Originally Posted by
gooselee
This is a big one. IIRC, PWM tickets had previously been booked into the "cash" fare classes and treated as such for MQM earning and upgrade instruments/opportunities. This reverts back to the original incarnation of PWM and devalues PWM awards greatly if it is true.
I looks like you still earn MQMs (I'm surprised they didn't take that away). Last year I took one international trip that I found a cheap fare on for dtw/lhr and just did pay with miles and used a GU and did at least one domestic trip where I did PWM and used an RU. PWM used to be a nice benefit if coach was cheap and first was expensive when you could use RU/GU's.
It looks like PWM fares are still eligible for medallion upgrades so I'm not sure why they no longer allow RU/GU's to be used. On upgrade eligible routes I'd think Delta would rather have someone burn a GU/RU than to do a medallion upgrade.