Personally I would say Silver is not worth 1,400 under any circumstances but depending on travel patterns some people think it is worth it since they receive a high number of upgrades (most people do not receive many upgrades as silver).
Moreover, if your travel patterns until 12/31 continues in the new year you would receive FO status quite quickly (in about four months at that pace) in the new year and that status would then be valid until 2/2015. So no, in your scenario I would doubt it makes sense.
To me FO is not worth close to $1400. I basically can get all the benefits of FO minus the upgrades (not that there are many of those unless you fly off times and not on business heavy routes) with the Amex cards. As said before, if you continue to travel a lot next year you'll be silver pretty quickly so I personally wouldn't do it but if you think you can get a ton of upgrades before you hit FO next year it may be worth it to you.
With more than 50% of the MQMs required for Silver needed, I would say no.
What exactly do you want from Silver?
I guess what everyone else wants COOL STATUS and VIP Treatment JK
I would like to be the first in the plane and not have to worry about carry on space.
I would like to skip long lines at security.
The ocassional upgrade would also be nice.
Personaly my GF is an FA for Delta and I'm her travel companion. I have all the free drink coupons I can handle. Leisurely I fly first class for peanuts anywere in the world so I'm not thinking long hauls or vacations.
For my buisness job trips I would like this benefit.
Silver won't get you priority security screening so that won't help there (need gold). Try opting into Precheck if your main airport has it. That will save you a lot of time in security when you get selected for the precheck line. You can get a delta Amex for a fee of $150 (less for gold amex) and get early boarding with silver elites. I think that would mostly accomplish your objectives for about 10% of the $1400 you would spend otherwise.
Location: Pagus Bracbantensis, Kingdom of the Netherlands
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Posts: 87
If you want to be FO because of the upgrades youe might be better off to save the $1400 now and spend them next year on some upgrades at the gate (FCM)
I would like to be the first in the plane and not have to worry about carry on space.
Silver gets you boarding on Zone 1, with the Delta AmEx card holders. That's after the Premium and Sky zone. Depending on your market, this could be 25% of the plane and fighting with the AmEx gate lice to get on board.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mooff
I would like to skip long lines at security.
Silver does not get you Sky Priority, which in NYC (for me) does not get you in before the long lines in security.
Occasional upgrades are nice as long as you view them as a "treat" and not the "norm."
Guys keep in mind I'm a complete NEWB to this stuff.
Gold will get me to the head of the line at security?
Will my 11k MQM's tranfer to next year?
Welcome to FT -- what you haven't said is how much flying you plan to do next year ....
What may work for you is to get the Delta Plat Amex card which gives bonus MQMS for signing up and for usage above a certain dollar limit, but you might want to wait until after the first of the year to get it.
Welcome to FT -- what you haven't said is how much flying you plan to do next year ....
That is the key question for the overall strategy.
First, spending $1400 out of pocket just to make Silver is NOT worth it.
If you plan on flying enough to make Gold or Platinum, I would suggest toughing it out until you earn status. It won't kill you.
I would definitely look into one of the Delta AMEX cards. You may want to consider the Reserve card if you know you won't go beyond Platinum as it will get you SkyClub access as well.
That is the key question for the overall strategy.
First, spending $1400 out of pocket just to make Silver is NOT worth it.
If you plan on flying enough to make Gold or Platinum, I would suggest toughing it out until you earn status. It won't kill you.
I would definitely look into one of the Delta AMEX cards. You may want to consider the Reserve card if you know you won't go beyond Platinum as it will get you SkyClub access as well.
I would say October/November/December easily 10k miles a month. That's our biggest season.
The rest of year would like 2-3K a month.
I'm estaming 50k a year.
If I have Silver going into 2013 do I have to earn silver all over again and then an extra 25 for gold? Or do I just need the additional 25k for gold?
You'd be much farther ahead to get the Reserve card now (10,000 MQM sign up bonus) for $450, than to buy the MQMs for $995. Then you could get to Silver with a mileage run for a total of about $850, with the added benefit of SkyClub access.
Still, if you're traveling ~10k miles per month you'll get to Silver pretty quick next year as it is. I don't think it's worth spending $850 to have silver for 3 extra months.
(Edit, OP and I were posting at the same time... if you're not keeping up the 10k MQM per month, then it might be worth the $850).
JK
