Oct 3, 2014, 3:36 pm
[Rescinded] MR transfer to DL annual limit: 250,000 points per account.
Oct 1, 2014, 11:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bellingham, WA
Programs: AMEX Platinum, Delta Gold, Alaska Air MVP Gold
Posts: 449
[Rescinded] MR transfer to DL annual limit: 250,000 points per account.
Got a call today from the Membership Rewards department letting me know that starting in 2015, transfers from MR to Delta will be limited to 250,000 points per Skymiles number per calendar year.
I've transferred millions of points to Delta in the last year or two for numerous business class flights so this will certainly change how we fly.
The MR department said I was a "high value client" so they were calling me personally to tell me about this change. I guess having 8 figures worth of MR points gets you a personal call.
I've transferred millions of points to Delta in the last year or two for numerous business class flights so this will certainly change how we fly.
The MR department said I was a "high value client" so they were calling me personally to tell me about this change. I guess having 8 figures worth of MR points gets you a personal call.
Oct 2, 2014, 11:29 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
ATTN: moderators
Consider changing the title to "Eff 2015" rather than "in 2015" as the current one makes it seem as though transfers are capped at 250,000 for the year. Thanks!
Consider changing the title to "Eff 2015" rather than "in 2015" as the current one makes it seem as though transfers are capped at 250,000 for the year. Thanks!
Oct 2, 2014, 12:53 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Atlantic Beach, Florida, USA
Posts: 1,000
This has a significant impact on our travel, too. One of our trips to Europe each year is on miles. The past few years, tickets in Business have been approx 200k miles each, so 400k MR points are needed for Mrs. AB and me.
Oct 2, 2014, 2:18 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: DL Plat, Hilton Diamond, Starwood Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 110
I'm very surprised atthe lack of outrage on this Amex board. A few beefs directed at Amex over on the pertinent DL post but not that many up in arms. I'm an Amex Cent and enjoyed flying DL TATL several times a year. Now 250k cap won't even permit wife/two kids and I in Economy in late June/early July. And this news comes less than six weeks after being billed for annual membership. Is there any good news in pipeline for Cents/Plats? For last three years, it's all substraction with Amex. Death spiral by a thousand cuts!
Oct 2, 2014, 2:31 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ORD
Posts: 986
On a more on-topic note, can you just transfer a large amount before the end of the year to keep this from being a problem as soon?
Oct 2, 2014, 3:18 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: AA Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 1,199
Lack of outrage likely due to relative low value of DL miles compared to other Amex partners. Also, we're exhausted with all the cuts to the Plat amex. Went from being able to transfer to WN, US, CO, NW, DL to only DL. Went from CO, AA, US, DL lounge access with guests to DL only with no guests. I do know people that transferred and used well over 250k DL miles this year though...
Oct 2, 2014, 3:56 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 866
Membership Rewards transfer to Delta limited to 250,000 per DL account in 2015.
It seems that this change will likely drive people to other products like Delta Amex Reserve.
On a negative note this also makes it seem like transfer bonuses or even MQM kickers for transfers to Delta are very unlikely in the future.
On a negative note this also makes it seem like transfer bonuses or even MQM kickers for transfers to Delta are very unlikely in the future.
Oct 2, 2014, 6:16 pm
#9
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Oct 2, 2014, 7:37 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bellingham, WA
Programs: AMEX Platinum, Delta Gold, Alaska Air MVP Gold
Posts: 449
That was my understanding after the phone call. You can transfer 250,000 to your account, 250k to your spouses, 250k to each kid, etc. Right now I transfer hundreds of thousands to my account and book all tickets through my account. Starting 2015, now you'll have to have multiple accounts to just book multiple tickets and have them linked to your MR account. Multiple trips per year are now impossible with MR points due to the 250k per person per year cap. It'll make Delta marginally useful for one trip per year starting 2015.
Oct 2, 2014, 10:29 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,091
The 250K to different DL family accounts is a farce. If you're an elite, it's stupid having to deal with separate bookings for each family member from their own non-elite account. The change fees would be ridiculous for a family of four when only one has Plat status. Not to mention any other potential fees that an elite would normally have waived, as well as perks associated.
Oct 3, 2014, 2:40 am
#14
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
I imagine this is one of the motivations for the policy. Delta wants customers to commit to earning SkyMiles rather than having flexible points which can be redeemed on competitor's flights. It will be interesting to see if UA introduces a parallel restriction on transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Oct 3, 2014, 1:42 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
That was my understanding after the phone call. You can transfer 250,000 to your account, 250k to your spouses, 250k to each kid, etc. Right now I transfer hundreds of thousands to my account and book all tickets through my account. Starting 2015, now you'll have to have multiple accounts to just book multiple tickets and have them linked to your MR account. Multiple trips per year are now impossible with MR points due to the 250k per person per year cap. It'll make Delta marginally useful for one trip per year starting 2015.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...ationship.html
So this won't work, unless you have multiple MR accounts too.