jrkmsp

I had an ORC claim in March that netted no MQDs. An ORC claim in June paid MQDs fine. I suspect they were still implementing systems and couldn't properly track at the beginning of the year, but are able to now.

But official clarification would be nice.

skchin

Another thing to track. What's next? $1,000,000 MQD recognition?

HongKonger

No doubt there are kinks that must be worked out.

HongKonger

Craps also came to Asia pretty recently, and they still don't really know how to deal it.

MSPeconomist

As expected, I have more than enough MQDs already for DM, with about $5K more already ticketed and more tickets to come this year. A quick glance suggests that my MQDs are accurate, including those for a complicated international ticket that was changed at least once.

mr_burdell

I'm finding several discrepancies between SPG crossover points and MQDs. As far as I understand, they should be the same, however I have several flights that were credited differently between each segment for SPG and MQDs. Oddly, the round trips seem to all add up to within a dollar/point of each other though, so it appears to only be splitting the fares differently and not crediting total points differently.


For example, this is a round trip to Ohare:

Delta:
MQMs
606
MQSs
1
MQDs*
$201

MQMs
909
MQSs
1
MQDs*
$202

SPG:

Earn +129 05/*/2013 DL PTS TIX:ATL 2013050*
Earn +274 05/*/2013 DL PTS TIX:ORD 2013050*

EDIT:
After cross referencing the receipts, it appears that SPG is correct and Delta is just splitting the total fare in half for each of the flights that don't match.

KOTAR1988

I have wrestled with this notion of "gamers" and I keep coming up "empty" with every argument against these people, if they even exist.

For argument's sake, let say they exist. HOW do they affect any upper Medallion if they are just trying to get status at any level? In other words, do they actually affect the "normal" distribution for the biggest and apparent benefit of being upgraded? If they have to make MR to get status, then they can't be flying all that much to "bump" a DM out of his/her upgrade.

I tried to rationalize every scenario possible and can't seem to find these "horned" and "hoofed" creatures anywhere.

I am still left with the question of, "How does the "MQD" requirement" adversely affect these "gamers" as well as provide a larger ROI for Delta? I just don't see it.

DL-Don

This is going to be interesting.

Due to a recent job change, my MQMs are down for this year (70K YTD) but my MQDs are already $19K. I rolled over 233K MQMs so if I keep the spend up but the MQMs continue to be lower than usual, I guess I'll have 3 or 4 years of living off the roll-over before falling down to "complementary annual Platinum."

amolkold

They also beat out United who plans to have PQD starting 1/1/2014 as well.

timmy83

I don't really get it either.

Gamers certainly exist, but the view I have is that they're more at the extremes of the frequent travel spectrum, and won't be hurt by any of these moves (i.e. the manufactured spend people and the fuel dumpers).

Perhaps I'm a gamer in the eyes of Delta. I fly low fares because they offer them (it's often the impetus for weekend trips), and because my work travel requires that I fly on the cheapest fare possible; not because I'm trying to beat the system. I've gotten their Amex card for MQM and taken advantage of promotions they've advertised to keep my status, but I certainly don't look to exploit every last facet of their program.

I don't quite understand the anti-gamer sentiment, but don't really care that much.... looks like I'll be fine in the grand scheme. I do, however, wonder what will happen when the casual travelling FOs start losing status. What will that mean for their future travel and DL's bottom line? When I can't get priority boarding or a free bag, flying on DL looks a lot like WN.

yohanson

I'm way behind compared to last year. I had nearly $12K at this time last year. Right now I'm at $7,954. Fewer Midwest flights and way more cheaper West Coast flights.

GRALISTAIR

2 standard deviations I would estimate.

GRALISTAIR

Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs)
Current YTD 140,534
includes Rollover MQMs 46,098
Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs)
Current YTD 67

Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs)* $10,786

SDF_Traveler

I had US Airways cancel a non-stop SDF-DCA flight due to a mechanical - original US ticket was pricy as I paid a premium for the AM non-stop into DCA with few days notice.

Rebooked onto DL, the MQD was a paltry $100~

When connecting flights are involved, seems as if they're assigning MQD for each segment based on distance.

SDF

KOTAR1988

Bingo! You hit the nail on the head! People seem to take the L,U,T,V,X,E flyers for granted(some even refer to them as "gamer's") but when DL tells me that 65-70%of the 1st class cabins domestically are filled with "upgrades", it has to negatively affect Delta's bottom line if these tickets were never sold.

Like I mentioned before, 90%+ of my travel is out of my pocket, no reimbursement through my employer, so I enjoy when neighbors who fly/work for Delta tell me about the "brainstorming" that goes on to increase revenue's. If DL was so concerned about the swelling of the ranks, then the easiet thing to do would be to STOP the "Rollover" MQM's, Raise the "MQD" thresholds, and Raise the AMEX yearly spend limits, however, there are limits before people revolt.

I would really like to see Delta go to a system where they start charging for the upgrades at the gate(you could use mile as well) to increase revenues, however, keep the Medallions happy by giving out several upgrade certificates with no restrictions and base(who has priority on level of Medallion and fare class) That's when I think you see competition return to the airline sectors as long as the 3 legacy carriers enact the same rules as they are headed to right now. Just a thought....