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, 10:35 am
#706
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Delta - PM, Marriott-PM, Hertz - Presidents Circle, United-Silver,
Posts: 1
I used to hit the MQD every year when I was Diamond. Now as a PM I rely on the dollar spend on the AMEX to get me there. I'm just shocked at how much it went up!
Sep 26, 2017, 10:37 am
#707
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CHS
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Delta Skymiles PM, AA ExPlat, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 362
Just got the same email
This will definitely keep Diamond out of reach of most of us. It will keep it out of reach for myself for sure.
I wonder how much this will thin the Diamond ranks?
I wonder how much this will thin the Diamond ranks?
Sep 26, 2017, 10:39 am
#708
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta DM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,987
The real losers are the DM-->PM who book lower fare buckets, specifically. Nobody else loses. But those members lose big league.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:40 am
#710
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,947
For those of us who've already qualified for Diamond for 2018, at what point can we cancel the card? Does the waiver "stick" past a card cancellation if the Diamond qualification has already happened, or do I need to hold the card past January 1st?
Sep 26, 2017, 10:41 am
#712
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
Good question. IIRC there were a few reports of this in previous years.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:42 am
#713
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: ATL - DL DM/3MM - HH Lifetime Diamond - Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 3,117
My 2016 stats - MQDs - $14,924 AmEx spend - $220,182
They gave me the line about how getting to Plat will still the waiver @ $25,000.
As I won't be needing the MQM boost to get to Diamond anymore, I'll be moving about $180K spend over to Chase.
They gave me the line about how getting to Plat will still the waiver @ $25,000.
As I won't be needing the MQM boost to get to Diamond anymore, I'll be moving about $180K spend over to Chase.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:43 am
#714
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: ORD / MDW / FLL
Programs: DL DM/1MM, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,295
So I have been mulling over this and getting text messages from a lot of other folks I know who fly DL and know I'm one of those crazy idiots who lives in a hub city for another airline but flies DL.
This was a huge service design failure on the part of DL and could have been handled so much better. If there really wanted to thin the herd then they should have just eliminated the spend waiver all together as opposed to insulting everyone's intelligence like this. Then they could have quietly culled their data and privately waived the MQD spend for those using their card over $250K annually or just tossed them an invite to DL360. Instead, they set a ridiculous target and pissed most people off in the process.
Not your brightest move, DL.
This was a huge service design failure on the part of DL and could have been handled so much better. If there really wanted to thin the herd then they should have just eliminated the spend waiver all together as opposed to insulting everyone's intelligence like this. Then they could have quietly culled their data and privately waived the MQD spend for those using their card over $250K annually or just tossed them an invite to DL360. Instead, they set a ridiculous target and pissed most people off in the process.
Not your brightest move, DL.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:43 am
#715
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Maryland
Programs: DL-Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 459
No less than 5 new threads about this in as many minutes LOL
They probably should just have eliminated the waiver all together
But the way people have responded to this means a lot of people have been hitting Diamond via the waiver and Delta does not want that
They probably should just have eliminated the waiver all together
But the way people have responded to this means a lot of people have been hitting Diamond via the waiver and Delta does not want that
Sep 26, 2017, 10:45 am
#718
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LIT
Programs: Blinged Out
Posts: 716
Received the email 38,000 feet in the air fittingly enough.
After making DM this year, I will use 2018 to see if it's worth moving around an extra $90k to obtain the waiver. $164k was this year's spend acrodd Plat/Res cards. It would be shifted from AMEX Bus Plat as well as a few other cards but doable.
The flip side would be to shift the $164k back over to the BPlat or Chase, purchase F on any airline, and then cut up the DL AMEX cards...
Decisions decisions...
After making DM this year, I will use 2018 to see if it's worth moving around an extra $90k to obtain the waiver. $164k was this year's spend acrodd Plat/Res cards. It would be shifted from AMEX Bus Plat as well as a few other cards but doable.
The flip side would be to shift the $164k back over to the BPlat or Chase, purchase F on any airline, and then cut up the DL AMEX cards...
Decisions decisions...
Sep 26, 2017, 10:45 am
#720
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: MSP and PSP
Programs: Delta DM, United Plat, AA Plat, SPG Lifetime Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 44
Hmm...I'd be REALLY surprised if Delta hadn't notified Amex. On another board, I did see someone post that he contacted Amex a few minutes ago to cancel his Reserve card and received a significant incentive to keep it. His view was that Amex was anticipating these calls.