MilesBuzz! - Delta Silver Medallion or Alaska MVP

For the first time, I will become an MVP or Medallion frequent flier either on Delta or Alaska. Overall, which is the better program for the lower tier folks like myself?

Delta Benefits: Complimentary Upgrades (when available), many routes.
Delta drawbacks: Only 25% mileage bonus for medallion members.

Alaska Benefits: Better upgrades? Cheaper award flights (20,000 domestic). 50% mileage bonus for MVPs. Probably more partners.
Alaska drawbacks: Small number of destinations.

Has anyone been both? Where should I invest my miles?

AS has more partners you can earn EQM on. For domestic airlines, your flights on DL, NW, and AA all earn AS miles and EQM. (CO flights earn miles but not EQM.) So even if you're flying outside the AS route system there's a good chance you can still earn miles and EQM. I've found it MUCH easier to redeem miles at the 20,000 level on AS than at the 25,000 level on DL. I have 50,000 DL miles that have been sitting around waiting to be spent, and I can never find a 25,000 award available.

If you have a lot of Amex points, you don't have to choose -- Amex is doing a promotion where if you transfer 100k points to Delta, you get a 25% bonus and Silver status for a year -- through aug 15, check out the Amex forum.

If you have a lot of Amex points, you don't have to choose -- Amex is doing a promotion where if you transfer 100k points to Delta, you get a 25% bonus and Silver status for a year -- through aug 15, check out the Amex forum.

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I don't have "Amex points" other than having a skymiles card with AMEX. I am simply working off of points that I plan to accumulate this year through actual travel.

Another Delta drawback is the little matter that the airline is in bankruptcy. Given the choice I would rather accumulate miles and status with a solvent carrier. This doesn't mean I would avoid DL or NW if they were the best fit for my travel pattern, but you do have the choice. (I would also rather accumulate points at American Express, Diners Club, or Merrill Lynch than have them transfer automatically to any airline or hotel chain.)

dennis

CO flights earn miles but not EQM.

as alaska mvp, would you get 50% bonus on CO miles? thanks!

as alaska mvp, would you get 50% bonus on CO miles? thanks!
Nope:
http://www.alaskaair.com/mileageplan/MVPStatus.asp
:(

my brother is silver medallion - i am MVP Gold. here is the way we see it.

1) i get 100% (which would be 50% for an MVP) on all routes I fly. he only gets 25%. it doesnt seem like a lot, but it can add up.

2) as a silver, he rarely gets upgraded - and never gets upgraded on the long routes. i dont know about MVPs and their upgrade success on AS, but choosing DL just for the upgrades by being a silver is a long shot.

3) if you want to upgrade with miles on long flights, DL is 15K one-way on certain fares (Y/B/M). AS is 10k one-way on any fare.

4) both DL and AS have a lot of partners, but AS allows more flexibility with AA as a status-earning partner and DL with CO. kind of wash there, as both serve latin america and the carribean pretty extensively .

5) we both have fairly good odds in redeeming miles - but with AS you have a few more partners in the US to redeem with as opposed to DL (all of the DL ones are included with AS).

6) as an AS elite, you can usually get the premium seats on DL by calling and talking to a supervisor. as an AS elite you can always board with Zone 2 on DL, which is where silver medallions also board. (your boarding pass wont say zone 2, but you can board and show you card when zone 2 is called)

i would go with AS - if you dont fly a lot, you wont really have a lot of upgrading opportunities on DL - go for the extra 25% in miles.

Thanks for the detailed info OMAguy. I think the choice is clear now. My biggest motivation for striving for MVP/Medallion is the preferred seating as I am 6'8" and often arrive at the airport 3-5 hours early to get an exit row seat. If I can convince Delta to allow me preferred seating as an AS MVP that would be the icing on the cake (then I could arrive at the airport in the nick of time like everyone else :D ).

Thanks for the detailed info OMAguy. I think the choice is clear now. My biggest motivation for striving for MVP/Medallion is the preferred seating as I am 6'8" and often arrive at the airport 3-5 hours early to get an exit row seat. If I can convince Delta to allow me preferred seating as an AS MVP that would be the icing on the cake (then I could arrive at the airport in the nick of time like everyone else :D ).


i have found that most of the time i have no problem in requesting exit row seats on delta. after i make my reservation, i call delta, have them put my AS MVP number in the system, and then ask for the exit row seat. i usually same that i am a partner elite and would like the exit row seat please. occassionally i get the disgruntle agent who says that AS isnt a partner, and instead of argue i simply say thank you, hang up, and call back again in about 10 minutes. it usually is never a problem whatsoever.

but you can really earns miles flying co metal as an mvp....just no eqms or bonus ? still not bad :cool:

Nope:
http://www.alaskaair.com/mileageplan/MVPStatus.asp
:(

6) as an AS elite, you can usually get the premium seats on DL by calling and talking to a supervisor. as an AS elite you can always board with Zone 2 on DL, which is where silver medallions also board. (your boarding pass wont say zone 2, but you can board and show you card when zone 2 is called)



so basically minus the upgrades that you aren't going to get anyway as silver medallion, as elite have the same shot at premium seats on dl as dl silver medallion? wow :p

yes, you earn miles for flying CO, just not the bonus or EQM. the strength of AS's program is all of its partners!

not bad...makes more sense to me to be mvp gold and get a 100% bonus on aa and delta than to be silver elite with delta and the equivalent with aa with a 25% bonus.

getting only miles with co is not bad as you only get 50% eqms as delta member flying co in t anyhow.

yes, you earn miles for flying CO, just not the bonus or EQM. the strength of AS's program is all of its partners!