Unbiased explanation of DL AMEX Reserve???
Nov 6, 2009, 10:48 am
#16
Join Date: May 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: DL ♦M MM|HH♦|Marr Slvr|CO UA AA US|Pri Cub Plat|SPG|Avis 1st|Htz 5*
Posts: 5,044
Found it documented (not Amex or DL) here.
FlyerTalk thread American Express-DELTA Reserve - UPGRADE INFORMATION
Perhaps Amex told DL "until you can show us how you place card holders ahead of others on the UG pecking order we (Amex) are not going to tout that benefit" or "unless you can guarantee that you won't take this benefit away, we aren't going to market the Reserve card priority for upgrades".
Nov 6, 2009, 10:51 am
#17
Join Date: May 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: DL ♦M MM|HH♦|Marr Slvr|CO UA AA US|Pri Cub Plat|SPG|Avis 1st|Htz 5*
Posts: 5,044
Nov 6, 2009, 11:14 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SLC
Programs: Delta Skymiles DM, Priority Club Platinum Elite
Posts: 394
The website is missing the DL Reserve upgrade tiebreaker on the hierarchy below.
http://www.delta.com/skymiles/about_...#complimentary
http://skymilesoffers.delta.com/cred...rs.php#reserve
http://www.delta.com/skymiles/about_...#complimentary
http://skymilesoffers.delta.com/cred...rs.php#reserve
Nov 6, 2009, 11:26 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,677
I think the problem is not just the greenbeans who don't know how the system works, but people like me who are pretty familiar with it, but didn't know that EPs on a T cleared before DM/PM on a Y. Learn something new everyday...
Nov 6, 2009, 11:44 am
#20
Join Date: May 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: DL ♦M MM|HH♦|Marr Slvr|CO UA AA US|Pri Cub Plat|SPG|Avis 1st|Htz 5*
Posts: 5,044
Nov 6, 2009, 12:08 pm
#21
formerly known as daveland
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: NY, NY, USA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, Delta Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 2,969
I hope we aren't the "random website" ;-) Thanks, Evan!, for posting that Delta link - as that is what I confirmed it on when that page was posted.
Nov 6, 2009, 1:44 pm
#22
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,860
David
Nov 6, 2009, 5:22 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SLC
Programs: Delta Skymiles DM, Priority Club Platinum Elite
Posts: 394
If that's you, just know I mean "random" in the best possible context!
Nov 6, 2009, 5:33 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Fairmont Prem, SPG Gold, Priority Club Plat/IC Amb, AmEx Plat
Posts: 10,839
Was actually referring to this random website: http://cwsi.net/mupc.aspx
If that's you, just know I mean "random" in the best possible context!
If that's you, just know I mean "random" in the best possible context!
Nov 6, 2009, 6:18 pm
#25
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: TN
Programs: DL 2MM, AA ExPlat, UA S, HH S, MR LT Titanium, National Exec
Posts: 317
Not on NW yet
Just an FYI, I have had it confirmed, NW does not recognize the Reserve status yet, I believe they are switching to the DL reservation system next month and may be able to process them at that time but for now they can't.
Feb 21, 2010, 3:36 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,603
No Amex doc link but go here: http://cwsi.net/mupc.aspx
It is NOT anecdotal at all. It is a published benefit that is meant to attract Delta Platinum Amex holders ($150/year) to upgrade the card to the Reserve card ($450/year). You also get SC access IIRC.
The tie-breaker for two pax at the same exact level below would be the time of ticketing. If you ticketed before the other pax at the same exact level then you win, otherwise you lose.
EP = Executive partner
DM = Diamond, PM = Platinum, GM = Gold, FO = Silver
AxR = Amex Reserve card holder
Fares: Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T
Note: When award travel is upgradeable (coming soon?) this could change. I believe (CMIIR) that award holders will be tacked on to the end of this list after FOs on a T fare with no AxR.
Okay. If I am right... can we be done with this? 
If not, I will edit appropriately.
Edit: As soon as I submitted I saw my error. Gheesh can be mind numbing.
It is NOT anecdotal at all. It is a published benefit that is meant to attract Delta Platinum Amex holders ($150/year) to upgrade the card to the Reserve card ($450/year). You also get SC access IIRC.
The tie-breaker for two pax at the same exact level below would be the time of ticketing. If you ticketed before the other pax at the same exact level then you win, otherwise you lose.
EP = Executive partner
DM = Diamond, PM = Platinum, GM = Gold, FO = Silver
AxR = Amex Reserve card holder
Fares: Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T
Note: When award travel is upgradeable (coming soon?) this could change. I believe (CMIIR) that award holders will be tacked on to the end of this list after FOs on a T fare with no AxR.
Okay. If I am right... can we be done with this?
If not, I will edit appropriately. Edit: As soon as I submitted I saw my error. Gheesh can be mind numbing.
Any medallion at time of ticketing on Y fare.
Then
5 days ahead with priority
- DM B AxR
- DM B
- DM M AxR
- DM M
- DM H AxR
- DM H
- DM Q AxR
- DM Q
- DM K AxR
- DM K
- DM L AxR
- DM L
- DM U AxR
- DM U
- DM T AxR
- DM T
5 days before flight ?-
Not sure if fare class of companion matters to bump above other PM
Do a DM and PM on T fare bump above PM on B?
Or does a DM + PM only come above PM with T but below PM on L fare?
------------------ - DM with PM companion AxR
- DM with PM companion
-----------------
5 days before flight - PM B AxR
- PM B
- PM M AxR
- PM M
- PM H AxR
- PM H
- PM Q AxR
- PM Q
- PM K AxR
- PM K
- PM L AxR
- PM L
- PM U AxR
- PM U
- PM T AxR
- PM T
3 days before flight ?
------------------ - DM with GM companion AxR
- DM with GM companion
- PM with GM companion AxR
- PM with GM companion
------------------
3 days before flight - GM B AxR
- GM B
- GM M AxR
- GM M
- GM H AxR
- GM H
- GM Q AxR
- GM Q
- GM K AxR
- GM K
- GM L AxR
- GM L
- GM U AxR
- GM U
- GM T AxR
- GM T
1 day before flight ?
------------------ - DM with FO companion AxR
- DM with FO companion
- PM with FO companion AxR
- PM with FO companion
- GM with FO companion AxR
- GM with FO companion
------------------
1 day before flight - FO B AxR
- FO B
- FO M AxR
- FO M
- FO H AxR
- FO H
- FO Q AxR
- FO Q
- FO K AxR
- FO K
- FO L AxR
- FO L
- FO U AxR
- FO U
- FO T AxR
- FO T
12 Hours before flight
Non Status Companion Upgrades after all Medallions upgraded,
companiion with Medallion using SAME PNR or on different PNRs
------------------
SAME PNR - DM with companion AxR Fare Y>B>M>Q>H>K
- DM with companion Fare Y>B>M>Q>H>K
- PM with companion AxR Fare Y>B>M>Q>H>K
- PM with companion Fare Y>B>M>Q>H>K
- GM with companion AxR Fare Y>B>M>Q>H>K
- GM with companion Fare Y>B>M>Q>H>K
Different PNRs - companion of DM AxR Fare Y>B>M>Q>H>K
- companion of DM Fare Y>B>M>Q>H>K
- companion of PM AxR Fare Y>B>M>Q>H>K
- companion of PM Fare Y>B>M>Q>H>K
- companion of GM AxR Fare Y>B>M>Q>H>K
- companion of GM Fare Y>B>M>Q>H>K
------------------
Full Credit to Evan! for the list see link above.
He probably knows more about the companion story.
Last edited by ffI; Feb 21, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Feb 21, 2010, 5:25 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SMF
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt D
Posts: 416
So am I missing a benefit. I don't get the "free booze" that the OP mentioned.... UNLESS I get the upgrade. Am I suppose to be getting Free booze?
For me it was a toss up between this card and Skyclub membership. Yes, this costs a little more, but the "upgrade" benefit is probably worth it to me. I don't have proof, but I think it has helped. It's probably more helpful to those of on the L,U,T fares then those of you on Y.
For me it was a toss up between this card and Skyclub membership. Yes, this costs a little more, but the "upgrade" benefit is probably worth it to me. I don't have proof, but I think it has helped. It's probably more helpful to those of on the L,U,T fares then those of you on Y.
Feb 27, 2010, 1:14 am
#28
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: New England
Programs: DL Plat, Mariott Plat, HH Diam
Posts: 122
The Y-fare exception kicks in here.
Any medallion at time of ticketing on Y fare.
Then
5 days ahead with priority
Full Credit to Evan! for the list see link above.
He probably knows more about the companion story.
Any medallion at time of ticketing on Y fare.
Then
5 days ahead with priority
- DM B AxR
- DM B
- DM M AxR
- DM M
- DM H AxR
- DM H
- DM Q AxR
- DM Q
- DM K AxR
- DM K
- DM L AxR
- DM L
- DM U AxR
- DM U
- DM T AxR
- DM T
5 days before flight ?-
Not sure if fare class of companion matters to bump above other PM
Do a DM and PM on T fare bump above PM on B?
Or does a DM + PM only come above PM with T but below PM on L fare?
------------------ - DM with PM companion AxR
- DM with PM companion
-----------------
5 days before flight - PM B AxR
- PM B
- PM M AxR
- PM M
- PM H AxR
- PM H
- PM Q AxR
- PM Q
- PM K AxR
- PM K
- PM L AxR
- PM L
- PM U AxR
- PM U
- PM T AxR
- PM T
Full Credit to Evan! for the list see link above.
He probably knows more about the companion story.
DM B
PM B
DM M
PM M
DM H
PM H
etc.
Rather than what its above which suggests that all DMs clear before PMs. just curious.
Feb 27, 2010, 1:40 am
#29
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: Fallen DL DM (PM) 2MM
Posts: 4,783
Is everyone really sure that a DM on an L fare beats a PM on M fare. I know that there is speculation about that but is that confirmed by someone at Delta. The delta website only states that "Diamonds traveling on discounted fares will clear before Platinums traveling on discounted fares" at the five day window. I wonder if this means that the order of clearing might be:
DM B
PM B
DM M
PM M
DM H
PM H
etc.
Rather than what its above which suggests that all DMs clear before PMs. just curious.
DM B
PM B
DM M
PM M
DM H
PM H
etc.
Rather than what its above which suggests that all DMs clear before PMs. just curious.
Feb 27, 2010, 3:34 pm
#30
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,291
Outside of some free booze before take off, what does this card really offer for $450 a year? Go easy on me please, I am not trying to rip the Reserve card, I'd pony up if I knew exactly what I was getting in return.
P.S. I am not looking at having the marketing blurbs AMEX puts out regurgitated here. I know about the MQM bonuses for sign up and spending, outside of the obvious, any tangible benefits?
P.S. I am not looking at having the marketing blurbs AMEX puts out regurgitated here. I know about the MQM bonuses for sign up and spending, outside of the obvious, any tangible benefits?
One thing to keep in mind is that if you spend $60K on the nose, apart from the MQMs you already know about, you are effectively earning 1.5 RDMs per dollar spent. That is excluding the signup bonus and double miles on Delta spending. This results from the 30K RDM bonus that kicks in along with the 30K MQMs. If you value those RDMs at 1.5 CPM, you're already even on your annual fee. There's also the companion certificate (essentially buy one get one free, coach or first) and the various fee waivers that might be worth a lot to you (see third column, here).