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
Sep 26, 2017, 10:29 am
#691
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: ORD / MDW / FLL
Programs: DL DM/1MM, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,295
I am speechless. This is the biggest FU to come from DL in quite some time. AMEX platinum card is now worthless. I'll likely cancel it and shift my card spend over to my AA card. If DL wanted to thin the herd this was a good way to do it. It's clear my loyalty to DL is one-sided. Not any more.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:29 am
#692
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,508
Anyone spending a quarter million dollars on a single credit card is unlikely to need or be very interested in any airline's "elite" status. They will either be flying private (an increasingly attractive option) or buying premium tickets. So this threshold looks both silly and pointless.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:29 am
#693
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: 100,399
Sep 26, 2017, 10:30 am
#694
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum, etc etc etc
Posts: 2,341
Just got the email from Delta.
For a Platinum AMEX card the waiver limit goes from $25K in a year to $250K. Holy crap!
Is this the same for Reserve card? Not sure its worth it to keep the DL Platinum AMEX at this point except for miles. Does it earn at the same rate as gold?
For a Platinum AMEX card the waiver limit goes from $25K in a year to $250K. Holy crap!
Is this the same for Reserve card? Not sure its worth it to keep the DL Platinum AMEX at this point except for miles. Does it earn at the same rate as gold?
FYI all this is JUST for DM. FO, GM, and PM still have the $25,000 spend waiver.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:32 am
#696
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta DM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,987
Overall I'm not thrilled with this degradation but I think it might actually help me. I resumed travelling after a sabbatical last year. I'm not a high roller but I usually travel from mid-market to mid-market on shorter hops that are over-priced, so my MQD will easily be over $15K this year and assuming I keep same routes (likely), then it will not be an issue. I fly every other week and at $600-800 per trip with 3-4K MQM, I'm easily going to hit $15K. Then just do a MR to round up at end of year after Amex MQM bonuses post.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:32 am
#697
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: Delta Diamond 1MM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 503
Sep 26, 2017, 10:33 am
#698
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Salt Lake City
Programs: Delta DM and 2 MM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 598
Interesting and I guess not surprising. As a lowly DL-hub-trapped sort-of frequent flier who seems to spend in the range of $11K-$13K MQDs yearly, this will put me in the position late next year of deciding whether to do a "status run", basically booking an overseas trip or two in Business that I would have done in cheap Coach, to keep Diamond status.
May or may not be worth it! We will see. I am pushing 55 and have enjoyed the decade of playing the games to maintain status.
Delta AMEX is going bye-bye, most likely. Not sure if worth it based on just the companion certificate, likely not.
I do have to say at least Delta gave us plenty of lead time for this.
May or may not be worth it! We will see. I am pushing 55 and have enjoyed the decade of playing the games to maintain status.
Delta AMEX is going bye-bye, most likely. Not sure if worth it based on just the companion certificate, likely not.
I do have to say at least Delta gave us plenty of lead time for this.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:33 am
#701
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: 100,399
I will make Diamond by next month, but it will be really close to hit the $15k by the end of the year since I had a fair amount of roll over MQMs. Curious though, I'm moving from SLC to Dallas and have three options - try to get a status match on AA out of DFW or WN out of DAL, or stick with DL to enjoy DM. I'll definitely have to do more connecting, and I'm guessing ticket prices will be much cheaper out of DFW than SLC... So what's the right thing to do? With this change, the Reserve card has far less value. And I'll have SkyClub next year anyway. I suppose I could also stop flying DL this year and switch now, thus rolling over almost 50,000 MQMs.
I'll be traveling a bit less, so what would everyone recommend? Stick with DL and probably be GM or PM in 2019? Switch to WN and RR Visa? Switch to AA and their Citi Card? Have to also mention I'll live pretty close to Love Field.
I'll be traveling a bit less, so what would everyone recommend? Stick with DL and probably be GM or PM in 2019? Switch to WN and RR Visa? Switch to AA and their Citi Card? Have to also mention I'll live pretty close to Love Field.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:34 am
#702
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta Diamond; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 655
Anyone spending a quarter million dollars on a single credit card is unlikely to need or be very interested in any airline's "elite" status. They will either be flying private (an increasingly attractive option) or buying premium tickets. So this threshold looks both silly and pointless.
Last edited by GatorBlues; Sep 26, 2017 at 10:43 am
Sep 26, 2017, 10:34 am
#703
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Programs: HH-Diamond, IHG-Plat, DL-DM, PnF Plat, Kroger +
Posts: 514
I just cleared the DM hurdle on this weekend's travel; I now have 126,105 MQMs (including a 29,000+ rollover) on a spend of $7,854.00 (I cleared the $25k AMEX waiver a few weeks ago). I probably will spend another $2k or so before the end of the year, and will probably end up with around 140k MQMs and about $10k MQDs.
As long as I have pre-check, get a free checked bag and lounge access on SkyTeam partners, I'll be OK. I won't travel as much as I currently do, but on the trips I take to the west coast, I'll use FCM deals when I feel that I need F seating.
As long as I have pre-check, get a free checked bag and lounge access on SkyTeam partners, I'll be OK. I won't travel as much as I currently do, but on the trips I take to the west coast, I'll use FCM deals when I feel that I need F seating.
I will be making DM for the first time this year. I will see if next year I can make it on only MQD alone.
the only reason I have Reserve card is for SC access and bonus MQMs.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:35 am
#704
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 195
It will significantly impact me, in two ways: (1) a large proportion of my miles are earned on relatively low-cost TPAC flights. (2) Next year, I anticipate less travel than this year, and was counting on rollover miles to keep my status at Diamond. The rollover benefit is significantly devalued by this radical change.
I'd love to hear from others thinking about cancelling or downgrading their Delta AmEx cards.
I'd love to hear from others thinking about cancelling or downgrading their Delta AmEx cards.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:35 am
#705
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ORF
Programs: HH G, SPG G, DL PM
Posts: 5
