The Official Medallion Qualification Update Thread
Jan 17, 2013, 9:34 am
#211
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SFO
Posts: 329
I understand that M fare purchases after 3/1/13 will no longer have the 50% MQM bonus. What if the purchase is made prior to 3/1 for a flt in, say, April (or December, for that matter)? It sounds like you are saying that M fare purchases on or before 3/1 will still qualify for the 50% bonus but it would be nice if you can confirm that.
Jan 17, 2013, 9:35 am
#212
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
And flights marked by another carrier NEVER start with 006.
Jan 17, 2013, 9:39 am
#214
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
And "marketed" is the same as "issued":
According to IATA rules: "The 3-digit accounting code at the beginning of the ticket number identifies the issuing airline".
Jan 17, 2013, 9:39 am
#215
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Platinum, Delta Platinum, SPG/Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 49
Isn't there a plus-side for those that may have flown too many miles in a year? Now you can rollover those extra miles by not spending. So, if you are comfortable with a lower medallion status you can rollover more of those miles. For example, I get upgraded fairly consistently out of Phoenix as a GM. This year I am going to flying close to qualify for PM. If I decide that I'd rather have the 25K rollover MQMs and not PM, all I would have to do is spend less.
Jan 17, 2013, 9:39 am
#216
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta Skymiles, Marriott Rewards, Emerald Club
Posts: 98
Do you actually travel for work? In a normal travel week, I spend $500 on a flight, $400 on rental car, $400 on a hotel and $200 on food/entertainment. That's $1500 per week of travel all on the Delta AMEX. So if you just traveled two weeks a month, that's more than $25k. It's not irresponsible, it's actually traveling for work and being smart enough to stick to a single credit card.
Jan 17, 2013, 9:41 am
#217
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: DL Silver, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Silver, IHG Plat, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,695
Jan 17, 2013, 9:42 am
#218
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,963
Dwayne, you say that redemption levels will remain the same yet you also say you will keep us posted with future updates. I take that to mean redemption levels are changing and DL is just holding back on telling us. It would not be the first time Delta has pulled a bait and switch on us like this. Are we to assume that our miles are essentially devalued more than a Zimbabwean dollar with this change? That has not been addressed, and the concern by frequent flyers is out of control on this issue with no clue by DL phone agents (who are still trying to cope with website complaints). Can you please clarify this for us once and for all!?
Jan 17, 2013, 9:42 am
#219
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Jan 17, 2013, 9:42 am
#220
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SFO
Posts: 329
Sure, but that has nothing to do with what you said. You can have a 057 (AF) issued ticket with DL marketed (flights with a DL 1234) flights on them. You can have a 006 issued ticket with KL marketed flights on them. I fly these all the time to and from Europe. The MQD rules say you get credit for spend on both 006 issued tickets and for DL marketed flights on other ticket stock.
Jan 17, 2013, 9:43 am
#221
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,289
They make high margin (almost pure profit) from MQMs, and it's not sensitive to fuel price surges or other downturns/challenges. It's a near-guaranteed profitable revenue stream. Their core business - selling seats - is low margin and subject to all sorts of risks and fluctuations. Makes perfect sense they want to incentivize the former.
Jan 17, 2013, 9:44 am
#222
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,106
Another thought... for those who think this is DL's way of improving things for its "best" customers by very indirectly possibly slightly improving the UG list situation for them, remember that DL has sold pure MQMs for the last two years. That did nothing but inflate the elite ranks by promoting those who would otherwise not make a given status level.
What do both MQM sales and MQD have in common? They increase revenue to DL. Any change by DL can be seen in no other light than "what does it do for DL revenue"? At the end of the day, DL is a big, global corporation that can more or less do whatever it pleases, but I don't think there's anything to this besides money.
What do both MQM sales and MQD have in common? They increase revenue to DL. Any change by DL can be seen in no other light than "what does it do for DL revenue"? At the end of the day, DL is a big, global corporation that can more or less do whatever it pleases, but I don't think there's anything to this besides money.
Jan 17, 2013, 9:44 am
#223
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
Seriously people. STOP POSTING INCORRECT INFORMATION.
Jan 17, 2013, 9:44 am
#225
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM Reserve
Posts: 567
Now you earn about the same or less than US-Europe travel on non-DL marketed flights to Asia. Most times I've looked at the comparison between DL-marketed and non-DL-marketed fares to Asia, it's been either about $1,000 more or simply double the non-DL-marketed fare.
I'm sure they make good money off of paid F/J tickets, and dropping that earn rate down to 100%/75% is a joke. Not that I would ever pay those joke fares, anyway. Seems to be a big disincentive. See how long it will last.