How to obtain Delta Status?

Delta was the first airline to attach a spending requirement to their elite status requirements for members living in the United States, if you "live" abroad you can get a waiver, but for most US flyers you need to fulfill the requirements which vary depending on each status level but vary between 3000-15,000 in "spending" depending on the the level you wish to obtain.

This was usually interpreted as a highly negative change for those of us who play the mileage game, but every-time a door closes a window opens up allowing us to continue to maximize our status at the lowest cost.