Platinum vs. Diamond
Dec 12, 2010, 10:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,433
Take Diamond -- Or Plat + 45k rollover?
I'm very close to making DM, but I'm on the fence as to whether it's worth it. Are the extra benefits (SC + extra choice) worth the loss of rollover miles should I not know if I'll need them or not to make platinum next year?
Quite frankly, I fly out of a primarily SLC and sometimes MSP feeder city, and platinum seems to be a guaranteed upgrade (I don't fly to ATL or JFK).
Quite frankly, I fly out of a primarily SLC and sometimes MSP feeder city, and platinum seems to be a guaranteed upgrade (I don't fly to ATL or JFK).
Dec 12, 2010, 10:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,977
It depends on your expected flying next year. If you expect to do at least 75K next year then I would go for DM. The upgrade priority will help if you fly that much, as will the SC membership, and based on your flying you'll get at least Plat for 2012 without the help of the rollover miles.
Or you might be like me. My DL flying next year is much more uncertain. So I will drop from DM to PM but have about 40K to roll over. Even if my DL travel is way down I should be able to make up the remainder to earn Plat again. And if my DL travel is way down I won't be as concerned about upgrade priority, etc.
In this post I put the value of DM over PM at $800.
Or you might be like me. My DL flying next year is much more uncertain. So I will drop from DM to PM but have about 40K to roll over. Even if my DL travel is way down I should be able to make up the remainder to earn Plat again. And if my DL travel is way down I won't be as concerned about upgrade priority, etc.
In this post I put the value of DM over PM at $800.
Dec 13, 2010, 2:10 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Upstate, NY
Posts: 3,359
Or you might be like me. My DL flying next year is much more uncertain. So I will drop from DM to PM but have about 40K to roll over. Even if my DL travel is way down I should be able to make up the remainder to earn Plat again. And if my DL travel is way down I won't be as concerned about upgrade priority, etc.
Dec 13, 2010, 5:33 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Now just a lowly DL PM/1MM. This industry needs some competition. It's just not enjoyable anymore.
Posts: 3,543
I am in the same position, and have decided to hold short of DM and roll over about 46K MQMs to next year. To me DM is just not that much better, but of course YMMV.....
Dec 13, 2010, 5:41 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles, MR, HH, ICH/PC, Avis Pref., Hertz Gold
Posts: 2,897
I'm in the same situation. I am ATL based and have found Platinum "good enough." With my current year end travel plans, I will have approximately 120,000 MQMs. By rolling over, I am almost guaranteed GM and with only 30K MQMs will re-up for PM. I'll use miles to buy my SkyClub membership.
If it turns out that there are so many DMs in '11 that upgrades become impossible, I'll reconsider at that time.
If it turns out that there are so many DMs in '11 that upgrades become impossible, I'll reconsider at that time.
Dec 13, 2010, 5:47 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: TPA & ATL
Programs: DL PM, USLess air & HHoners
Posts: 1,237
I'm in the same situation. I am ATL based and have found Platinum "good enough." With my current year end travel plans, I will have approximately 120,000 MQMs. By rolling over, I am almost guaranteed GM and with only 30K MQMs will re-up for PM. I'll use miles to buy my SkyClub membership.
If it turns out that there are so many DMs in '11 that upgrades become impossible, I'll reconsider at that time.
If it turns out that there are so many DMs in '11 that upgrades become impossible, I'll reconsider at that time.
Dec 13, 2010, 6:05 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Look up - On a ✈ DELTA ✈ jet NOW!
Programs: Blogger & Delta Diamond Medallion Million Miler
Posts: 4,174
I'm very close to making DM, but I'm on the fence as to whether it's worth it. Are the extra benefits (SC + extra choice) worth the loss of rollover miles should I not know if I'll need them or not to make platinum next year?
Quite frankly, I fly out of a primarily SLC and sometimes MSP feeder city, and platinum seems to be a guaranteed upgrade (I don't fly to ATL or JFK).
Quite frankly, I fly out of a primarily SLC and sometimes MSP feeder city, and platinum seems to be a guaranteed upgrade (I don't fly to ATL or JFK).
Dec 13, 2010, 6:22 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,357
So as many people get diamond, i am a plat out of MSP and unless i am connecting through ATL or on a tough West Coast flight i get the upgrade. I did not get upgraded on more flights this yr but oh well. I do not value that has high as some people. I would rather have direct flights!
Dec 13, 2010, 6:31 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Nice
Programs: Marriott Titanium, AA Concierge Key, Delta, United, Emorates, and others
Posts: 4,694
I intended to stay Plat with hefty carryover but an unplanned trip made me Diamond anyway. The accruals are much higher for Diamond even if you don't need the upgrades. You also get the world's ugliest card to prove your new status.
Dec 13, 2010, 7:00 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LEX
Programs: Delta Reserve - PM
Posts: 1,143
Or you might be like me. My DL flying next year is much more uncertain. So I will drop from DM to PM but have about 40K to roll over. Even if my DL travel is way down I should be able to make up the remainder to earn Plat again. And if my DL travel is way down I won't be as concerned about upgrade priority, etc.
Dec 13, 2010, 7:23 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Programs: DL DM 2MM, AA LTP, Hyatt Globalist, FB Plat
Posts: 826
You don't have to use the Reserve card to buy the tickets. I book my tickets on Travelocity with Travelocity Amex and I have confirmed that I am at the top of the upgrade list for the same class.
Or are you saying you don't like it because it does move you up?
Dec 13, 2010, 8:37 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LEX
Programs: Delta Reserve - PM
Posts: 1,143
similar situation i am sitting at 122k. If the DL reserve didn't have the requirement you had to book the ticket to the get to the top of the list i would get one. I heard and ask about that requirement and decided not to get one. Around 95 percent of my travel is done on my corp Mastercard.
Dec 13, 2010, 8:56 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Atlanta & San Francisco
Programs: DL 2MM DM & My Wife is a DL 3MM DM
Posts: 2,784
I just hit Diamond and gladly took it, but still will get to roll about 20k over. Won't have any trouble hitting Diamond again this coming year though.
Sent from 4C on 1580 from SFO to ATL--37,000 feet above somewhere or other.
Sent from 4C on 1580 from SFO to ATL--37,000 feet above somewhere or other.
Dec 13, 2010, 1:58 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Hertz Plat
Posts: 1,224
Dec 13, 2010, 6:50 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Programs: DL DM 2MM, AA LTP, Hyatt Globalist, FB Plat
Posts: 826