Location: Tucson, AZ, USA. UA 1K, reluctant but * best in class * DL GM, descending Jeff's tiers what a relief! Former BA jumpseat rider and scourge of Dilbertian management and apologists
Posts: 2,589
Too many MQMs? The irony of "best in class"
Too many MQMs, anyone else?
I received MQM bonus from AmEx enrollment. I thought it was 5k MQM in total, but now somehow it's up to 15k. I don't even remember what the conditions of the enrolment were because each marketing email promised a different number of SM/MQM before I finally signed up. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, because for FT folks, more MQ/EQ is always better...well, not with DL's "best in class" program.
And yes, it's true, the SM accumulate fast. If they weren't so worthless, then this would be great. The real killer is the hated IOS. It doesn't matter how many SM I have, they aren't nearly as useful for most of my redemptions as OP miles.
No, I need OP/soon-to-be-Star miles instead, which are much more valuable for me. At least double, maybe four times more, the value of SM. They feel so much more useful in my account, too, because I don't see those infuriating screens on CO.COM that I see on DL.COM.... you know, the screens on the DL award tool that promise what's almost never actually available (e.g. the massive green month-long patches showing "LOW" SkySaver J from EU for most of the year...but when you select, OOPS, no, hmm, actually, that's 550k SM from SDF-LIS in J).
Alright, I can't even squeeze in any more CO flying this year and I'm already loaded to 50k+ EQM on CO for the early part of next year.
Meantime, I need to stay below the DM threshold but this MQM bonanza is beginning to squeeze me with enforced NW/DL travel for the remainder of this year. I hadn't expected to even make GM without all this but now... 110k or even more is likely and if there are any more MQ bonuses from AmEx I might be pushed over. This is unthinkable, to have so many MQM while making no serious effort to fly the program. I need to carefully inspect the predicted total and see where it lands me.
124k is OK, as long as there aren't any "gifts" of DM status in January. Tell me this won't happen, at least maintain the threshold integrity with all these giveaways so we can plan to remain PM only.
I have never had to think in these terms before with any program. I have a couple upcoming NW itins - NW dinner at MSP, for example - that I might have to credit to CO, before the reciprocal UGs disappear.
But. How can a "best in class" FFP actually incentivize people to remain BELOW a top-tier threshold? Only in the world of DL can this make sense. Hopefully we'll soon have a higher CO top tier that will resolve this for me.
Location: Tucson, AZ, USA. UA 1K, reluctant but * best in class * DL GM, descending Jeff's tiers what a relief! Former BA jumpseat rider and scourge of Dilbertian management and apologists
Posts: 2,589
Check your balances carefully if you don't want DM!
Update: I've just looked at this and I'm going to be at 122k assuming no reroutes or Y-up on existing itins
I hope they don't do it. No "goodwill promotions" into the DM zone please!
I do love how some people can manage to get multiple Skymiles complaints into the same post. These are not all applicable to the OP, but this seems like the right place for a ranting rant rebuttal.
1. Skymiles are too easy to get, I can get 2X to 4X the Skymiles as other programs.
2. It is too difficult to use Skymiles on the cheapest award tickets, sometimes it takes 1.5 or 2X as many skymiles to get an award compared to other programs.
3. MQMs are too easy, making for too many PMs. You can almost make PM without flying.
4. Why would anyone try for 125K MQMs to make DM when you can get ----- for 100K BIS EQM?
5. I want to make sure I don't pass 125K MQMs so I have a big roll over next year, and can make PM.
6. (The next complaint for those in #5 after DM is instituted next year)... PM is worthless anymore because the DMs are getting all the upgrades.
7. PMUs are worthless.
8. PMs will only get 4 PMUs next year instead of 6. That is a terrible downgrade of PM benefits.
__________________
Speak softly and carry a big stick.
Sounds like you got the DL Platinum Amex? Solution to your MQM problem: stop spending on that card, as it sounds like you got the $25k spending miles boost of 10k SM/MQM. Either way, don't hit either 25k or 50k in spending before the end of the year, or else you will get those miles boost MQMs whether you want them or not.
If you have the DL Reserve card, I would be happy for you to gift the MQMs to me
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ Super Plats
Posts: 23,423
RTS: Can you omit your FF program & nos. from some itins & submit them manually in January? Anything flown before 10/24 should still be submittable to CO in Jan once you see what happens to your DL balances.
Why would you not want to reach diamond? If you are diamond and earn 0 MQM's next year you would only drop to Platinum anyways (or did they change the rule where you can only drop 1 level of status per year)
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United Premier 1K, DL Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Pres O
Posts: 12,363
Quote:
Originally Posted by tb2k
Why would you not want to reach diamond? If you are diamond and earn 0 MQM's next year you would only drop to Platinum anyways (or did they change the rule where you can only drop 1 level of status per year)
I don't think it was a rule but they did do soft landings in the past. I am guessing that after this year that may go away with the rollover program in place. I never heard that there was a "rule" where you only drop one level a year though. I could be wrong.
__________________
"Whenever competition is feasible it is, for all its imperfections, superior to regulation"
Location: Tucson, AZ, USA. UA 1K, reluctant but * best in class * DL GM, descending Jeff's tiers what a relief! Former BA jumpseat rider and scourge of Dilbertian management and apologists
Posts: 2,589
Quote:
Originally Posted by WBurcham
Find
Another
Airline
I believe that would be a solution to your issues. Maybe you could grumble in those forums as well.
WBurcham, to address your imperative directly, I have...but I'm still compelled to use DL for some travel, owing to corporate policy. My situation is like that of many others, as you know. On itins where I can exert some measure of selective choice, I can indeed choose another vendor. And I do. CO OP is good, and will be better when a. CO enters Star and b. CO inaugurates a meaningful 100k+ top Elite tier. But sometimes I can't use CO, or WN, or whomever, for reasons that I don't control, and must submit to DL.
About the "grumbling." It's too bad that you don't like it. But these are valid observations on the operation of the DL frequent flyer program, from someone who belongs to it and uses it. Why not resist the censorship impulse? Or, is this like BA, where criticism of the entity is not to be tolerated and must be eradicated? I can be made an unperson thanks to my dislike of the DL SM product? No thanks. I don't think many of us want to live in such a society.
Once again, I don't call for you to be silenced simply because you like the DL product and offerings and will post about your favorable impression of such product, or that your view is very different than mine. Down with mobbing!
Bear in mind that criticism is good for corporations, and all providers of service. It gives them feedback on their product, some aspects of which are negative. And from forum traffic here, it's clear I'm not the only one who has these concerns... other DL flyers have adjudicated DM value and decided it's not worth it, leading to them avoiding crossing the tier threshold.
And on the other side of the coin if DL decides to respond to criticism at some later time by offering a better DM product, that's also going to benefit you.
Regardless of how much you personally dislike my points, the fact that DL is managing to engineer a situation in which people are actively avoiding purchasing DL tickets in order NOT to be promoted to the top tier is a truly remarkable achievement. It's the complete inversion of what many people believe to be the purpose of a FFP and it doesn't seem to have a parallel on CO, UA, US, AA etc.
To the other points. Thanks for the caution on AmEx spend. I will try not to provoke additional MQM bonus by those means.
Mike, about post-crediting the flights. I like the idea. I will monitor the scenario as the year draws on and may try this. The real problem is, my last DL flights of the year will also be the most gigantic (SYD) and if there's - say - a rebooking into Y or B, which normally would be manna from heaven, well, that will spoil the plan. Managing MQM accrual through shorter segments at the end of the year would be easier.
About the "grumbling." It's too bad that you don't like it. But these are valid observations on the operation of the DL frequent flyer program, from someone who belongs to it and uses it. Why not resist the censorship impulse? Or, is this like BA, where criticism of the entity is not to be tolerated and must be eradicated? I can be made an unperson thanks to my dislike of the DL SM product? No thanks. I don't think many of us want to live in such a society.
Once again, I don't call for you to be silenced simply because you like the DL product and offerings and will post about your favorable impression of such product, or that your view is very different than mine. Down with mobbing!
I think that some people don't realize or have forgotten that there is an "ignore" feature on FT. Users can set their preferences to ignore any posts by any user they choose. That way they don't need to "listen to" people who they perceive are chronic complainers, grumblers, Delta-bashers, etc. That way, free speech can continue
Quote:
Originally Posted by redtailshark
Regardless of how much you personally dislike my points, the fact that DL is managing to engineer a situation in which people are actively avoiding purchasing DL tickets in order NOT to be promoted to the top tier is a truly remarkable achievement. It's the complete inversion of what many people believe to be the purpose of a FFP and it doesn't seem to have a parallel on CO, UA, US, AA etc.
This is truly remarkable actually. And included in those who want to avoid DM are some pretty big Delta followers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tb2k
Why would you not want to reach diamond? If you are diamond and earn 0 MQM's next year you would only drop to Platinum anyways (or did they change the rule where you can only drop 1 level of status per year)
I would never assume that, first of all because it was never a published benefit. Secondly, who knows what will happen with the introduction of rollover MQM's.
I think that some people don't realize or have forgotten that there is an "ignore" feature on FT. Users can set their preferences to ignore any posts by any user they choose. That way they don't need to "listen to" people who they perceive are chronic complainers, grumblers, Delta-bashers, etc. That way, free speech can continue
There used to be a modicum of civility around these parts.... it doesn't seem to exist in that same way anymore. It's not that many of us (and trust there have already been MANY PM's in response to this) who are sick of the moaning. It's fine to have issues but some posters need to learn to present them in a professional manner rather than constantly rant.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fti
This is truly remarkable actually. And included in those who want to avoid DM are some pretty big Delta followers.
And to this point, if I could, I would have tried to avoid DM. I'm not quite sure that the step (50K MQM's is worth it) but I can't, I'm already to GM for 2011...
__________________
I hear chirping but see nothing.....
WBurcham, to address your imperative directly, I have...but I'm still compelled to use DL for some travel, owing to corporate policy. My situation is like that of many others, as you know. On itins where I can exert some measure of selective choice, I can indeed choose another vendor. And I do. CO OP is good, and will be better when a. CO enters Star and b. CO inaugurates a meaningful 100k+ top Elite tier. But sometimes I can't use CO, or WN, or whomever, for reasons that I don't control, and must submit to DL.
About the "grumbling." It's too bad that you don't like it. But these are valid observations on the operation of the DL frequent flyer program, from someone who belongs to it and uses it. Why not resist the censorship impulse? Or, is this like BA, where criticism of the entity is not to be tolerated and must be eradicated? I can be made an unperson thanks to my dislike of the DL SM product? No thanks. I don't think many of us want to live in such a society.
Once again, I don't call for you to be silenced simply because you like the DL product and offerings and will post about your favorable impression of such product, or that your view is very different than mine. Down with mobbing!
Bear in mind that criticism is good for corporations, and all providers of service. It gives them feedback on their product, some aspects of which are negative. And from forum traffic here, it's clear I'm not the only one who has these concerns... other DL flyers have adjudicated DM value and decided it's not worth it, leading to them avoiding crossing the tier threshold.
And on the other side of the coin if DL decides to respond to criticism at some later time by offering a better DM product, that's also going to benefit you.
Regardless of how much you personally dislike my points, the fact that DL is managing to engineer a situation in which people are actively avoiding purchasing DL tickets in order NOT to be promoted to the top tier is a truly remarkable achievement. It's the complete inversion of what many people believe to be the purpose of a FFP and it doesn't seem to have a parallel on CO, UA, US, AA etc.
To the other points. Thanks for the caution on AmEx spend. I will try not to provoke additional MQM bonus by those means.
Mike, about post-crediting the flights. I like the idea. I will monitor the scenario as the year draws on and may try this. The real problem is, my last DL flights of the year will also be the most gigantic (SYD) and if there's - say - a rebooking into Y or B, which normally would be manna from heaven, well, that will spoil the plan. Managing MQM accrual through shorter segments at the end of the year would be easier.
I actually agree with how you presented this argument with respect to flyers not going for DM because they aren't sure what the benefits are. If they hadn't introduced an enhancement to the program (rollover miles) this wouldn't be the case. But by providing something that, I would tend to believe that most agree with, is of value, they've actually spurred on a negative revenue trend.
I think the most interesting thing about this run of posts is that people complain when they aren't targeted for "gifts" or pormotions and then, when they are, they complain as well. I guess human nature just leads people to complain.
Heck, your issue is brought on by the DL Platinum AMEX card. Downgrade to the GOLD card and get the same mileage boost and you'd even SAVE MONEY!
The MQM issue is 100% your own doing.
__________________
I hear chirping but see nothing.....
