On a recent domestic First purchase of $678 only $588 of the ticket actually counts toward the Diamond $15,000 in annual spend so basically 13 % of the money spent doesn't count so you really have to spend about $17,250 to be left with $15,000 MQD's ....so everybody the number is $17,250 in domestic spending to make Diamond not $15,000 and it's even higher if you travel internationally since taxes make up more than 13% of the ticket cost.
You have to spend just under $1500 per month on average to make Diamond
...and pay with miles does not count toward MQD's just MQM's so Delta has probably gutted the Diamond ranks more than really intended to..corporate travel budgets are not gonna go for this money grab
Having so many people thinking they were important as a Diamond was a draw/gimmick for the skymiles program which as we know skymiles is a profit center and amex is a profit center...BTW thinking you were more important than you really were was a great marketing concept for the program...it made a lot of people just have to get the Diamond
I think this time they (Delta) bit off more than can chew and the incremental gain from some Diamonds in 2018 higher spend will no where offset the loss from the Diamonds they lose....and the Amex skymiles profit decline as well