SLCAMS

That is the next logical step. In fact it would have been better to go all in now and go to a complete revenue based system. Medallion by miles flown AND dollar spend requirements but now miles to redeem is based on dollars spent determined by your medallion level....quick, I need a spreadsheet!

MSPeconomist

No, MQMs will be calculated the same as now and MQMs are what you need for MM status.

As a PM, if you spend $40,000 (to pick a round number) on DL fares, you would earn 360,000 or 440,000 redeemable miles, 9X or 11X your spend, depending on whether you have a DL AmEx card.

MSPeconomist

MQMs keep it a frequent flyer program rather than making it just a biggest spender program.

Hipplewm

Yeah, I messed up, I meant to say "Wouldn't" affect MQM

I was using 250,000 as a minimum, I realize it may be higher, which is all good for me.

I didn't know million miler was MQM's, that sucks.

I guess I'll have to wait until 2016 when the 100% revenue program goes into effect

tfc3rid

Basically, take your MQD and multiply it by the Medallion level and there you go.

However, the redemption charts will have to massively change. A flight of mine last yr ATL to TYO that netted me about 28k RDM in 2013 would net me about 9K RDM in 2015 as GM.

curl

Too bad I can't use DL Amex for business travel.

mattsteg

Keeping the mqms may help them retain customers for cheaper flights (which they certainly need to sell) rather than only booking expensive tickets. I have no doubt that they're considering such things, but they may see value in incentivising cost and quantity of travel separately. Otherwise maybe they lose your transcons and then even some of your shorthaul? There may be value to them in keeping you away from competitor's planes and they may see this as a way to do so more cheaply.

rylan

We knew this was coming, but just didn't know how bad or how much of a devaluation it would be. Basically means you don't earn crap for any of those 'cheap' tcon tickets. The fast majority of tickets will be earning substantially less miles. About the only ones that might get more miles are high fare intl BE tickets, and even then its a difficult break-even point.

Oh and call me cynical (I think there is a LOT of evidence to support that) but I'll believe the lower/easier redemption when I see it.

RIP Skymiles

rylan

Oh other thing... the revenue based earning excludes govt taxes and fees, so you only earn like you do for MQDs... which means for intl travel its even less than the total ticket cost.

What do you want to bet that partner airline earning rates will be horrid as well? "Flights marketed and ticketed by Delta’s partner airlines will earn mileage based on a percentage of the distance flown as determined by the fare class paid."

Earning rate for bulk/discounted/consolidator/group tickets is posted. Note none of these earn MQDs as of 2015 (and DL Vacations is in this group as well). http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...ial-fares.html

Also note there is a mileage earning cap of 75,000 per ticket. So for those pax that purchase a $10k intl J ticket, no earning 100k+ miles for you.

pwhatl

I wonder how this will affect the 15k bonuses on the Delta Amex Reserve card. I'm assuming the MQM earnings will remain the same but if a 2015 skymile is essentially worth much less than a 2014 skymile will Delta lower the SM bonuses on the card as well?

DeltaFan4Now

Hoo boy. It's no coincidence that I awoke with a start at exactly the same time the first post went up.

Separating this announcement (the timing of which I assume is to insulate themselves from the Jan 1 2015 change date) and the new award chart by such a long time is a recipe for unbridled anxiety and speculation.

I would like to know:

Is the "new award calendar" a front end cosmetic change or are the guts of the system actually changing?

With the significant decrease in RDM earnings on most tickets, it would be nice to have a little information on the magnitude of the award price changes.

It would seem that the next shoe to drop is a WN-like award redemption scheme. With MQDs and fairly rapidly making this announcement, what is the likelihood that fare-based redemptions are coming soon?

DeltaFan4Now

+1. This too...

rylan

Anyone been playing around with the mileage earning comparison tool on the DL website? Almost every flight I take would be earning less (sometimes substantially less) than currently.

Of course without knowing the new award charts and availability its hard to say how it works out, but its safe to assume this change will be in favor of the 'house'.

HongKonger

Are you joking? Every time they say they will open up more low award seats it doesn't happen. Every time they increase the number of levels it is just a way to charge more, not actually give you more options. I'll believe more low award availability and a fixed award calendar when I see it, not a minute before.

HongKonger

It only increases their value if award tickets cost less. Do you see that happening?