Sep 26, 17, 2:09 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, 17, 12:11 pm
#751
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: DL PM MM, AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,097
The more I think about this and the more I realize I'll easily make the $15,000 spend this year, the more I like it. I've heard how bad DM is getting - and if you don't believe me - look who boards with Zone PREM... It's a freaking cattle call. I've purchased more than a few F tickets this year, and it's annoying the way some people cut in front of you to board and they're sitting in the back. There's nothing PREM about the PREM zone anymore. There are a lot of DMs sitting in the back these days and Sky Clubs are getting a bit crowded. Making DM a bit more exclusive will be nice. Not sure if I'll stick with DL with the upcoming move to Dallas, but if I do, think PREM zone in 2019 won't be so full of overly entitled jerks. No offense meant to anyone who is courteous when boarding 
Zone Sky will be even more ridiculous in 2019!
Zone Sky will be even more ridiculous in 2019!
Last edited by DLmedalliongold; Sep 26, 17 at 12:16 pm
Sep 26, 17, 12:11 pm
#752
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC, MSY
Programs: DL DM, 1.5MM, NEXUS, Sky Club Lifetime, Admirals Club Lifetime, LowValueCustomer everywhere
Posts: 6,338
MQM: 176, 780 (will end the year ~240K ) 2016 rollover 78K
MQS: 54 (will end the year at 82)
MQD: $5,963 (will end the year ~$7,500) Some reduction from VDB's Total spend ~$8,500
Card Spend: $60K+
I most certainly need the waiver.
Sep 26, 17, 12:12 pm
#753
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CHS/LIN/IBZ
Programs: DL 2MM/DM, UA Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Titanium
Posts: 465
Delta had to inform AmEx in advance of this decision, as AmEx bailed Delta out of bankruptcy years ago as we all know, but loyalty and Delta can't be used in the same sentence. If customers shift more spending over to AmEx, as I just used the Reserve to pay my estimated taxes, AmEx will be OK, but Delta will lose longterm from the loss revenue.
Sep 26, 17, 12:14 pm
#754
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Plat, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,338
Sep 26, 17, 12:15 pm
#755
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
Sep 26, 17, 12:15 pm
#756
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 126
If you max out the 4 cards for MQMs, thats still only $220K. And if you want the MQMs, just to remain Platinum, you still would need to get the annual fee cards...But yes, 25K to 250K is outrageous. I admit, I do use the spending to get to DM, but know i must pay 4 annual fees and keep 100% of spending on AMEX.
Sep 26, 17, 12:16 pm
#757
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Look up - On a ✈ DELTA ✈ jet NOW!
Programs: Blogger & Delta Diamond Medallion Million Miler
Posts: 4,174
Sep 26, 17, 12:18 pm
#758
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Pleasant Prairie, WI USA DL FO (until 2/04), NW silver '03, NW gold '04+'05 Plat '06+ (thanks, Leo!), DL SkyClub
Programs: DL Plat/ Million Miler, AS, Hilton, Marriott Bonvoy, Piggly Wiggly Pig Points
Posts: 2,233
The more I think about this and the more I realize I'll easily make the $15,000 spend this year, the more I like it. I've heard how bad DM is getting - and if you don't believe me - look who boards with Zone PREM... It's a freaking cattle call. I've purchased more than a few F tickets this year, and it's annoying the way some people cut in front of you to board and their sitting in the back. There's nothing PREM about the PREM zone anymore. There are a lot of DMs sitting in the back these days and Sky Clubs are getting a bit crowded. Making DM a bit more exclusive will be nice. Not sure if I'll stick with DL with the upcoming move to Dallas, but if I do, think PREM zone in 2019 won't be so full of overly entitled jerks. No offense meant to anyone who is courteous when boarding Zone Sky will be even more ridiculous in 2019!
Zone Sky will be even more ridiculous in 2019!
Sep 26, 17, 12:19 pm
#760
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: LAX/VNY (Hometown: CAK)
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Regal Diamond
Posts: 743
Even though I hate the change, it makes sense.
Delta was the first to add qualifying dollars. Why? To ensure that those that provided the best bottom-line revenue to DL were rewarded. DL feels that their Diamond status was worth $12K (now $15K) of non-tax spend with them. With their joint-venture partners, they can capture the revenue and apply it to a flyer's account.
The flyers that made $12K-15K of flight spending appreciated thinning the herds of those that just did mileage runs on cheap fares.
At some point, they must have done research and found that those with the credit card spend waiver were being over-rewarded relative to the business and high-volume traveler that they were trying to cater to.
And they realized that too many were opting for the waiver in lieu of spending more with Delta. This change will push those that opted for the waiver to spend more with Delta to attain the benefits. Perhaps the profit margin (or at least the amounts allocated to elite recognition and loyalty programs) of $15K MQD is roughly equivalent to $250K Amex spend?
Delta was the first to add qualifying dollars. Why? To ensure that those that provided the best bottom-line revenue to DL were rewarded. DL feels that their Diamond status was worth $12K (now $15K) of non-tax spend with them. With their joint-venture partners, they can capture the revenue and apply it to a flyer's account.
The flyers that made $12K-15K of flight spending appreciated thinning the herds of those that just did mileage runs on cheap fares.
At some point, they must have done research and found that those with the credit card spend waiver were being over-rewarded relative to the business and high-volume traveler that they were trying to cater to.
And they realized that too many were opting for the waiver in lieu of spending more with Delta. This change will push those that opted for the waiver to spend more with Delta to attain the benefits. Perhaps the profit margin (or at least the amounts allocated to elite recognition and loyalty programs) of $15K MQD is roughly equivalent to $250K Amex spend?
Sep 26, 17, 12:19 pm
#761
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Pleasant Prairie, WI USA DL FO (until 2/04), NW silver '03, NW gold '04+'05 Plat '06+ (thanks, Leo!), DL SkyClub
Programs: DL Plat/ Million Miler, AS, Hilton, Marriott Bonvoy, Piggly Wiggly Pig Points
Posts: 2,233
For the record...I will hit DM for the first (and only) time because of international travel.
Sep 26, 17, 12:23 pm
#763
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: 100,112
The more I think about this and the more I realize I'll easily make the $15,000 spend this year, the more I like it. I've heard how bad DM is getting - and if you don't believe me - look who boards with Zone PREM... It's a freaking cattle call. I've purchased more than a few F tickets this year, and it's annoying the way some people cut in front of you to board and they're sitting in the back. There's nothing PREM about the PREM zone anymore. There are a lot of DMs sitting in the back these days and Sky Clubs are getting a bit crowded. Making DM a bit more exclusive will be nice. Not sure if I'll stick with DL with the upcoming move to Dallas, but if I do, think PREM zone in 2019 won't be so full of overly entitled jerks. No offense meant to anyone who is courteous when boarding Zone Sky will be even more ridiculous in 2019!
Zone Sky will be even more ridiculous in 2019!In the future, there will still be those DMs who spend $250,000 (versus $220,000 now) on four DL AmEx credit cards and only fly SkyTeam enough to earn 25,000 MQMs (or have that much rollover). Are they jerks or not?
Sep 26, 17, 12:24 pm
#764
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MA, USA
Programs: Delta
Posts: 18
I think that 10x is not really fair. Perhaps over the next few years, but not all at once. I am close to $15K spending this year on QM but my Amex is in the $50-$60K range a year. I think it's time to rethink the $450 fee for the card.
Sep 26, 17, 12:24 pm
#765
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: Delta Diamond, AA Gold, UA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,059
Not picking on you here, but there have been a lot of comments like this one, and also folks saying "I'm cancelling my Amex".
The $250k spend does not have to be on airline tickets. It can be on anything from groceries to car repairs to paying property taxes to everyday business expenses for clients. So comparing it to a DPJ card is misleading.
Regarding cancelling the DL Amex, it still provides RDM and MQM bonuses, so there may still be value to many people, although the bonuses are not unlimited.
The $250k spend does not have to be on airline tickets. It can be on anything from groceries to car repairs to paying property taxes to everyday business expenses for clients. So comparing it to a DPJ card is misleading.
Regarding cancelling the DL Amex, it still provides RDM and MQM bonuses, so there may still be value to many people, although the bonuses are not unlimited.
