I agree. I'm not surprised to see this modification; I think Delta figured out that many business travelers were using M-class fares to accrue the 50% MQM bonus at a fare cheaper than YB. However, as a practical matter, it's become more difficult to get M-class fares. I usually travel for business and I often book just 5-7 days in advance. I used to see YBM fares offered as the only ones available, but increasingly I see HQK fares. This, coupled with the loss of the 50% bonus, will force me to change my booking/flying strategy to 2013.

shawn.

Will also note:

Don't see a terrible outcry about the changes, which is kind of the opposite of what I expected to see reading through the thread. I think for business travelers, they won't notice a difference. This might put the pinch on leisure travelers who pay out of pocket for status.

Unless you have access to Delta's pricing and fare strategies, you're making some bis assumptions. You're completely willing to accept that Delta is going to a full spend based program, despite zero evidence, Maybe you should accept that until you know, you don't.

I'm not too worried about the $2500 minimum spend to retain FO, since I fly DL enough for work travel that I'll inevitably have some 30 cpm trips in there. And since I'll have $200 worth of reimbursed buy-ups to EC, it's only a $2300 hit for me.

If I was all on my own dime, however, I wouldn't be able to maintain 10 cpm unless I bought the occasional A or S fare.

Bingo. This is a non-issue for me with >25k in CC spending. I haven't needed the bonus MQMs based on threshhold spend so I've put this $ elsewhere... Delta has now ensured I will put this on their Amex.

I wonder if change fees, SC memberships, etc will be included in total DL spend....

This is a step in the right direction but not enough - I'm all for status earned on the basis of revenue dollars and miles accrued/redeemed on the current non-revenue-linked basis. My problem is that if I buy five transcons in C for business (they average 3-3.5k each) and spend 15k but only fly 25k miles and earn 37.5k (with CoS MQM bonus) MQM, DL will still only give me silver. Meanwhile some kid or blogger with too much time on their hands will do 10 transcon MRs at $250/pop ($2.5k total) and earn Gold. Which customer is more valuable to the airline? Yet who is Gold and who is Silver? If airlines were smart, they'd change the status calculation or at least make the qualification based on miles flown OR dollars instead of AND.

^

Everyone should note that MR IS NOT DEAD. If you have an Amex card you can bypass the spending tiers completely. If anything, this change has increased the importance/value of having a DL Amex in hand.

So then did Delta think of what flyers like me will do who currently fly enough to earn at least 125K but who's spend threshold is low? If I know that I will only qualify for GM, or PM based on my MDS, then I will stop flying DL once I reach my MQM level and my MDS for that level and fly another airline. What inscentive do I have to stick with Delta between MDS levels if I know I will fall short of making DM?

I notice the part on having the Amex says the MQD requirements "can" be waived. That worries me a bit.

I am curious as to how much money DL makes if I spend $25K with my DL Amex? Since they may waive the MQD it must in the neighborhood of their profit on an average $12K worth of DL tickets.

I'll also be curious to see the actual fare classes that earn the 100% MQM bonus -- if I/S (and A/P) get it or will they stay at 50% or drop to 0%

With the M fare -- with PMNW you could only do a mileage upgrade with Y or B -- not M. Though the B fares were much more reasonable then... Not saying this has anything to do with things, just pointing out history.

I fly on my own dime and even my normal fares don't hit 10cpm. Good thing I spend or plan to spend >$25K on Amex Delta cards each year.

I got invited to a Lakers game by Delta ... not because I was Medallion, but because I spent on my Amex card. Spend is the new loyalty.

Or it will provide incentive for you to get an Amex or to move spend to Amex that you normally wouldn't. Not to say that everyone will, but I think this makes sense from an Amex/DL perspective.

+1 That is the big question.

That's not how I understand it. Spend does NOT waive the MQM requirement.