Sep 26, 2017, 1:09 pm
Last edit by: Renes Points
On 26SEPT17 Delta changed the MQD AMEX exempt requirements. $25,000 only exempts you to Platinum or lower. $250,000 spend needed across ALL the DL AMEX cards you hold (personal and business in your name) for Diamond exemption for 2019 elite year.
If all you are interested in is the discussion starting when the announcement occurred on Tuesday, September 26, 2017, start here.
The Delta announcement is here https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/skymiles/news-and-updates.html
There are many data points that Delta will allow a one time exception under the 2017 qualification rules if you request this for the 2019 Medallion year.
If all you are interested in is the discussion starting when the announcement occurred on Tuesday, September 26, 2017, start here.
The Delta announcement is here https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/skymiles/news-and-updates.html
There are many data points that Delta will allow a one time exception under the 2017 qualification rules if you request this for the 2019 Medallion year.
Delta increasing Diamond MQD Waiver to $250,000
Oct 23, 2018, 8:23 pm
#1726
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
Frankly, neither the $15K MQD or $250K waiver are difficult to meet for WAY too many people.
I’m sticking to my guns. I still wanna see a Double Diamond Medallion tier. $30K MQD and 250K MQM. $250K waiver or no, I’m cool with either.
Enough pussy-footin’ around, Delta.
Drain the swamp!
I’m sticking to my guns. I still wanna see a Double Diamond Medallion tier. $30K MQD and 250K MQM. $250K waiver or no, I’m cool with either.
Enough pussy-footin’ around, Delta.
Drain the swamp!
Oct 23, 2018, 8:32 pm
#1727
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,037
Frankly, neither the $15K MQD or $250K waiver are difficult to meet for WAY too many people.
I’m sticking to my guns. I still wanna see a Double Diamond Medallion tier. $30K MQD and 250K MQM. $250K waiver or no, I’m cool with either.
Enough pussy-footin’ around, Delta.
Drain the swamp!
I’m sticking to my guns. I still wanna see a Double Diamond Medallion tier. $30K MQD and 250K MQM. $250K waiver or no, I’m cool with either.
Enough pussy-footin’ around, Delta.
Drain the swamp!
Oct 24, 2018, 4:15 am
#1729
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: Delta DM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 67
Got a waiver with 129k MQMs, 5k MQDs and 50k AMEX, am a million miler, not sure if that helped. Called and was told they would look into it and 2 wks later my skymiles page showed I had qualified for next yr.
Oct 24, 2018, 4:51 am
#1730
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: BHM LEX NYC
Programs: 3MM DM, DL Reserve, HH Diamond, Nat Exec Elite, SPG, PC, etc...
Posts: 440
Oct 24, 2018, 5:39 am
#1731
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Look up - On a ✈ DELTA ✈ jet NOW!
Programs: Blogger & Delta Diamond Medallion Million Miler
Posts: 4,174
Oct 24, 2018, 7:02 am
#1732
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: BHM LEX NYC
Programs: 3MM DM, DL Reserve, HH Diamond, Nat Exec Elite, SPG, PC, etc...
Posts: 440
Oct 24, 2018, 7:34 am
#1733
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: At an Airport
Programs: DL MM 3.2, DM; UAL; AAL
Posts: 438
In what I consider to be a very unfair move, delta has allowed numerous people, according to blogs, to qualify for the DM level for next year using the Amex $25,000 spend rather than a $250,000 spend.
It’s NOT FAIR because we were all told that that policy had been changed... less than a year previous!
It’s NOT FAIR because we were all told that that policy had been changed... less than a year previous!
Oct 24, 2018, 7:52 am
#1734
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
In what I consider to be a very unfair move, delta has allowed numerous people, according to blogs, to qualify for the DM level for next year using the Amex $25,000 spend rather than a $250,000 spend.
It’s NOT FAIR because we were all told that that policy had been changed... less than a year previous!
It’s NOT FAIR because we were all told that that policy had been changed... less than a year previous!
Oct 24, 2018, 8:28 am
#1735
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 148
Yeah, I dont think they will do that again next year. Interesting to note that since increasing the waiver to 250,000 delta has seen double digit growth to its amex revenue (If I am remembering correctly from the conference call). It seems like the increased waiver has caused a lot more amex spending than it lost while at the same time decreasing the number of diamond medallions. I know I for one spend about 100k more on my delta amex cards since this year to meet the requirement. I also obtained another reserve card, (so now I have 3).
Oct 25, 2018, 2:16 pm
#1737
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: TYS
Programs: Delta Diamond 3MM, AMEX Delta Reserve, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 208
Good on MQM's, but going to about $2K short of the $15K spend requirement, so I'll be heading back to Platinum status in February. Too bad that they don't include SkyBonus spending, which I have $40K of this year.
Last edited by EarlVolFan; Oct 25, 2018 at 2:20 pm Reason: spelling
Oct 25, 2018, 3:11 pm
#1738
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Winter Garden, FL
Programs: Delta DM-3MM United Gold-MM Marriott Lifetime Titanium Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 13,498
I'm going to finish 2018 with about 145,000 MQMs but nowhere near enough MQDs to maintain Diamond status. My AMEX spending will be about $100,000, so I satisfy the Platinum waiver but not the Diamond waiver. In 2019, I'll be Platinum in the absence of a one-time favor from Delta. With a one-time favor (as others apparently have received), I can remain Diamond. Which would be better for me? It's not an easy question to answer.
As Platinum, I would start 2019 with 70,000 rollover MQMs. My AMEX spending is always close to $100,000, so requalifying as Platinum is essentially guaranteed. And in a few more years, I'll be 4MM, which (under current rules, anyway) is lifetime Platinum. I would earn 9 RDMs per MQD, rather than 11, but that's minor.
If Delta were kind enough to allow me to remain Diamond for another year, I would start 2019 with 20,000 rollover MQMs and basically no chance at all of requalifying as Diamond. In fact, requalifying as Platinum would be at some risk -- not a lot, but not zero, either. I would earn 11 RDMs per MQD, but my flying isn't so much now that I care. I would be MUCH higher on upgrade lists, but lately I've been buying (discounted) F more and more, anyway. Best of all, I would get another set of Diamond choice benefits, which are truly valuable, but not as valuable as they might appear to be. GUCs are increasingly difficult to use, as I have discovered.
So, Flyertalk advisers, what do you think I should do? Should I willingly drop down to Platinum -- where I'm headed inevitably, for sure -- or seek a one-time Diamond waiver for 2019?
Bruce
As Platinum, I would start 2019 with 70,000 rollover MQMs. My AMEX spending is always close to $100,000, so requalifying as Platinum is essentially guaranteed. And in a few more years, I'll be 4MM, which (under current rules, anyway) is lifetime Platinum. I would earn 9 RDMs per MQD, rather than 11, but that's minor.
If Delta were kind enough to allow me to remain Diamond for another year, I would start 2019 with 20,000 rollover MQMs and basically no chance at all of requalifying as Diamond. In fact, requalifying as Platinum would be at some risk -- not a lot, but not zero, either. I would earn 11 RDMs per MQD, but my flying isn't so much now that I care. I would be MUCH higher on upgrade lists, but lately I've been buying (discounted) F more and more, anyway. Best of all, I would get another set of Diamond choice benefits, which are truly valuable, but not as valuable as they might appear to be. GUCs are increasingly difficult to use, as I have discovered.
So, Flyertalk advisers, what do you think I should do? Should I willingly drop down to Platinum -- where I'm headed inevitably, for sure -- or seek a one-time Diamond waiver for 2019?
Bruce
Oct 25, 2018, 3:49 pm
#1740
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,037
I have to agree on the devaluation of GUCs.
When I first got them three or four years ago, I could book flights that would upgrade at booking. Recently, no way. Even calling and asking for help often generates nothing that works for me.
When I first got them three or four years ago, I could book flights that would upgrade at booking. Recently, no way. Even calling and asking for help often generates nothing that works for me.