405 miles from Diamond - advice?
Nov 18, 2015, 4:43 am
#16
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Seattle, 98155
Programs: Now MGM/Hyatt/IHG Gold Previously: DL DM, DL Reserve, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLAT, M Life PLAT, IHG PLAT
Posts: 649
IIRC when DL did the big LGA expansion, there were at least some flights to some upstate NY destinations like BUF that did use RJs with FC. I'm surprised that they're 100% CRJ-200s now.
If the OP is willing to spend a small amount of money doing a MR, given rollover, it would be better to try, within reason, to maximize the MQMs that one earns for the money spent or even to spend a little bit more to get a bunch more MQMs for rollover.
Alternatively, instead of looking for a really cheap way to get the 405 MQMs (actually 1000 assuming a DL RT), think about a nice little fun weekend trip. SEA is likely to be relatively cheap given the DL versus AS competition there.
If the OP is willing to spend a small amount of money doing a MR, given rollover, it would be better to try, within reason, to maximize the MQMs that one earns for the money spent or even to spend a little bit more to get a bunch more MQMs for rollover.
Alternatively, instead of looking for a really cheap way to get the 405 MQMs (actually 1000 assuming a DL RT), think about a nice little fun weekend trip. SEA is likely to be relatively cheap given the DL versus AS competition there.
It is pretty low!!!
as LAX as well.
Nov 18, 2015, 6:23 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,240
So I find myself 405 miles from hitting diamond this year. I have been diamond since it was added as a level, and it also coincided with when I started my heavy traveling and started making status at all. So I have never been anything but diamond (except during the climb up to diamond). My question is do I go for diamond or just take platinum next year and have almost 50k banked for next year. What do those longtime people who have had both think?
Considerations:
I am at a job where I travel less now, so diamond the following year might not be guaranteed, but as I use a delta reserve I get 50,000 MQM automatically, I will usually be platinum with my regular flying.
I am in the NYC area for what it's worth.
I fly with family alot so having diamond has been quite useful for upgrades, sky club, etc...
Considerations:
I am at a job where I travel less now, so diamond the following year might not be guaranteed, but as I use a delta reserve I get 50,000 MQM automatically, I will usually be platinum with my regular flying.
I am in the NYC area for what it's worth.
I fly with family alot so having diamond has been quite useful for upgrades, sky club, etc...
Nov 18, 2015, 11:24 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
I've already earned DM for 2016 so it would go into rollover and might affect my status later. I also have another 5 upcoming opportunities to do the same; and I rejected a MR at a net $0.02 or so because Delta is making status not worth while.
Nov 19, 2015, 8:45 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NYC, MD, LA
Programs: Delta-DM, United, Hilton-DM, SPG-PLTM
Posts: 462
If you plan on taking a long haul trip next year I'd go for Diamond just for the GUC's.
You have to plan in advance and be flexible, but I've always been able to use mine since they started giving them out - and IMO this is the last "true" reason to achieve DM status with all the changes occuring.
You have to plan in advance and be flexible, but I've always been able to use mine since they started giving them out - and IMO this is the last "true" reason to achieve DM status with all the changes occuring.
Nov 19, 2015, 8:56 am
#20
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, 2MM
Posts: 1,256
LGA-BUF is all CR7, CR9 or even mainline on the 717.
JFK-BUF is all CR7, CR9.
Five of the seven NYC-SYR flights are on CR7, CR9 or even 175s.
Two of the four LGA-BTW are CR7.
I'll stop now.
Last edited by iflyalexair; Nov 19, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Nov 19, 2015, 11:26 am
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,472
It's surprising because whomever in this thread suggested that BUF, SYR, BTV etc don't have FC is dead wrong.
LGA-BUF is all CR7, CR9 or even mainline on the 717.
JFK-BUF is all CR7, CR9.
Five of the seven NYC-SYR flights are on CR7, CR9 or even 175s.
Two of the four LGA-BTW are CR7.
I'll stop now.
LGA-BUF is all CR7, CR9 or even mainline on the 717.
JFK-BUF is all CR7, CR9.
Five of the seven NYC-SYR flights are on CR7, CR9 or even 175s.
Two of the four LGA-BTW are CR7.
I'll stop now.
AFAIK ITH is still CRJ-200s, at least on the DTW route. Some of the flights on SYR-DTW and vv are similarly very small aircraft but some (early morning and late night) were mainline when I last checked although SYR-DTW and vv was all DC-9s in the PMNW days.
Nov 19, 2015, 12:15 pm
#22
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Seattle, 98155
Programs: Now MGM/Hyatt/IHG Gold Previously: DL DM, DL Reserve, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLAT, M Life PLAT, IHG PLAT
Posts: 649
coz DL Medallion benefit is on a downward trend,
if as OP said 2016 he will probably make PM MQM with his regular travel + Amex DL MQM bonus in 2016 for 2017 year, which then with the 49k MQM rollover, OP will face the same question which possibly as we know 2017 benefit will probably be worst then 2016 lol with it current trend >.<
Last edited by Felixishim; Nov 19, 2015 at 12:41 pm