Delta Increasing Medallion Qualifying Dollar Thresholds in 2015
Oct 9, 2014, 2:38 pm
#31
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: STL
Programs: DL DM; HH gold
Posts: 554
Really begs the question as to why DL didn't ID these thresholds the first time they ran the analytics and set the current MQD requirements. One would have to imagine, even before MQDs, that DL knows exactly how much each FF spends and how this relates to each medallion level.
We're not even a full year in.
We're not even a full year in.
I also expect mqd will go up by one more step next year.
Oct 9, 2014, 2:40 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Management may see some benefit to trimming the FO and GM ranks and may continue to hope to use MQDs to do so. But, I still do not see MQDs as an intent to trim the PM and, especially, DM ranks. Rather, MQDs are intended, IMHO, as another means of driving folks at the level to AMEX spend.
As long as the AMEX waiver is in effect, and as long as I have not fully retired, I cannot envision a situation where MQDs will become a significant consideration for me.
The true significance of this announcement is that we heard it here first, rather from Virginia Ave.
Significant, but not surprising.
Predictable, in fact.
As long as the AMEX waiver is in effect, and as long as I have not fully retired, I cannot envision a situation where MQDs will become a significant consideration for me.
The true significance of this announcement is that we heard it here first, rather from Virginia Ave.
Significant, but not surprising.
Predictable, in fact.
Oct 9, 2014, 2:41 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
1) Not surprised
2) What's the over/under on the number of days it will take UA to copy, from the time of official announcement?
2) What's the over/under on the number of days it will take UA to copy, from the time of official announcement?
Last edited by javabytes; Oct 9, 2014 at 3:09 pm
Oct 9, 2014, 2:42 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 90
See, this is why DL benefits from FF programs hand over fist, it encourages irrational behavior. Average Joe would never spend that $400 (extra flight serves no purpose). We have a whole board dedicated to people willing to throw $400 at an airline to fly anywhere, do a same day turn, and fly back. In the next year, you'll somehow find that $400, but DL will ask for *just* $600 or so because the requirements went up again and your new spending patterns fell just short. It's a never-ending hamster wheel and DL has figured out that people won't try to get off, and instead will do something not in their best interest.
The auspice of "enhanced benefits" really encourages people to make a horrible choice, when in reality, we definitively know that first class isn't what it used to be.
Oct 9, 2014, 2:43 pm
#35
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: SMF/HPN
Programs: DL DM, AS MVP, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, SPG Gold, TSA PreCheck
Posts: 464
Management may see some benefit to trimming the FO and GM ranks and may continue to hope to use MQDs to do so. But, I still do not see MQDs as an intent to trim the PM and, especially, DM ranks. Rather, MQDs are intended, IMHO, as another means of driving folks at the level to AMEX spend.
As long as the AMEX waiver is in effect, and as long as I have not fully retired, I cannot envision a situation where MQDs will become a significant consideration for me.
As long as the AMEX waiver is in effect, and as long as I have not fully retired, I cannot envision a situation where MQDs will become a significant consideration for me.
Oct 9, 2014, 2:45 pm
#36
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: Fallen DL DM (PM) 2MM
Posts: 4,783
Honestly guys, how many of you guys have flown 125.000 miles and not reached the $12.500? Just curious if it is more difficult tipo reach the dollar amount vs. the MQM amount.
Personally, I think the 125k is much harder than the $$. But have quite a few last min meetings i need to attend and those tickets are rather pricy.
-ok
Personally, I think the 125k is much harder than the $$. But have quite a few last min meetings i need to attend and those tickets are rather pricy.
-ok
I don't do traditional MRs but if there is a cheap fare to somewhere I'm interested in going, I'll do it. Bought 3 trips to SEA with the double MQM last winter and one to CPH when the fare ware with Norwegian was on back in March.
I'm not surprised they changed the MQD threshold but I am surprised they did change (or tier) the Amex wavier. But that may still come, since we've heard nothing official from DL.
Oct 9, 2014, 2:45 pm
#37
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,322
Delta Increasing Medallion Qualifying Dollar Thresholds in 2015
The rest of this thread: People saying it's the last straw and then important people saying how this is a good move for them, boasting that they already exceed the new limits easily. Next...
Oct 9, 2014, 2:48 pm
#38
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Why not buy lounge access at $450??? Bet you've dismissed that idea quickly but somehow think $400 for SM is a better deal.
See, this is why DL benefits from FF programs hand over fist, it encourages irrational behavior. Average Joe would never spend that $400 (extra flight serves no purpose). We have a whole board dedicated to people willing to throw $400 at an airline to fly anywhere, do a same day turn, and fly back. In the next year, you'll somehow find that $400, but DL will ask for *just* $600 or so because the requirements went up again and your new spending patterns fell just short. It's a never-ending hamster wheel and DL has figured out that people won't try to get off, and instead will do something not in their best interest.
The auspice of "enhanced benefits" really encourages people to make a horrible choice, when in reality, we definitively know that first class isn't what it used to be.
See, this is why DL benefits from FF programs hand over fist, it encourages irrational behavior. Average Joe would never spend that $400 (extra flight serves no purpose). We have a whole board dedicated to people willing to throw $400 at an airline to fly anywhere, do a same day turn, and fly back. In the next year, you'll somehow find that $400, but DL will ask for *just* $600 or so because the requirements went up again and your new spending patterns fell just short. It's a never-ending hamster wheel and DL has figured out that people won't try to get off, and instead will do something not in their best interest.
The auspice of "enhanced benefits" really encourages people to make a horrible choice, when in reality, we definitively know that first class isn't what it used to be.
I think it's worth it, traveling with status is more enjoyable than traveling without it. I don't think that makes me irrational.
Oct 9, 2014, 2:54 pm
#39
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA
Programs: DL PE, Hyatt Diamond, HH Gold, UA Prem, PC Plat
Posts: 653
Then there's flying on international so-called "partner" flights. Even when entitled to earn MQDs, it can take months and a half-dozen or more exchanges of emails and phone calls to get the MQDs credited. As long as the AmEx waiver lasts, it's hardly worth doing.
Oct 9, 2014, 2:58 pm
#40
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: MCO
Programs: AA EXP, United PS, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Amtrak
Posts: 1,254
I'm a DM at $14,996 MQD right now, but I purchased a lot of F fares when I was GM to start the year. The $15,000 threshold may or may not be difficult, 2015 isn't here yet.
What sucks if this is real is that DL announced SM 2015 (earning Medallion status for 2016) and they said nothing would change. That appears to now be a lie.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...html#medallion
What sucks if this is real is that DL announced SM 2015 (earning Medallion status for 2016) and they said nothing would change. That appears to now be a lie.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...html#medallion
The updates to the 2015 SkyMiles program will not impact how you earn Medallion status.
Oct 9, 2014, 3:03 pm
#41
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
I qualified for FO with $3.9k MQD. I might have a couple of LAX-BOS trips before the end of the year, trying to decide if I should go for GM.
Last edited by anc-ord772; Oct 10, 2014 at 3:20 pm
Oct 9, 2014, 3:05 pm
#42
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: Fallen DL DM (PM) 2MM
Posts: 4,783
I'm a DM at $14,996 MQD right now, but I purchased a lot of F fares when I was GM to start the year. The $15,000 threshold may or may not be difficult, 2015 isn't here yet.
What sucks if this is real is that DL announced SM 2015 (earning Medallion status for 2016) and they said nothing would change. That appears to now be a lie.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...html#medallion
What sucks if this is real is that DL announced SM 2015 (earning Medallion status for 2016) and they said nothing would change. That appears to now be a lie.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...html#medallion
Oct 9, 2014, 3:05 pm
#43
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere above the Mason-Dixon
Programs: DL Ham Samich
Posts: 1,660
I'm a DM at $14,996 MQD right now, but I purchased a lot of F fares when I was GM to start the year. The $15,000 threshold may or may not be difficult, 2015 isn't here yet.
What sucks if this is real is that DL announced SM 2015 (earning Medallion status for 2016) and they said nothing would change. That appears to now be a lie.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...html#medallion
What sucks if this is real is that DL announced SM 2015 (earning Medallion status for 2016) and they said nothing would change. That appears to now be a lie.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...html#medallion
But hardly surprising
Oct 9, 2014, 3:07 pm
#44
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 90
First chance they get, the waiver is getting axed. Don't know when that'll be, but when they get free from Amex it makes no sense to keep that item around. Especially as the MQD totals creep toward the $25k mark, if this whole MQD change every year comes to fruition.
Oct 9, 2014, 3:10 pm
#45
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 90
I'm a DM at $14,996 MQD right now, but I purchased a lot of F fares when I was GM to start the year. The $15,000 threshold may or may not be difficult, 2015 isn't here yet.
What sucks if this is real is that DL announced SM 2015 (earning Medallion status for 2016) and they said nothing would change. That appears to now be a lie.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...html#medallion
What sucks if this is real is that DL announced SM 2015 (earning Medallion status for 2016) and they said nothing would change. That appears to now be a lie.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...html#medallion
Starting in January 2014 and applicable for U.S. members only, Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), which measures your annual spending on Delta flights, became an additional component that is required to earn Medallion status.