August 1, 2026 Diamond example. We carry the same wording on our GUC and RUC pages (accessed October 7, 2026). Delta, SkyMiles and Medallion are trademarks of Delta Air Lines; 2LNR is not affiliated with or endorsed by Delta Air Lines. Program details are as of October 2026 and may change. Related guides: [Delta upgrades](https://2lnr.com/about/dl/upgrades.md) | [Global Upgrade Certificates](https://2lnr.com/about/dl/global-upgrade-certificates.md) | [Regional Upgrade Certificates](https://2lnr.com/about/dl/regional-upgrade-certificates.md) | [Upgrade dashboard](https://2lnr.com/lp/upgrade-dashboard.md) ## See where upgrade space opens Check the routes you fly before you pick. On Pro, an upgrade alert tells you when a flight you want opens. [Get started free](https://2lnr.com/login)