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, 11:41 am
#781
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: WN, AA, UA, DL
Posts: 1,313
So if you want to be DM, you now have to earn it. This has to hurt big-time for many.
The waiver should eliminated altogether instead of the ridiculous increase. We're not that stupid. If you don't want anyone qualifying on card spending, which you made clear with the change, just eliminate the option and spare us the insult.
The waiver should eliminated altogether instead of the ridiculous increase. We're not that stupid. If you don't want anyone qualifying on card spending, which you made clear with the change, just eliminate the option and spare us the insult.
Sep 26, 2017, 11:42 am
#782
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
There were different versions:
Dear Mr. Ginkowski,
Thank you for being a Platinum Medallion® Member and for your continued loyalty. We are always looking for ways to improve the Medallion experience by listening to your feedback. Because we want to ensure our most well-traveled Members can take full advantage of all their benefits, a change is being made to how Members qualify for 2019 Diamond Medallion Status. As a current Platinum Medallion Member, this change will not impact how you earn Platinum Medallion Status.
Spacer
As a Credit Card Member, we want you to be aware that starting January 1st, 2018, the Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) Waiver for Diamond Medallion Status is increasing. The MQD Waiver for Diamond is currently earned by spending $25,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year on a SkyMiles® Credit Card with American Express. It is being adjusted to $250,000 in a calendar year. Keep in mind, the MQD Waiver to qualify for all of the best-in-class benefits of Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion Status will still remain at $25,000.
Dear Mr. Ginkowski,
Thank you for being a Platinum Medallion® Member and for your continued loyalty. We are always looking for ways to improve the Medallion experience by listening to your feedback. Because we want to ensure our most well-traveled Members can take full advantage of all their benefits, a change is being made to how Members qualify for 2019 Diamond Medallion Status. As a current Platinum Medallion Member, this change will not impact how you earn Platinum Medallion Status.
Spacer
As a Credit Card Member, we want you to be aware that starting January 1st, 2018, the Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) Waiver for Diamond Medallion Status is increasing. The MQD Waiver for Diamond is currently earned by spending $25,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year on a SkyMiles® Credit Card with American Express. It is being adjusted to $250,000 in a calendar year. Keep in mind, the MQD Waiver to qualify for all of the best-in-class benefits of Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion Status will still remain at $25,000.
Sep 26, 2017, 11:44 am
#784
Join Date: May 2013
Location: west coast best coast
Programs: TINDER GOLD, STARBUCKS GOLD, COSTCO EXECUTIVE!!
Posts: 3,989
You're right, I don't know that. But there will certainly be less DM's in 2019 and that will make for a better experience boarding in Zone PREM, a better experience in the Sky Club, and better chances for upgrades for higher spenders. I'm reading this forum looking at what some DMs have spent with Delta for 125,000 MQMs and it irritates me that I've spent FAR more on average in the last few years and only made PM. All those "Dollar Store Diamonds" won't necessarily be ahead on the upgrade lists in 2019, and that's a good thing in my mind.
It's very true, though. A significant amount of people would just manufacture spend for 25k.
Sep 26, 2017, 11:45 am
#786
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
Sep 26, 2017, 11:49 am
#788
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: MA
Programs: DL DM/2MM Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond,
Posts: 8,906
I will be among the newly hatched Cubic Zirconium Medallions... A PM from 2000 through 2010, then a Diamond ever since. Always use the waiver since that has been in effect.
Time to burn my miles and worry less about earning them.
A really bad miss on this one, Delta!
Time to burn my miles and worry less about earning them.
A really bad miss on this one, Delta!
Sep 26, 2017, 11:52 am
#790
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
As a chronic PM who holds a DL Reserve and DL Plat Amex and regularly buys enough short-haul HQK tickets to meet DM MQD requirements without getting anywhere close to the MQM:
- I LOL'd when I saw the email from DL, knowing exactly what FT would be saying.
- I look forward to marginally better UG chances in 2019, as many DMs will either drop to PM or leave the program (if people here actually do what they say they will).
- I will make no change to my Amex strategy: Spend $60k on the DL Reserve for MilesBoosts, spend $0 on the DL Plat because I don't want/need more miles than that, enjoy the companion certs from both each year.
But this thread is entertaining for sure.
- I LOL'd when I saw the email from DL, knowing exactly what FT would be saying.
- I look forward to marginally better UG chances in 2019, as many DMs will either drop to PM or leave the program (if people here actually do what they say they will).
- I will make no change to my Amex strategy: Spend $60k on the DL Reserve for MilesBoosts, spend $0 on the DL Plat because I don't want/need more miles than that, enjoy the companion certs from both each year.
But this thread is entertaining for sure.
Sep 26, 2017, 11:56 am
#791
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: DL PM, 1MM, DL SC, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 2,416
You're right, I don't know that. But there will certainly be less DM's in 2019 and that will make for a better experience boarding in Zone PREM, a better experience in the Sky Club, and better chances for upgrades for higher spenders. I'm reading this forum looking at what some DMs have spent with Delta for 125,000 MQMs and it irritates me that I've spent FAR more on average in the last few years and only made PM. All those "Dollar Store Diamonds" won't necessarily be ahead on the upgrade lists in 2019, and that's a good thing in my mind.
I guess it is better than no possible waiver as initially rumored.
Sep 26, 2017, 12:00 pm
#793
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PIT
Programs: DL MM, UA Global Services, AA Platinum
Posts: 92
Maybe this is just me, but...I suppose I feel a little bit like a weirdo outsider for only ever getting DM based on the MQD requirement and not the waiver.
Zero judgment, of course, just sort of an eye-opening thread here for me. Now I'm curious about seeing how these changes will feel on the ground and in the air.
Zero judgment, of course, just sort of an eye-opening thread here for me. Now I'm curious about seeing how these changes will feel on the ground and in the air.
Sep 26, 2017, 12:02 pm
#794
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,610
He said he'd rather be proven wrong, but he wasn't.
It was a bold prediction when he said it, and Renes took a lot of negative comments on FT about it.
Sep 26, 2017, 12:04 pm
#795
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 wonder whether the DL-AmEx contract said that DL would continue to grant MQD waivers for FO, GM, PM, and DM without specifying the amount or whether there was some analytic work suggesting that what AmEx loses from those who cancel cards or shift spending will be offset by people spending more on DL AmEx cards in order to hit the $250,000? The latter would be a small group of people unless a fair number decide to start doing MS to a huge extent (and risk having their AmEx accounts closed).