Originally Posted by
AJNEDC
I don't understand what you mean. I read the requirements of AA program and understood it pretty quickly. I have given up trying to understand DL or other programs.
I know with AA to reach gold level, all that's required is 40K points. If flying is the sole method and you have no status, you just need to spend $8k on tickets as you get 5 points for every $1 spent on tickets. This you can do by flying as few or as many times as you like irrespective of the distance travelled. As an example, I have two business trips next qualifying year that will be done on AA. I am also doing a splurge for my birthday.
How is new DL program more complicated? If you want DL Silver status (AA Gold equivalent) next year and flying spend is your sole method, you just have to spend $5K on tickets (less taxes, which also need to be excluded from your AA LP points calculations) with no mileage component. You don't even have to translate spend into points or consider status based bonus LPs in the equation like AA. Unless you are flying partner marketed flights, calculating DL MQD earn on flights is about as easy at it gets as they show base fare + any carrier imposed surcharges right out front in Trip Total listing (it's also easy to get them from your receipts). At any rate, it's not like people didn't accidently find themselves a few miles short for status when status was solely mileage/segments flown based.
