Maximize Value of AMEX Spend for Delta Diamond Waiver?
Jul 29, 2019, 3:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta Diamond; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 655
Maximize Value of AMEX Spend for Delta Diamond Waiver?
I'm about to hit $220,000 in spend on Delta Skymiles Amex cards -- 2 Plats (personal and business) and 2 Reserve (personal and business). This will exhaust all of my opportunities on the current cards to get bonus miles and bonus MQMs. Is there any way to get bonus miles or bonus MQMs out of my last $30,000 in spend that will be needed to get an MQD waiver for Diamond?
Last edited by GatorBlues; Jul 29, 2019 at 3:55 pm
Jul 29, 2019, 4:01 pm
#2
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: 100,413
You earn extra miles on DL tickets charged to the card, although if you also have a regular AmEx Plat/Centurion charge card, plane tickets charged there earn MR points per dollar.
As a PM with the Reserve card, my DL tickets charged there earn an additional two miles (total) per dollar spend, including taxes and fees (not just MQD as is use in the RDM calculation in my DL FF account at 11 miles per MQD).
As a PM with the Reserve card, my DL tickets charged there earn an additional two miles (total) per dollar spend, including taxes and fees (not just MQD as is use in the RDM calculation in my DL FF account at 11 miles per MQD).
Jul 29, 2019, 4:17 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta Diamond; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 655
You earn extra miles on DL tickets charged to the card, although if you also have a regular AmEx Plat/Centurion charge card, plane tickets charged there earn MR points per dollar.
As a PM with the Reserve card, my DL tickets charged there earn an additional two miles (total) per dollar spend, including taxes and fees (not just MQD as is use in the RDM calculation in my DL FF account at 11 miles per MQD).
As a PM with the Reserve card, my DL tickets charged there earn an additional two miles (total) per dollar spend, including taxes and fees (not just MQD as is use in the RDM calculation in my DL FF account at 11 miles per MQD).
Last edited by GatorBlues; Jul 29, 2019 at 4:24 pm
Jul 29, 2019, 4:19 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta Diamond; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 655
Mining the AMEX offers is a good suggestion, although that will be a fraction of the spend I need for Diamond.
You hit the nail on the head with respect to the value of the last $30K in spend. My pause is over whether to bother with the Diamond waiver or stick to Platinum, maximize rollover MQMs for next year, and shift my business expenses to my Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
Last edited by GatorBlues; Jul 29, 2019 at 4:31 pm
Jul 29, 2019, 4:26 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,044
I called AMEX about the offer some received in the past to earn an extra MQM bonus offer by reaching $90K in spend. The agent said there are no such offers at this time. Perhaps they will offer one later.
AMEX offers is a good suggestion, although that will be a fraction of the spend I need for Diamond.
Exactly. My pause is over whether to bother with the Diamond waiver or stick to Platinum, maximize rollover MQMs for next year, and shift my business expenses to my Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
AMEX offers is a good suggestion, although that will be a fraction of the spend I need for Diamond.
Exactly. My pause is over whether to bother with the Diamond waiver or stick to Platinum, maximize rollover MQMs for next year, and shift my business expenses to my Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
Platinum does almost as much for me, so I might be headed there. Less push overall to remain Platinum. I can still make and cancel award tickets, and I think I'd still get most of the upgrades I get currently (I'd guess 90%).
Jul 29, 2019, 4:33 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta Diamond; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 655
If I could figure out good uses for the global upgrade certificates, I'd be much more likely to push for the waiver. But they've become really, really hard to use. In fact, recently, the flights I've found where I could use them cost almost as much as better itineraries in business (sometimes on Delta; sometimes on competitors). I'm loyal, but not that loyal.
Platinum does almost as much for me, so I might be headed there. Less push overall to remain Platinum. I can still make and cancel award tickets, and I think I'd still get most of the upgrades I get currently (I'd guess 90%).
Platinum does almost as much for me, so I might be headed there. Less push overall to remain Platinum. I can still make and cancel award tickets, and I think I'd still get most of the upgrades I get currently (I'd guess 90%).