Maximizing Value of Diamond Choice Benefits
 

I just hit Delta Diamond and get my choice of two benefits. I'm curious as to everyone's take on maximizing value for myself from these benefits.

My initial thought:

• Choose - 25,000 miles & $200 Tiffany's gift card
• System wide upgrades - worthless as diamond as I'll be upgrading a majority of the time anyway and they aren't valid on international flights if a discount fare is purchased
• Sky club passes - worthless as diamond as I already have free skyclub access for me + 2 others
• Gift Medallion - Probably worth the most but it is against Delta's T&C to sell from what I understand

http://i.imgur.com/KyvT9.png

I have always selected the 10 system wide upgrades. Yes, the restrictions have been covered ad nauseum, but I find that IF CODED CORRECTLY, they put you at the top of the upgrade list, beneficial for the long transcon flights.

It all really depends on what you want to use the benefits for. I find my SWUs to be of decent value on domestic flights that are tough to get an UG. Now they are kinda worthless of Int'l travel unless you or your company buys Y, B or M fares :td: but hey, it is a only discount after all. It is against the C of C to sell the gifted medallion status. If you have a SO or something, that could be beneficial.

I personally gift Gold status to my wife and select the $200 Delta voucher. Definitely nice to defray the out-of-pocket costs of personal flights and improve our upgrade chances when traveling with my better half. It also helps her on the off chance that she is flying somewhere for a girls weekend or if we are meeting up for a weekend getaway (and I'm flying directly from a work trip). She has also accumulated a nice stash of miles thanks to the 100% bonus and really likes the ability to SDC. Just my two cents...

Good thought. If only it was true.

I do find the SWUs useful on the transcons. Even as a DM, almost always K fare or higher, and with the coveted AMEX Reserve, the transcons can be a tough upgrade without a little help. I usually grab the SWUs when I reach Plat for the year then go for the miles and gift GM to my son when I hit the DM mark.

This has been my method as well

I coordinate my PM and DM choice benefits. If you are planning to pick SWUs or miles once, do it as a DM choice and pick a gift card for PM. $200 versus 4/6 SWUs versus 20,000/25,000 miles.

my five shkalim on the topic
 

It is against Delta policy to sell the Gold so you could give it to somebody who will be as altruistic as you are and give you something too (please note I did not write "back").

Personally I dont think giving Gold to my Wife makes sense. Here is why; when we fly together on one reservation, I am pushed down to Gold. So the single gal/guy with Gold status actually gets it faster to the front of the plane that two of us together.

On all long distance flights (transcontinental) it is difficult those days to be upgraded to first if you area Diamond (on top of D status I have Amex Delta Reserve). So when we do fly together she gets my seat in first, and I go to seat in the back and for re-education. Plus I am scoring extra points with my Wife for being (still) so charming.

Those SWU were/are great if you flying on AirFrance or KLM and willing to chip in more money and get an upgrade. I did fly once in so called economy comfort and once in Business on KLM. Both flights IAD to CPT via AMS.
I must admit that I don't want ever to fly in the back. Not even as some researchers claim my chances to get killed in front of the plane are much bigger. I would rather die in class.

Also I do see Diamond tags being sold on ebay for 125.00 a pop. You can buy bigger/shiner Tiffany for 250.00 extra, and if you really give a #@$% make a color copy of them before you sell, glue them over your good, old Platinum tags. Trust me nobody will know the difference. Unless you let them touch...but this would be either consensual or harassment.

That's some funny $h!t !!!!!

Oh, common;:D either the guy is a dreamer (great thing to be as opposed to say pessimist?) or is lucky in life (even greater thing to be). I am jealous either way...

+1

Great quote. :D

I am speechless. Why would anyone buy someone else's tags? I don't even put my own DM tags on my bag - I've just thrown them out every year.

I guess some folks think the clank of the DM cowbell makes them a VIP.

Ultimate DYKWIA