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
Jan 5, 2019, 7:17 am
#1951
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM/2MM, AA Plat, IC Diam. Amb., Peninsula regular, amanjunkie
Posts: 5,848
It took a lot of calls to get through to Delta Corporate Customer Care, but eventually I did two days ago, and I left a message for the agent who had handled my waiver request five or six weeks ago. Never received a call back, but that’s ok because this morning my 2019 Medallion status changed to DM. Thanks to DL for the waiver, and let’s see a more realistic threshold next year than $250k spend.
Jan 5, 2019, 10:46 am
#1952
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
It took a lot of calls to get through to Delta Corporate Customer Care, but eventually I did two days ago, and I left a message for the agent who had handled my waiver request five or six weeks ago. Never received a call back, but that’s ok because this morning my 2019 Medallion status changed to DM. Thanks to DL for the waiver, and let’s see a more realistic threshold next year than $250k spend.
$250K is very realistic for me. Heck, $500K is just as realistic. In fact, I’d be happy to see them kill all CC waivers, especially for DM.
The most realistic would be to only give status to those who actually buy tickets and fly the miles.
Jan 5, 2019, 11:43 am
#1953
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: FL35
Programs: DL DM, AS MVPG, AA PP, UA 1K, Bonvoy Plat, Hyatt Globalist, HH Gold, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Natl EE
Posts: 420
Got the DM waiver after 2 calls. 2018 was ~220k Amex spending (was over 250k, but had some unexpected returns in Dec) and a canceled tix that also took my MQD under. Was way over on MQM.
Jan 5, 2019, 6:32 pm
#1954
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: FB Platinum, SM Diamond
Posts: 645
If I understand correctly this "waiver" or exception, it can be use only one time.
This mean, the real decrease in number of Diamond medallion will be in 2020, not in 2019 because the new "rules" of 250K (I am right?).
This mean, the real decrease in number of Diamond medallion will be in 2020, not in 2019 because the new "rules" of 250K (I am right?).
Jan 5, 2019, 9:46 pm
#1955
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
No. Not everybody even knows about the waiver, and it isn't clear that anybody who asks is granted it.
Jan 5, 2019, 10:01 pm
#1956
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium, AA PLT for Life
Posts: 398
The most unrealistic would be to only grant status to people that make Delta money. A $250K spender who never flies? Yes! An "always buys last minute biz" flyer? Yes.
Many of the people here? No.
Jan 5, 2019, 10:06 pm
#1957
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
I mean that's silly. They make more money selling miles than they do from many "big spend" passengers.
The most unrealistic would be to only grant status to people that make Delta money. A $250K spender who never flies? Yes! An "always buys last minute biz" flyer? Yes.
Many of the people here? No.
The most unrealistic would be to only grant status to people that make Delta money. A $250K spender who never flies? Yes! An "always buys last minute biz" flyer? Yes.
Many of the people here? No.
If I cast my vote, $250K waiver for DM is both a very reasonable as well as a modest step in the right direction, though I’d like to see even more of an effort to thin the proverbial herd.
Jan 6, 2019, 5:44 am
#1958
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Look up - On a ✈ DELTA ✈ jet NOW!
Programs: Blogger & Delta Diamond Medallion Million Miler
Posts: 4,174
If you have at least 125k MQMs and 25k Amex (for 2018) - yes - anyone who asks will get it. It may take a few calls to get a rep to call over to SkyMiles desk - but ANYONE who asks gets it!
Jan 6, 2019, 7:50 am
#1959
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium, AA PLT for Life
Posts: 398
Well, the sad fact is that Delta will consult neither you nor I when making these decisions. Ironically, if they did, they’d get very divergent feedback. I love the $250K waiver for DM and would even be in favor of a $500K waiver and another tier above DM. As it sits, DM is child’s play to get and isn’t really all that “elite.”
If I cast my vote, $250K waiver for DM is both a very reasonable as well as a modest step in the right direction, though I’d like to see even more of an effort to thin the proverbial herd.
And Delta is pretty focused on making money. So why would they kick out Diamond's with the 250K waiver, when those folks make them money?
That's all I was commenting on the "realistic" nature of
As for the waiver, I don't like it. But I can achieve it. And while it does force me to move $4-5K of real money into Delta spending, I'm not especially upset about that because I would be spending said real money with Delta anyway. And I'd rather be Diamond on those flights for so many reasons. (The Diamond desk totally crushed it for me this week!)
Jan 6, 2019, 3:10 pm
#1960
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: FB Platinum, SM Diamond
Posts: 645
I mean that's silly. They make more money selling miles than they do from many "big spend" passengers.
The most unrealistic would be to only grant status to people that make Delta money. A $250K spender who never flies? Yes! An "always buys last minute biz" flyer? Yes.
Many of the people here? No.
The most unrealistic would be to only grant status to people that make Delta money. A $250K spender who never flies? Yes! An "always buys last minute biz" flyer? Yes.
Many of the people here? No.
I pass the 125K MQM & 15K MQD without problem (with mix of Y & J), I "believe" to be profitable for Delta... I am wrong?
I feel the 125K & 15K is quite "reasonable" for a Diamond status... you will place the requirement more high ? (do not forget... Delta must not "lost" to many customers to competition because they put the requirement too high for their highest level...)
Jan 6, 2019, 8:45 pm
#1961
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium, AA PLT for Life
Posts: 398
"Many" and "most" are not synonymous.
I'm sure you're nicely profitable to Delta.
I think the 125/15 is totally fine. I think the 125/250k waiver is fine. What I would personally do differently is let someone slide the scale... 15K paid, 0K spend? Sure. 0K paid, 250K spend? Sure (why though?!? no benefits!). So how about 7.5K paid and 125K spend? Or 5K and 150K spend? Etc. etc.
I pass the 125K MQM & 15K MQD without problem (with mix of Y & J), I "believe" to be profitable for Delta... I am wrong?
I feel the 125K & 15K is quite "reasonable" for a Diamond status... you will place the requirement more high ? (do not forget... Delta must not "lost" to many customers to competition because they put the requirement too high for their highest level...)
Jan 6, 2019, 8:51 pm
#1962
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
New $250K MQD Waiver Slashes Diamond Ranks
1) Yes, this is a serious post.
2) This is from a seasoned (15+ years) DM Desk agent, so not a Deep Throat source.
Per this rep (about an hour ago), they emphatically stated that, as a result of the new waiver, DM ranks plummeted from ~60K in 2018 to ~40K for 2019.
*IF* this is true, or reasonably accurate, this is SPECTACULAR news. This is not an insignificant reduction in the ranks.
While it doesn't deter me from stumping for a Double Diamond-like $30K/250K tier, this is a step in the right direction.
Thank you, Delta!
2) This is from a seasoned (15+ years) DM Desk agent, so not a Deep Throat source.
Per this rep (about an hour ago), they emphatically stated that, as a result of the new waiver, DM ranks plummeted from ~60K in 2018 to ~40K for 2019.
*IF* this is true, or reasonably accurate, this is SPECTACULAR news. This is not an insignificant reduction in the ranks.
While it doesn't deter me from stumping for a Double Diamond-like $30K/250K tier, this is a step in the right direction.
Thank you, Delta!
Jan 6, 2019, 9:33 pm
#1963
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM 2 Mil Miler, HZ PC, Marriott LT TI, AMB, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 556
1) Yes, this is a serious post.
2) This is from a seasoned (15+ years) DM Desk agent, so not a Deep Throat source.
Per this rep (about an hour ago), they emphatically stated that, as a result of the new waiver, DM ranks plummeted from ~60K in 2018 to ~40K for 2019.
*IF* this is true, or reasonably accurate, this is SPECTACULAR news. This is not an insignificant reduction in the ranks.
While it doesn't deter me from stumping for a Double Diamond-like $30K/250K tier, this is a step in the right direction.
Thank you, Delta!
2) This is from a seasoned (15+ years) DM Desk agent, so not a Deep Throat source.
Per this rep (about an hour ago), they emphatically stated that, as a result of the new waiver, DM ranks plummeted from ~60K in 2018 to ~40K for 2019.
*IF* this is true, or reasonably accurate, this is SPECTACULAR news. This is not an insignificant reduction in the ranks.
While it doesn't deter me from stumping for a Double Diamond-like $30K/250K tier, this is a step in the right direction.
Thank you, Delta!
Jan 7, 2019, 12:30 am
#1964
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: 100,413
1) Yes, this is a serious post.
2) This is from a seasoned (15+ years) DM Desk agent, so not a Deep Throat source.
Per this rep (about an hour ago), they emphatically stated that, as a result of the new waiver, DM ranks plummeted from ~60K in 2018 to ~40K for 2019.
*IF* this is true, or reasonably accurate, this is SPECTACULAR news. This is not an insignificant reduction in the ranks.
While it doesn't deter me from stumping for a Double Diamond-like $30K/250K tier, this is a step in the right direction.
Thank you, Delta!
2) This is from a seasoned (15+ years) DM Desk agent, so not a Deep Throat source.
Per this rep (about an hour ago), they emphatically stated that, as a result of the new waiver, DM ranks plummeted from ~60K in 2018 to ~40K for 2019.
*IF* this is true, or reasonably accurate, this is SPECTACULAR news. This is not an insignificant reduction in the ranks.
While it doesn't deter me from stumping for a Double Diamond-like $30K/250K tier, this is a step in the right direction.
Thank you, Delta!
In the first year of DM, reports were that there were about 40,000 charter DMs.
I wonder how many of those are still DM and have in fact requalified every year. (I'm in that group.)
I wonder how many of those are still DM and have in fact requalified every year. (I'm in that group.)
Jan 7, 2019, 5:40 am
#1965
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Just relocated to Phoenix, so I guess that does it for Delta for me
Programs: DL "Annual" GM 2MM, AA lifetime Gold 1MM, Hilton Gold, Hertz President's Club
Posts: 337
I still have my plastic charter member bag tag, and qualified for DM two more years. Then with the advent of GoToMeeting and other tools I cut back my flying. It was a terrible thing to return to “ordinary” status after having a taste of the good life, but I got over it. Now retired, I only fly because I want to and rely on my 2MM GM status to get a few perks. I guess now that half of each plane will no longer be DM it will make getting on a little easier.