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Originally Posted by DwayneSkyMiles
(Post 20065494)
Within the next hour, you’ll see our official announcement of the changes we’re making to how you qualify for status in the Medallion program for 2015. We know you got a head start yesterday which is no surprise - you are some of our most passionate and engaged customers. We felt it was important to publish the details well in advance so you can plan your travel.
First, it’s true that we’re introducing a new requirement for earning status on Delta for US-based SkyMiles members. Starting January 1, 2014, Medallion status will be earned with MQMs or MQSs and a new threshold – Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). MQDs will be paired with our existing MQM/MQS requirements at each tier level and will include base fare and applicable surcharges (excluding taxes and fees) to qualify for each level. Silver Medallion – you will need 25,000 MQMs or 30 MQSs and $2,500 MQDs Gold Medallion – you will need 50,000 MQMs or 60 MQSs and $5,000 MQDs Platinum Medallion – you will need 75,000 MQMs or 100 MQSs and $7,500 MQDs Diamond Medallion – you will need 125,000 MQMs or 140 MQSs and $12,500 MQDs If you have a U.S. Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express you will have the new MQDs requirement waived each year you make $25,000 in eligible purchases using your card. Second, starting March 1, 2013 we are changing a few of the MQM bonus levels on certain fares. F and J class fares will increase to a 100% MQM bonus and M class fares will no longer receive an MQM bonus. Y and B fares will remain at the current level, receiving a 50% MQM bonus. This change will go into effect for Delta-marketed flights for any purchases on or after March 1 and for OA with travel flown on or after March 1, 2013. These changes will not change the way your redeemable SkyMiles (for Award Travel, etc.) are counted or redeemed. Today is just the first time you’ll be hearing from us about these changes as we’ll continue updating you with information through email and on delta.com until the new requirements are in place. We’ll also be keeping an eye on the conversations here on FT. I’ll be back to respond to the common questions from the community in the coming days. A seat without a butt in it on departure is lost revenue no matter how low the fare is, and for those who like my wife and myself who travel on deeply discounted fares, but have been loyal to Delta and given them all of our business because of the perks we get with medallion status, I am Gold and my wife is Silver, so we will continue at times to fly Delta and enjoy the perks until the end of Feb. 2015 but not at the same level as in the past because any MQM’s we get this year are now totally worthless to us. My wife and myself have done a few mileage runs in the past, usually on a Saturday or Sunday when their planes are not full, putting revenue in Delta’s bank account when otherwise those seats would have gone out empty. In fact we were starting to do some planning for a mileage run to the west coast in the spring, obviously with this announcement that will not happen, again lost revenue for Delta. My wife and I have been totally loyal to Delta, flying them exclusively since we changed over from American Airlines 5 years ago, even putting up with changing airplanes when other airlines fly the same route nonstop. Fortunately for us we do have a choice, JetBlue for most of our flying, I know that JetBlue also uses revenue as a factor for elite status, but even without elite status JetBlue offers a far superior on board product than Delta, and I am sure that JetBlue will appreciate all the business they will be getting from former Delta flyers like us, especially on the New York to Florida runs Delta just sent my wife and I, and all the other low dollar but loyal flyers who help fill their seats a clear message, they do not want our business anymore, and we will oblige them by taking our business somewhere else. Mr. Elliott |
Originally Posted by rylan
(Post 20071641)
I meant it'll cost you less per mile so you can do some MRs to bump up the MQM for rollover. For example you can do 120k for 7500 and its 6.25cpm... but yes the $7500 total spend *before taxes* is still required. And I have a sneaking suspicion that the taxes and fees exclusion is going to push the actual out of pocket cost way higher.
And agree with you, looking at bt (before tax) spend will make this appear quite overwhelming for those who are used to simple LUT fares. For those who qualify on AmEx spend, it will be business as usual. |
The new UNITED is looking much, ,much, much better.
The benefits get diluted, but the Products still as Crappy as ever. |
Originally Posted by ATL787
(Post 20066154)
The gutting of MQM earning on SkyTeam partners is absolutely incredible. I would be seriously ticked if I had any flights booked already for after March 1st, and found out that I would only earn 50% of what I expected.
Actually, I'm a bit unclear how this will hit me. I leave LHR on 28 Feb, land in CAN 01 Mar (via CDG, CZ-coded but AF metal), and continue on to AKL on 02 Mar. Any guesses as to what will happen? Does the departure or arrival date matter more in this case? (haven't had time to read the whole thread yet, sorry if this scenario has already been addressed.) |
My guess is it'll be based on the segment flown date for the partner rate slashing cut-over, not when travel originates, since its easier to implement based on the date of activity than to try to figure out what flight originated and connected.
Actually if I were in your position, I'd be writing a nasty letter how you booked that flight and they pulled an effective 'bait-and-switch' for earning. |
I don't get many bump vouchers (mostly TATL flights so I'd be a day late on an outbound and I just want to get home on the return) but things will get interesting if they don't count as MQD spend. If they don't count, I can see a lot of people who today would take one, passing in the future. You can't transfer them (to a spouse or traveling companion) so unless you are sure you'll reach your MQD with some room to spare (or have an Amex) they aren't worth so much any more.
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Originally Posted by Mr. Elliott
(Post 20071644)
I wonder if the executives who decided to go with this new dollar requirement factored in how much business Delta will lose from those who barely can make elite status as it is.
A seat without a butt in it on departure is lost revenue no matter how low the fare is, and for those who like my wife and myself who travel on deeply discounted fares, but have been loyal to Delta and given them all of our business because of the perks we get with medallion status, I am Gold and my wife is Silver, so we will continue at times to fly Delta and enjoy the perks until the end of Feb. 2015 but not at the same level as in the past because any MQM’s we get this year are now totally worthless to us. My wife and myself have done a few mileage runs in the past, usually on a Saturday or Sunday when their planes are not full, putting revenue in Delta’s bank account when otherwise those seats would have gone out empty. In fact we were starting to do some planning for a mileage run to the west coast in the spring, obviously with this announcement that will not happen, again lost revenue for Delta. My wife and I have been totally loyal to Delta, flying them exclusively since we changed over from American Airlines 5 years ago, even putting up with changing airplanes when other airlines fly the same route nonstop. Fortunately for us we do have a choice, JetBlue for most of our flying, I know that JetBlue also uses revenue as a factor for elite status, but even without elite status JetBlue offers a far superior on board product than Delta, and I am sure that JetBlue will appreciate all the business they will be getting from former Delta flyers like us, especially on the New York to Florida runs Delta just sent my wife and I, and all the other low dollar but loyal flyers who help fill their seats a clear message, they do not want our business anymore, and we will oblige them by taking our business somewhere else. Mr. Elliott |
Originally Posted by timmy83
(Post 20066319)
Originally Posted by Medeski
(Post 20066291)
How come this isnt up on the front page of DL.com yet?
Seems like a major change you would want people buying tickets to know about |
Oh but the new Delta website makes me so happy every time I attempt to use it that I can easily overlook this change!
NOT! |
IMO - the new program will greatly increase participation in the AmEx program.
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Originally Posted by 5khours
(Post 20070900)
I'll say it again. DL is trying to do three things.
1. Coerce SM members to fly less on non-DL ST metal and more on DL metal. 2. Attract and retain more high volume international traffic by making international upgrades easier through lower M fares (yet to be announced). 3. Keep the Amex golden egg laying goose well fed. |
I did not read through the entire thread, so I apologize for repeating any emotions on here, but the changes are utterly incredulous.
As an Asia-based FO, it will be extremely difficult for people now in this part of the world to qualify for status even without the minimum spend requirement. For example, ex-MNL I will only earn full MQMs if I fly KL or DL, and not CI/CZ/KE/SV. And with the possibility of KLM pulling out of MNL entirely not being a very far possibility, this severely reduces the chances of being able to earn status unless one flies regularly between Asia and the United States. Disappointed. Utterly, utterly disappointed. This is how DL repays the loyalty of their non-U.S. based elites who, by luck or circumstance, have ended up in places where they will no longer have a realistic chance of earning status. Pathetic. |
Originally Posted by Mr. Elliott
(Post 20071644)
I wonder if the executives who decided to go with this new dollar requirement factored in how much business Delta will lose from those who barely can make elite status as it is.
A seat without a butt in it on departure is lost revenue no matter how low the fare is, and for those who like my wife and myself who travel on deeply discounted fares, but have been loyal to Delta and given them all of our business because of the perks we get with medallion status, I am Gold and my wife is Silver, so we will continue at times to fly Delta and enjoy the perks until the end of Feb. 2015 but not at the same level as in the past because any MQM’s we get this year are now totally worthless to us. My wife and myself have done a few mileage runs in the past, usually on a Saturday or Sunday when their planes are not full, putting revenue in Delta’s bank account when otherwise those seats would have gone out empty. In fact we were starting to do some planning for a mileage run to the west coast in the spring, obviously with this announcement that will not happen, again lost revenue for Delta. My wife and I have been totally loyal to Delta, flying them exclusively since we changed over from American Airlines 5 years ago, even putting up with changing airplanes when other airlines fly the same route nonstop. Fortunately for us we do have a choice, JetBlue for most of our flying, I know that JetBlue also uses revenue as a factor for elite status, but even without elite status JetBlue offers a far superior on board product than Delta, and I am sure that JetBlue will appreciate all the business they will be getting from former Delta flyers like us, especially on the New York to Florida runs Delta just sent my wife and I, and all the other low dollar but loyal flyers who help fill their seats a clear message, they do not want our business anymore, and we will oblige them by taking our business somewhere else. Mr. Elliott At best, I would make Plat but with all else DL has done, mainly FCM, those domestic UG's have become very elusive, even for DM's. And, one of the best things about the SM program is the Domestic upgrades. With that all but impossible to get now, whats left? Certainly not the international UG policy, thats the worst in the industry. |
Originally Posted by Mr. Elliott
(Post 20071644)
I wonder if the executives who decided to go with this new dollar requirement factored in how much business Delta will lose from those who barely can make elite status as it is.
A seat without a butt in it on departure is lost revenue no matter how low the fare is, and for those who like my wife and myself who travel on deeply discounted fares, but have been loyal to Delta and given them all of our business because of the perks we get with medallion status |
Originally Posted by Deltahater
(Post 20071782)
2 sounds like complete BS to me. there is no basis for that statement
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