reason to go PM to DM
#46
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Beverly Hills, CA
Programs: DL DM & 2MM, UA-PE, AA
Posts: 1,074
If I read you correctly you will be making DM after flying 60k BIS miles. No offense intended, but you are really a PM flier in my eyes, and on AA you probably would not make it to ExP. BTW, I understand what the rules are and I am perfectly OK with you becoming DM.
#47
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: MA
Programs: DL DM/2MM Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond,
Posts: 8,906
With only 60K BIS miles, why do you consider me a PM and not merely a GM?
Last edited by RobertS975; Sep 2, 2010 at 4:25 pm
#48
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: MCO
Programs: DL DM,MM; AS; USeless Air, HHonors Diamond, Starwood Plat, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 564
I like being Diamond. I like feeling "special" when I call the Diamond desk and they call me by name, go out of their way to do extra things for me, and thank me for my business. I like being upgraded 100% of the time. I like being treated very nicely on the plane. And yes, I like the fact that I have been treated better as a DM than as a PM. Since I fly to work every week, why not commute in a way that I like?
BTW -- last week my daughter (who has no status) was returning from Germany and we were both on the same flight home from ATL. I called the Diamond desk to ask about her ETA when I landed in ATL. I was nicely told they were on approach and on time. After I hung, up my phone rang and it was the same SMS agent calling back to tell me where she would exit from Customs and that she would have a red coat meet her and bring her to meet me at the Sky Club nearest to our departing gate. I know that would have never happened when I was a PM. I liked it! Oh -- and they upgraded her so we could fly home together in FC. I liked that too.
BTW -- last week my daughter (who has no status) was returning from Germany and we were both on the same flight home from ATL. I called the Diamond desk to ask about her ETA when I landed in ATL. I was nicely told they were on approach and on time. After I hung, up my phone rang and it was the same SMS agent calling back to tell me where she would exit from Customs and that she would have a red coat meet her and bring her to meet me at the Sky Club nearest to our departing gate. I know that would have never happened when I was a PM. I liked it! Oh -- and they upgraded her so we could fly home together in FC. I liked that too.
#49
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: MA
Programs: DL DM/2MM Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond,
Posts: 8,906
I like being Diamond. I like feeling "special" when I call the Diamond desk and they call me by name, go out of their way to do extra things for me, and thank me for my business. I like being upgraded 100% of the time. I like being treated very nicely on the plane. And yes, I like the fact that I have been treated better as a DM than as a PM. Since I fly to work every week, why not commute in a way that I like?
I still believe that there should be more tangible benefits to DM status.
#50
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MCO
Programs: DL DM/MM, Marriott Plat Premier, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,081
I have only been a DM for a day and a half, but I must say that as a PM for over a decade, they almost always called me by name on the phone, and it was an extremely rare flight where I wasn't upgraded.
I still believe that there should be more tangible benefits to DM status.
I still believe that there should be more tangible benefits to DM status.
As for tangible benefits... well, DL is getting better. At least they are moving in a positive direction, not stripping them away. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now but I certainly understand how some feel the benefits are just not worth the extra 50K.
#51
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Beverly Hills, CA
Programs: DL DM & 2MM, UA-PE, AA
Posts: 1,074
BTW, as you played by the rules, you definitely make the grade in my book. I just don't think that the rules make a lot of sense...
#52
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: MA
Programs: DL DM/2MM Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond,
Posts: 8,906
Are MQMs earned with one's own money (as with all of mine) more respectful than MQMs earned by flights charged to one's employer or client? If someone buys two coach seats, why shouldn't they get double MQMs?
The entire FF program is just a game, and we must always remember that the "rules" were not brought down the mountain on a stone tablet! Look at the major "rule" changes in just the past 10 years, to name a few off the top of my head:
1.) Lifetime miles used to count all bonus and credit card miles... no more.
2.) We went from full credit on LUT fares to half credit, back to full credit.
3.) PMs once were able to secure an upgrade on domestic flights at the time of booking.
4.) PMs once had Crown Room privileges.
5.) PM status needed 100,000 MQMs to just a few years ago.
6.) Medallions could not upgrade LUT fares, only K+.
The entire landscape of any FF program is constantly shifting and changing like sand dunes in the desert. It always amuses me when some of us act like these "rules" came from some FF program deity.
#53
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Beverly Hills, CA
Programs: DL DM & 2MM, UA-PE, AA
Posts: 1,074
I understand that DL is a for profit company and why offering these shortcuts are important ($). Some of them actually make a lot of sense, e.g., higher MQMs for expensive M+ fares (like your I-fares). However, IMHO some do not make sense, or make me uncomfortable, e.g., AMEX (especially with multiple cards), rollover, 2x & 3x MQMs promotions... In short, I think a FF program should encourage people to fly more and less to play the MQM "game" while flying as little as possible.
#54
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MCO
Programs: DL DM/MM, Marriott Plat Premier, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,081
The FF benefits are only good when you are flying so for those who stay on the ground, no matter what their status, all the bennies are pretty worthless. If a DM flies only a few times a year, that just means one less person in front of me for the UG list.
I don't know why the obsession with status if you don't use it but it doesn't bother me if it is important to someone else.
#55
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
It is all how you look at it. Does making a weekend MR to SYD from one of the four double MQM cities make you a "somebody"? I have always wondered why we couldn't arrange virtual MRs whereby we forfeit any residual value of a ticket in return for MQMs. Why should I have to actually fly a MR if the sole intention is to get miles and not actually visit a city?
Are MQMs earned with one's own money (as with all of mine) more respectful than MQMs earned by flights charged to one's employer or client? If someone buys two coach seats, why shouldn't they get double MQMs?
The entire FF program is just a game, and we must always remember that the "rules" were not brought down the mountain on a stone tablet! Look at the major "rule" changes in just the past 10 years, to name a few off the top of my head:
1.) Lifetime miles used to count all bonus and credit card miles... no more.
2.) We went from full credit on LUT fares to half credit, back to full credit.
3.) PMs once were able to secure an upgrade on domestic flights at the time of booking.
4.) PMs once had Crown Room privileges.
5.) PM status needed 100,000 MQMs to just a few years ago.
6.) Medallions could not upgrade LUT fares, only K+.
The entire landscape of any FF program is constantly shifting and changing like sand dunes in the desert. It always amuses me when some of us act like these "rules" came from some FF program deity.
Are MQMs earned with one's own money (as with all of mine) more respectful than MQMs earned by flights charged to one's employer or client? If someone buys two coach seats, why shouldn't they get double MQMs?
The entire FF program is just a game, and we must always remember that the "rules" were not brought down the mountain on a stone tablet! Look at the major "rule" changes in just the past 10 years, to name a few off the top of my head:
1.) Lifetime miles used to count all bonus and credit card miles... no more.
2.) We went from full credit on LUT fares to half credit, back to full credit.
3.) PMs once were able to secure an upgrade on domestic flights at the time of booking.
4.) PMs once had Crown Room privileges.
5.) PM status needed 100,000 MQMs to just a few years ago.
6.) Medallions could not upgrade LUT fares, only K+.
The entire landscape of any FF program is constantly shifting and changing like sand dunes in the desert. It always amuses me when some of us act like these "rules" came from some FF program deity.
Correction to your item 3. PMs (and all other elite tiers) receive an'at time of booking' upgrade for domestic Y class ticket purchases.
#56
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: MA
Programs: DL DM/2MM Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond,
Posts: 8,906
They still do. But a correction to your correction... once upon a time, PMs received their upgrade at the time of booking on any K+ fare, even 11 months in advance, subject to capacity controls.
#57
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
How far back you talking when you say, 'once upon a time'? Not doubting you, I just cant recall this ever being DL policy.
#58
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Orlando, FL
Programs: Delta GM/1.5MM ~ United Silver ~ Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,434
With DL throwing in SkyClub membership for free Platinum's were treated very, very well.
#59
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: MA
Programs: DL DM/2MM Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond,
Posts: 8,906
I don't know... it all blends together after a while. But I am guesstimating that this was the policy until maybe 2006-07. Losing the opportunity lock in the upgrade at the time of purchase (K and higher) was one of the several "enhancements" that we all muse about.
#60
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Programs: DL DM 2MM, AA LTP, Hyatt Globalist, FB Plat
Posts: 826
I would like to see DM go to 6 day (or more) window.
And a DM SWU that pulled from something better than Z. Don't forget Z is not only SWU but also general mileage upgrades as well.