Originally Posted by
FireEmblemPride
In 2025, I've managed to hit $28K and requalify for DM, but I've done relatively flying on DL/ST thanks to the Amex Headstart x 4, the $2000 MQD Boost Choice Benefit (selected during in 2024), moderate Amex spend and a cheap MU business fare.
This was possible even though I've simultaneously taken much of my business to JL to qualify for OWS (and eventually OWE) as well. The main reason I could juggle JL and DL simultaneously this year is simply due to DL's lack of rollover and middling offerings for surpassing $28K MQD. There's a significant opportunity cost when it comes to million miler qualification (two of the JL flights were Japan-Brazil itineraries), but the greater flexibility in airline choice outweighs that.
I was very much against the MQD qualifications back when they were announced in 2023, primarily because it probably decimated 99% of DL's Japanese base, making them largely unable to reasonably qualify for PM and DM. But I have the luxury of having access to DL's Amex cards in both Japan and the US–the Japan Amex cards reward $1MQD per 1,000 yen spent (~$6.50), which is a tremendously valuable earn rate and contributed to my ability to maintain DM.
I mean, the JPY has also tanked over the last couple of years (since that card was started). Back around 2020 the JPY was closer to 100-110 to the dollar (vs 140-160 as off late), and 15 years ago it was all the way out near 75 to the dollar.
I'm currently on a plausible path to $50k MQDs, almost entirely via the Business Reserve card.
Originally Posted by
WillBarrett_68
yes, before you could also combine flying and spending as well.
Not exactly. There was a "bad corner" where if you didn't hit the $250k spend level (for the Diamond waiver) and you didn't hit the outright MQD threshold, you could be blocked out.
In theory you could have someone pile up $240k in spend across the Business/Personal Reserves, pull in 120k MQMs, do a ton of flying and spending but not hit the Diamond spend threshold, and it was no
soup status for you. Now, I doubt that too many people were in
that bad of a situation, but milder cases likely abounded.