Originally Posted by
lsquare
As for why I want FB status in light of the massive DL devaluation? Sky Club access and STE+.
Note that you will only get Delta lounge access in the US with FB status ahead of, or when connecting to/from, a
same day international flight. If you are just flying domestically around the US, then your FB status will not get you lounge access.
I don't think Flying Blue is going to be a viable alternate strategy for gaining easy access to Sky Clubs. (Don't you also get Sky Club access with your Delta status ahead of international flights anyway?)
Originally Posted by
lsquare
I'm assuming FB is based on a calendar year where January 1 is the start date and December 31 is the end date for any qualifying year?
No.
Once you move from Explorer to Silver (ie when you reach or exceed 100XP in a 12-month period) you are instantly upgraded to silver, 100XP is removed from your account, and your membership year is reset. If you were to reach/exceed 100XP today - 16 September 2023 - you would become Silver with a year end of 30 September 2024.
You then have (just over) a year to run for Gold. If you reach 180XP in this new 12-month period (and remember, you have had the 100XP that got you to Silver removed from your account), then you go up to Gold on that date. Again, your membership year is reset. If you were to reach/exceed 180XP on, say, 20 March 2024, then you are instantly upgraded to Gold, with 180XP removed from your account, and your membership year now ends on 31 March 2025.
You then have (just over) a year to run for Platinum. If you reach 300XP in this new 12-month period (and remember, you have had the 180XP that got you to Gold removed from your account), then you go up to Platinum on that date. Again, your membership year is reset. If you were to reach/exceed 300XP on, say, 10 January 2025, then you are instantly upgraded to Platinum, with 300XP removed from your account, and your membership year now ends on 31 January 2026.