Originally Posted by purdue98
I got SM status this year with only 13,000 MQM in 2003. Got a letter "thanks for loyalty, complimentary status, etc." I would guess that with the rates I pay flying out of CVG that the same amount of cash would get me at least GM out of another city.
A number of people -- especially in the ATL area -- had the same experience. However, I would not rely on a repeat of it.
Under CEO Leo Mullen, Delta got rid of segments in 2003 and decided to give only 50% MQM credit for LUT fares. Although it never made a public statement confirming this, it was obvious that many of its elite flyers no longer qualified for their medallions. This, of course, meant that they were more apt to look for another airline.
When Mullen left, Delta tried some damage control. Instead of basing MQM's on a minimum of 500 per segment, it raised them to 750. (An LUT flyer would get half of that, or 375). It also sent out the letters like the one that Purdue98 received.
It did not, however, change the policy that 25,000 MQM's will be needed for Silver Medallion. It may decide to give some complimentary medallions again this year, but that would be pure luck.