I can't comment on AA, but UA's international-upgrade system has been broken for years. You can read all about it on Flyertalk's United board. Problems upgrading were the primary reason for me switching back from UA to DL last year. I finally had enough with waiting until the day of departure and competing against Kettles buying upgrades at check-in. I lost many system-wide upgrades due to their expiring unused -- and unusable! No, thanks. I'm sticking with Delta.

Bruce

For the people who think they can just book their non-JV partner travel on DL codeshares or 006 tickets, I looked at booking SFO-TPE in late March. CI will sell me a non-stop R fare (deeply discounted economy) for 1150. DL will sell me a half-L half-U fare on the same flights 1750. If you want those MQM/MQD you're gonna have to pay.

Do you think that, when buying an airplane ticket that you are buying a 100% certain departure time? I sure don't. But DL does give me a high probability of departing and arriving "on time", with minimal hassles, and with a product consistent with what I want and expect.

I laughed at this given your screen name. I mean seriously, you want to attack my credibility? And my truthfulness? Please. I'm simply not emotionally engaged one way or the other.

No, "we" didn't. Not even close. Only someone completely and utterly ignorant of basic math would think "we" did. What was shown was that the average fare paid on any particular flight is $225. Quite a different thing from spend per year. More importantly, we also know that the average passenger pays more per mile than is required to meet the minimum spend numbers, which is what leads me to believe that this will be largely a non-event for "normal" travelers.

You are wading way out of your depth here. Next time you want to question my credibility or truthfulness, I suggest you actually run the numbers before spouting nonsense.

Don't know if this was asked or answered yet, I can't scroll through 75 pages to find out. Apologies if this is a repeat question.

I always spend 25K on my SkyMiles Platinum Amex and the 10K MQM boost I earn is essential for me to maintain my Gold status. Now with the 25K threshold needed to exempt from MQD, do I still get the 10K MQM bonus as well from Amex?

I've been flying mainly TATL leisure 5-7 times a year as a GM and a rare PM since 1999. Usually I can put together enough SkyMiles to fly to Europe twice in a summer in coach for the OB and BE for the IB (80Kmiles if you book early enough). I get the occasional operational upgrade on the TATL and Delta's service has been fine. Nonetheless, with these changes, I feel Delta is really trying to make me stay home. TATL coach fares double from 4 years ago. My absolutely essential and until last year free exit row seat is now 90 bucks (40 for GM's)- and they don't want to give MQD for EC? - that stinks too.

If that 10K Amex MQM boost disappears too, its bye bye Delta.

What is there to answer? If it remains a published benefit, then it is a published benefit.

Alternatively, we could work ourselves into a panic based on speculation.

No one seems to have been able to answer this question (if anyone has info, please post it!). I suspect that you are not alone in this feeling and there would be a huge egress from DL AMEX cards if the threshold MQMs disappear, as they, along with the DL AMEX $25K immunization from MQD, are the only way many of us could retain or even get status.

I've seen this figure floating around and it's intriguing. Does the revenue calculation come only from seat purchases and other fees or does it include the other $$ generators, such as the considerable $ from AMEX, Lincoln ads, Coke ads, SkyClub memberships etc. if it does, then the average passenger spends less (although probably not very much) than $225/a.

Well, they published that M fares got an MQM bonus until they didn't. Stuff happens, things change. That's kind of the point of this thread, no? I'm not speculating, just asking if any actual information on change has been found.

It might be intriguing, but it isn't right. Or, rather, it is being used incorrectly.

Median spend would be much more interesting than mean imo.

Question has been asked many times here but no answer as yet. Presumably DL/AmEx will make some kind of announcement if the MQM boost will disappear and say nothing if it will continue. My guess, it will remain at least for 2013 but after that... ????

Could you provide a more helpful analysis?

Why would I need to? DL provides PRASM in their financials.

Or go back to the original post. I don't have a problem with the initial figure, just the misinterpretation of what the $225 number represents.

That would be very interesting to see.

If they got rid of the MQM threshold bonus from AMEX there would be no reason to have it nor the DL Plat or business cards, all would matter is have one DL Amex to put 25k on and you could do that with the Gold which has no MQM or spend threshold.

My guess is the MQM boost will remain (though I won't take odds on the spend threshold increasing). All of the DL Amex cards -- even the Basic -- have the MQD waiver. Without the MQM boost the only reason to have the DL Plat Amex (over the Basic) would be the companion ticket -- worth it to some but not to me.

Since Delta hasn't said anything, I'd take that to mean nothing has changed. If they were going to make such a change, why wouldn't they announce it with all the others?

Sold out. F=0.


Anyone catch the SkyPriority security at DTW this morning? THAT is why the herd needs to be thinned. Line went all the way to the north wall of ticket lobby. I went to regular security and saved time. Why? So a bunch of cheapos can have a shiny card and take benefits away from those that at least pay their share?