First time diamond
 

After having not gotten better than Gold for many years, I hit Diamond last night on a Korea-Switzerland flight. Another 30k mqms coming during the rest of the year too, so good deal overall.

But I already have membership to the lounges with my credit card, and I live overseas so no upgrades to speak of, other than 6 YBM fares per year. I suppose I was expecting more fireworks...

Still, happy to have achieved it finally.

Congratulations!
Now enjoy the enhanced benefits of being Diamond.
Especially if you travel a lot domestically within the US, the upgrade percentages will rocket towards 100%.
Regarding SkyClub access, I wish DL would make that an additional choice.
I have SC access from Lifetime member status + Delta Reserve CC + Diamond Medallion status. It comes in handy when traveling with extended family.

Mostly flying out of ICN on KE the past couple of years, IMO anything over DL GM is anti-climatic. All I really use is the ST E+ Sky Priority benefit.

In recent years, all my flights to the States have been in Biz Elite -- generally on an M fare upgraded with SkyMiles. Being Gold gives me the extra SkyMiles needed to allow those earned on one trip to pay for the upgrade for the next trip.

The other benefits that even a Diamond gets are pretty meaningless for me. I don't need SkyClub membership because flying Biz Elite internationally gets me into the SkyClub. (Being Gold also gets me in when flying Economy, which I do when I take a flight on a SkyTeam partner to Europe.)

Upgrades are generally not important as being on an M itinerary means that I get upgraded at booking for most domestic flights (the 50,000 SkyMiles I pay for the r/t international flight covers the domestic ones, too, if Z fare is available).

This is reflected on my upcoming itinerary as follows:

TLV-JFK-SEA: I can get into the SkyClub in all three cities as I am flying Biz Elite internationally on that day. I have been upgraded on both segments.

SEA-SLC-LAS: I cannot get into the SkyClub as I have no international flight, but wouldn't have time in SLC anyhow. I have already been upgraded SEA-SLC, put into Economy Comfort for SLC-LAS and am waitlisted for FC.

LAS-ATL: I cannot get into the SkyClub as I have no international flight, but that is theoretical as LAS doesn't have a SkyClub and I wouldn't bother upon arriving in ATL. I have already been upgraded for this flight.

ATL-JFK-TLV: I can get into the SkyClub in both cities because I have an international flight and have been upgraded on both segments.

There really is no reason at all for me to shoot for anything higher than Gold.

lol?

Not if you're based in ATL......:(

AFAIK you do not have a lounge MEMBERSHIP with a credit card--you have lounge ACCESS from DL AmEx Reserve credit card or regular AmEx Plat charge card (technically not a credit card BTW) when flying SkyTeam or DL respectively. The SC membership (DMs are sent a separate real card for lounges) allows access even if flying other carriers and gets you into some additional lounges. (Check the lists using the drop down menu for lounge locations at delta.dumb.) There might also be some differences in how many guests are allowed; I don't remember those rules.

DM is pretty much worthless to him if the OP travels very little in the US and already has lounge access.

20% to 50% is still 'rocketing' towards 100%. Of course, 'hitting' 100% requires giving up one's firstborne. Not necessarily a bad trade.

However, on the hopefully rare cases where you need IROPs attention or emergency travel, DL treats DMs pretty well. I've been delighted at times by the little or big unpublished benefits, such as opening up and assigning a prime seat overnight when the flight's seat map looks full, SDC to co-terminals, more generous compensation, hotels during IROPs, etc.

Not for this cowboy. Enjoyed better UG% as PM five years ago, before inventory was slashed.

I'd LOVE to see a side-by-side comparison of loyalty programs based on a 2MM customer flying 125K+paid miles/year benchmark.

When you hit 2MM, Delta will totally rock your world.

Wait & see.

the unpublished benies are huge, you are right there. For example, being able to SDC to any airport in the San fran area is a prime example. I can book a cheap flight into SJC and SDC to SFO and go non stop back to JFK on the BE config 757

The 25% extra miles are nice and if you can use the 6 PU503s it can be worth it as well. You can also gift someone Gold = ST E+.
Not sure what kind of benis you expected when you mostly fly KE :confused:

I was diamond the first year offered...(then gold/silver/and next year nothing)...very disappointed with the "delta" way vs "NW" way when traveling with companion...basically on delta, with a companion got upgraded once the whole year.

diamond was great when problems came up, but for me it really didn't mean much.

I was near 100% with NW by myself and probably 90 percent with a companion.