I have 3 real people to consider and would like serious advice.
#P1
4.3MM DL MQM - rollover 2.3M.
Spend on DL cards 250k a yr - My advice is to get out of DL spend and just spend on a BofA rewards card for a while now
Cost of 250k spend = 6562.50+ cost of 2 Delta Reserve cards = 120 = 7500 a yr fpr 250k miles worth 2500 = 5000$ for DM status
Gets 4 GUCs a yr - uses them each time, likely gets 1000$ value each time
The ROLLOVER MQMs have been significantly devalued
Feb 2024 - 2.3M MQM convert to 1.15M DL miles worth $11,500 or 115k MQD or fractions at 25% 50% 75%
Will the MQD have rollover? - what happens over 35k ?
At least if there is some rollover beyond 35k, then it will give at least 4 yrs of DM status
As it stands the 2.3M miles would have given 20 yrs of DM along with ongoing spend of 250k a yr
My advice is to forget about DL after 2025 end and go with best option
Value of Amex Spend has declined as well - this is a devaluation
Spend on Amex = 250k gave 120k MQM; now will give 25k MQD - only 70% of the value previously
#P2- Me - PM this year 100k rollover - not flying DL actively anymore
930k lifetime MQM - can hit 60k MQM with DR spend by boost and MS till yr end = 60k more = 990 and then the next 10k by 25k spend on a DL Plat card before Dec
Cost of 145k spend = 3800$ (forgetting about cost of cards) - less 1450 value of DL miles = about 2500 for lifetime SM
? worth it?
Most trips abroad have lounge access anyway due to bz class.
Domestic trips unlikely to ever see an upgrade - can always buy up as needed
#P3
630k MQM PM with 100k MQM now; 30k spend for waiver
Needs 720k spend from 3 people using 6 DR cards - 120 x 2 x 3 = 720k for 60x6 = 360k MQM
Cost 18900, when including cards cost - another 3600 = $22500 for lifetime SM
(add 1000$ a yr in interest earned on this money today @5% for life) to the costs as a hidden cost
My thought is that
#P1 can stay DM as needed by increasing spend - really should reconsider value of DM
360k spend cost is 9450 + add cost of card 600 = 10500 for 360k DL miles worth 3500 = about 7k for 4 GUCs and 2 GM sponsoships
I do not think it is worth it but may have value in sponsoring GM in future as that may get more valuable relatively.
#P2 - ? worth it to spend 120k on an DR Amex to get lifetime status?
#P3 - NOT worth it at all to spend real cash lost of 18k for lifetime SM.
Opinions welcome
Here's my thinking:
P1: After the new year/end of Status Boosts, kill one of the DL Reserves and consolidate the credit line to the other. Preferably the Business card - at their spend level, putting all of the spend on the Business Amex would kick out at least another 100k RDMs/yr if they stick with DL. 1.15m RDMs is probably closer to $15k than to $11,500 in value. Convert most of the rollovers to RDMs (basically, anything not needed for status in 2025 - you don't say their annual spend
on Delta, which is a key factor here - if they're regularly spending $10k+/yr on DL, then sticking with the CC spend is probably still a decent move; if they're not, then move spend elsewhere) and sock drawer the DL Amex for 2024. Re-evaluate their options as 2025 approaches, but they arguably have until sometime in 2025 to make a decision as to what to do for 2026.
P2: Make the run for lifetime Silver. The main silver lining (no pun intended) is that LTS will give you the ability to buy an SC membership out-of-pocket and to H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks with the credit cards.
P3: This sort of insanity isn't worth the effort right now. I'd advise getting as close as they can without acrobatics and contortions, and then letting the fates handle filling in the remaining distance.