What benefit does Silver really give any more?
Nov 15, 2011, 12:33 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 5
What benefit does Silver really give any more?
Now that the introduction of EC has taken away the ability to select Preferred seating, what benefits are there to getting silver anymore? We don't fly enough to get it purely through flying, and so we balance spending between our AMEX cards to get both of us to Silver, rather than one of us to Gold.
Would we be better to focus on getting one person to gold instead? We (almost) always fly together.
Would we be better to focus on getting one person to gold instead? We (almost) always fly together.
Nov 15, 2011, 12:41 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 543
If you are flying together having one at Gold is worth more than 2 silvers.
You'd accumulate more miles (100% bonus versus 25+25 = 50%), you'd both still be on the upgrade list for domestic flights, you'd both still get the baggage waiver.
If there were severe IRROPS they may offer accommodation to the Gold (which of course you could share with the non-medallion).
You'd accumulate more miles (100% bonus versus 25+25 = 50%), you'd both still be on the upgrade list for domestic flights, you'd both still get the baggage waiver.
If there were severe IRROPS they may offer accommodation to the Gold (which of course you could share with the non-medallion).
Nov 15, 2011, 12:59 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,784
Now that the introduction of EC has taken away the ability to select Preferred seating, what benefits are there to getting silver anymore? We don't fly enough to get it purely through flying, and so we balance spending between our AMEX cards to get both of us to Silver, rather than one of us to Gold.
Would we be better to focus on getting one person to gold instead? We (almost) always fly together.
Would we be better to focus on getting one person to gold instead? We (almost) always fly together.
If one of you is gold, both of you (on the same PNR) get a 50% discount on purchasing EC seats. If both are silver, you get only a 25% discount.
Nov 15, 2011, 1:23 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Miles&more, SPG, Hyatt
Posts: 536
The introduction of EC has not entirely eliminated the availability of Preferred seats for FOs. It has, however, reduced the number of such seats and converted the farthest forward seats to EC. You still are able to choose Preferred seats in the middle (in terms of forward to back of plane) of coach, rather than having to take seats at the very back of the plane. Some AC have exit row preferred seats that are not in EC.
If one of you is gold, both of you (on the same PNR) get a 50% discount on purchasing EC seats. If both are silver, you get only a 25% discount.
If one of you is gold, both of you (on the same PNR) get a 50% discount on purchasing EC seats. If both are silver, you get only a 25% discount.
Nov 15, 2011, 1:55 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: New York City
Programs: Delta gm Spg gold hilton gold hyatt platinum hertz presidents avis presidential
Posts: 773
Originally Posted by mpp:17455107
If you are flying together having one at Gold is worth more than 2 silvers.
You'd accumulate more miles (100% bonus versus 25+25 = 50%), you'd both still be on the upgrade list for domestic flights, you'd both still get the baggage waiver.
If there were severe IRROPS they may offer accommodation to the Gold (which of course you could share with the non-medallion).
You'd accumulate more miles (100% bonus versus 25+25 = 50%), you'd both still be on the upgrade list for domestic flights, you'd both still get the baggage waiver.
If there were severe IRROPS they may offer accommodation to the Gold (which of course you could share with the non-medallion).
If u don't check bags, or have the delta Amex and u only need 1 suitcase, then being fo is probably still better than no status if u fly separately because u'll get better service in case of a irrop or some other cause of delay. (The delta Amex only gives the free suitcase to the primary caldholder. So if 1 of u is gold and the other has no status, and the gm is the primary on the amex, then the non status would have to pay for the suitcase)
If u travel together, though, I totally agree 1 gm is better than 2 fo
Nov 15, 2011, 2:01 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Oklahoma
Programs: Southwest A-List Preferred/Companion Pass, Amtrak Select, Priority Club Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 453
The better question is, with Amex holders spending their way to medallion levels, what is Gold going to be worth anymore?
Nov 15, 2011, 2:08 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,784
But if you don't travel together, then 2 fo is better than 1 gm. U'd both get 2 pieces of luggage if flying separately.
If u don't check bags, or have the delta Amex and u only need 1 suitcase, then being fo is probably still better than no status if u fly separately because u'll get better service in case of a irrop or some other cause of delay. (The delta Amex only gives the free suitcase to the primary caldholder. So if 1 of u is gold and the other has no status, and the gm is the primary on the amex, then the non status would have to pay for the suitcase)
If u travel together, though, I totally agree 1 gm is better than 2 fo
If u don't check bags, or have the delta Amex and u only need 1 suitcase, then being fo is probably still better than no status if u fly separately because u'll get better service in case of a irrop or some other cause of delay. (The delta Amex only gives the free suitcase to the primary caldholder. So if 1 of u is gold and the other has no status, and the gm is the primary on the amex, then the non status would have to pay for the suitcase)
If u travel together, though, I totally agree 1 gm is better than 2 fo
From http://www.delta.com/traveling_check...cked/index.jsp
Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Delta SkyMiles Credit Cardmembers from American Express may check their first bag for free for all Delta and Delta Connection flights. Benefit is limited to Basic Cardmembers (not Additional Cardmembers). The checked bag must comply with our size & weight restrictions. The benefit applies to up to 9 people traveling in the eligible Cardmember's reservation.
Nov 15, 2011, 2:29 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: New York City
Programs: Delta gm Spg gold hilton gold hyatt platinum hertz presidents avis presidential
Posts: 773
[QUOTE=CarmenOM:17455706]
That is partially, but not entirely, true. A traveller with a Delta AmEx card gets a free bag for each of up to nine people on the same reservation with the cardholder.
From http://www.delta.com/traveling_check...cked/index.jsp
Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Delta SkyMiles Credit Cardmembers from American Express may check their first bag for free for all Delta and Delta Connection flights. Benefit is limited to Basic Cardmembers (not Additional Cardmembers). The checked bag must comply with our size & weight restrictions. The benefit applies to up to 9 people traveling in the eligible Cardmember's reservation.
True, my point was if they're flying separately, and the non elite is only a secondary in the Amex, then they don't get the 1 free piece. They have to realize that if they make 1 gm and that one is the primary cardholders.
If they're flying together, the non medallion gets free suitcases by virtue of flying with a medallion.
That is partially, but not entirely, true. A traveller with a Delta AmEx card gets a free bag for each of up to nine people on the same reservation with the cardholder.
From http://www.delta.com/traveling_check...cked/index.jsp
Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Delta SkyMiles Credit Cardmembers from American Express may check their first bag for free for all Delta and Delta Connection flights. Benefit is limited to Basic Cardmembers (not Additional Cardmembers). The checked bag must comply with our size & weight restrictions. The benefit applies to up to 9 people traveling in the eligible Cardmember's reservation.
If they're flying together, the non medallion gets free suitcases by virtue of flying with a medallion.