PMU's - When do you get them?
 

I made Plat for the first time in mid September. DL's website seems to indicate you get your PMU's once you become Platinum.

Should I get them in 2009 or 2010, and if this year, how long does it take?

I've got a few flights scheduled I upgraded w/miles - I'm assuming I can change/use my PMU's when I get them?

Under normal circumstances you should get them this year - maybe about 4-6weeks after you make PM. But with the merger, I would say these are not normal circumstances so I'm not sure.

If you do get them this year, they will be valid until Feb 2011. And under the current SM program you should get 6 PMUs.

You might want to call DL and see what they have to say.

If you have current tickets scheduled to be upgraded with miles, you can use the PMUs if you get them in time.

When I became PM in September, I got PMUs and drink chits with the packet.

However, the drink tickets expire 12/31/09 and the PMUs February 10th, 2010. I hope I'll expect new ones next year?

The PM card says through 2011, FWIW.

The reason the card says 2011, is that you are now a PM though 2/2011. You will NOT get new credentials or PMUs in February 2010 as the ones you just got are for the 2010 program year, you are just getting them early.

I made PM with the merger (I had a few EQMs credited to NW this year), but I haven't received my credentials yet. They did send me another gold packet, though (no drink tickets with that one).

Within 6-8 weeks of becoming Platinum is when you'd almost certainly get them, presuming the mail gets sent and delivered properly. If history is anything to go by, they come in October for persons like yourself who qualified in mid-September. Normally, the PMUs you get this year are the only ones Platinums would receive until 2011 and then in 2011 only if having earned 75k MQMs in the 2010 calendar year or in the first 2 months of 2011.

If I get to 175 MQM by year end,
A
do I get the PMU certs now? I think the answer is yes
B
Will I get the 2009 100k threshold reward option
C
Will I get the 2009 125k threshold reward option
D
Will I get the 2009 150k threshold reward option
E
Will I get the 2009 175k threshold reward -
1 option only 25k bonus miles
F
as well as the Diamond benefits for 2010?
G
Diamond in March 2010, Sky Club membership
H
Diamond Choices
6 more PMU / 20k Miles / gifting Gold?

This only applies if you were not PM at the beginning of 2009. If you requalify for PM in 2009 (for 2010) you have to wait until 2010 to get your goodies (much to my disappointment).

I have used all my 2009 PMUs (that I received in Feb 2009) and requalified for PM in June and have already reached over 150k MQMs but I have to wait until spring 2010 to get my goodies (diamond goodies). Oh well, such is life.

Came today
 

I guess I should've been more patient. 6 PMU's, 4 drink coupons, and my card and luggage tags came in the mail today.

Though I wonder why on the PMU's that can't say, Expiration Date: February 28, 2011 instead of the actual language: "Valid until one year from February 28, 2010". I had to read a few times to be sure I didn't have to use all 6 before the end of next February.

The fact that these are physical paper still shocks me to be honest. The cost involved with managing them (sending them out, printing them, and handling them at the airport) is ridiculous. I hope they bring the NW electronic UG/cert capabilities on-line very soon.

Given the issues other airlines -- including the likes of AA -- had over the years with even being able to start displaying available upgrade instruments online, I am not surprised that these are still in physical paper form.

DL management's priorities clearly do not have the DL systemwide upgrades placed highly given that DL management (a) designed the upgrade instruments in such a way that the overwhelming majority of the DL systemwide upgrades are pretty much useless to even most DL Platinums; and (b) wants to wean even more customers off of the DL systemwide upgrades. Given that reality, I see no reason why DL management would prioritize highly "computerizing" these upgrade instruments unless DL management has a change of heart and decides to actually issue customer-friendly systemwide upgrades going forward -- that's something I don't see happening unless there are some major changes in personnel and other internal arrangements at DL HQ.

As the systemwide ugprades exist now at DL, they aren't designed as much to reward customers for their business as much as they are designed to: (a) fool customers into thinking they are worth something; and/or (b) going after woolly mammoths who don't think about getting fleeced.

I will give you the "Sheeple Fleecing" as these are really sales tools and not rewards but still...the expense to Delta must be significant compared to the one-time development costs that NW took and then were able to allow customers to upgrade themselves on-line at any time. It is the direct labor cost involved with this program that is ridiculous. Even given the fact that DL makes money on these...they could increase margins SIGNIFICANTLY by getting out of the paper business and all of the people who have to touch the paper.

does it mean that if i make Plat in this year, i wont be able to pick 20000 miles? i am forced to take PMU?