A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
NO. The question isn't when AmEx posts the MQMs to the DL FF account but whether the 5,000 MQMs will count for 2019 or 2020.
The threshold spend MQMs (10,000 MQMs for a $25,000 spend on the DL Plat card and 15,000 MQMs for $30,000 spend on the Reserve card) count spend by the calendar year and even if the miles for 2019 spend are credited in 2020, they will count as 2019 miles for status and rollover purposes.
Whether the miles post by January 31st or not is irrelevant. If they're 2019 miles, he gets GM through January 31, 2021 assuming that the MQD requirement is met. If they're 2020 miles, he'll be FO until a higher status is earned.
With DL one earns status on a CALENDAR year basis but the previous year's status is retained through January 31st to allow late posting stuff to be credited to the account before people lose status.