Platinum vs. Diamond
Feb 14, 2013, 2:04 pm
#136
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MKE
Programs: DL Diamond, 2 MM
Posts: 1,009
It's not worth it. It seems, however, that some DL agents actually believe this. I called the Diamond Line to book a r/t in J to SYD. The first thing the agent told me was that I was lucky I was a DM because I would have the best chance of getting the award I wanted for a reasonable amount of miles. Well, the "reasonable" mileage turned out to be 390,000 miles! Needless to say I nixed it.
Feb 14, 2013, 8:16 pm
#138
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: Non-Affiliated
Posts: 7,430
Not true at all. But if you have yourself a nice Amex, things might be different...
Feb 14, 2013, 9:18 pm
#141
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MKE
Programs: DL Diamond, 2 MM
Posts: 1,009
Feb 18, 2013, 10:07 am
#142
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
Diamond vs. Platinum
IME DL jacks up the redemption when it recognizes status. I have run side by side searches while two computers were connected via different services and when a medallion number is entered, the low redemptions disappear. A friend did not believe me, so we did this with his DM number and the same results showed.
Last edited by CJKatl; Feb 18, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Feb 18, 2013, 12:42 pm
#143
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / JFK
Programs: Variety of rectangular cards with my name on it
Posts: 665
DM has better award availability both Y and F/J for low level redemption (domestic only). For routes like JFK - SFO/LAX nonstop, I haven't found a discrepancy as of yet. From experience with booking my partner to come to NYC, I can redeem low level F/J r/t. I cross reference this with KVS with kettle status and his SM account (He's a gold). Certain times I can pull up low level F/J or Y if there is no low level F/J, but with his account or KVS it does not come up in low level availability.
Feb 18, 2013, 6:13 pm
#144
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA Plat 2MM/UA G MM/DL MM DM 2015/BA Silver/Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 3,103
Apr 29, 2013, 5:39 pm
#145
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Orlando
Programs: Delta DM, SWA Styrofoam, Marriott Rew, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 137
Hold at Platinum or Push On to Diamond?
Based on prevailing wisdom, the last couple of years I have passed the Platinum threshhold and banked points to be forwarded to the next year. My travel for this year is booked and I project (with AmEx spend points) I will finish 2013 with 121,500 MQMs.
Now I find myself working hard to schedule without DL. I'm burning a lot of saved WN points and have used up miles with other programs. If I resumed Delta travel I think I would end the year with about 135,000.
So, I ask for your input. Should I coast this year and start 2014 almost at GM status or is Diamond the way to go? Thanks for your thoughts....
Now I find myself working hard to schedule without DL. I'm burning a lot of saved WN points and have used up miles with other programs. If I resumed Delta travel I think I would end the year with about 135,000.
So, I ask for your input. Should I coast this year and start 2014 almost at GM status or is Diamond the way to go? Thanks for your thoughts....
Apr 29, 2013, 7:18 pm
#146
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM 2MM; EK Silver; HH Gold
Posts: 927
Fwiw, my rule of thumb had been that if I can get to 150k, then it's worth pushing through to Diamond. Otherwise, I hold steady as I did last year, only to start this year with 43k banked.
Of course only you know how consistent your travel is. That is, if you regularly get to 100k+, then go to Diamond this year. But if this year was an outlier, don't.
Of course only you know how consistent your travel is. That is, if you regularly get to 100k+, then go to Diamond this year. But if this year was an outlier, don't.
Apr 29, 2013, 7:18 pm
#147
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere above the Mason-Dixon
Programs: DL Ham Samich
Posts: 1,661
If you value you ability to SDC the old way, I'd say stick to PM, hope they reverse course on this new policy and give your business to another airline for the time being. I status matched to 1K with UA... No dollars for DL given all of their devaluations and pack of actual enhancements
Apr 29, 2013, 8:19 pm
#150
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC, MSY
Programs: DL DM, 1.5MM, NEXUS, Sky Club Lifetime, Admirals Club Lifetime, LowValueCustomer everywhere
Posts: 6,447
The OP states that his MQM's include AMEX MQM's so the spend requirement won't be an issue for him. He has a minimum $25K spend to get AMEX MQM's
Everyone's situation is different. I'll be moving to PM next month and I've decided to hold at 120-124k MQM and see what happens to elites in general with the MQD requirement once it takes effect. My thought about going to Diamond is that I would only do it if I intended to look for a status match. I'm planning on starting the new year with a 45-49k rollover and my wife getting the 50K AMEX MQM's next year to maintain PM. We'll both meet the MQD with AMEX spend so that's no problem moving into 2015.
The PM for both is more beneficial in our case than a DM and GM since we're planning a few TATL Award trips and want to use miles from both accounts while maintaining flexibility.
Everyone's situation is different. I'll be moving to PM next month and I've decided to hold at 120-124k MQM and see what happens to elites in general with the MQD requirement once it takes effect. My thought about going to Diamond is that I would only do it if I intended to look for a status match. I'm planning on starting the new year with a 45-49k rollover and my wife getting the 50K AMEX MQM's next year to maintain PM. We'll both meet the MQD with AMEX spend so that's no problem moving into 2015.
The PM for both is more beneficial in our case than a DM and GM since we're planning a few TATL Award trips and want to use miles from both accounts while maintaining flexibility.