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 27, 2017, 2:20 pm
#1126
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,037
Sep 27, 2017, 2:24 pm
#1127
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,037
And, along that same vein, does it affect many others if this person is a Diamond? If they don't fly, they aren't competing for many upgrades or jamming up many lounges.
Sep 27, 2017, 2:30 pm
#1128
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28862819-post997.html
Sep 27, 2017, 2:52 pm
#1129
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 22
Called in yesterday and just asked if it was a typo on the 250k. They had some form ready to fill out and took my comments. I just told them i was surprised at the amount?
Just got what looks like a cut and paste response from Delta.
--
Dear Mr.
Thank you for contacting us regarding the changes to qualification for 2019 Diamond Medallion Status.
We understand your concerns and apologize that you are not happy. We are committed to ensuring we meet the expectations around Diamond benefits like Complimentary Upgrade availability and Delta Sky Club access. With our growing Diamond Medallion population a change was needed in how Members qualify for Diamond.
We understand that you would prefer Diamond Medallion Status and you have been loyal to Delta, but please remember that the $25,000 MQD Waiver can still be used to achieve all of the best-in-class benefits of Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion Status. And remember, you can keep Diamond by earning $15,000 MQDs or reach the new MQD Waiver amount of $250,000.
Thank you for your continued loyalty and for choosing Delta.
Sincerely,
Robert W.
Just got what looks like a cut and paste response from Delta.
--
Dear Mr.
Thank you for contacting us regarding the changes to qualification for 2019 Diamond Medallion Status.
We understand your concerns and apologize that you are not happy. We are committed to ensuring we meet the expectations around Diamond benefits like Complimentary Upgrade availability and Delta Sky Club access. With our growing Diamond Medallion population a change was needed in how Members qualify for Diamond.
We understand that you would prefer Diamond Medallion Status and you have been loyal to Delta, but please remember that the $25,000 MQD Waiver can still be used to achieve all of the best-in-class benefits of Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion Status. And remember, you can keep Diamond by earning $15,000 MQDs or reach the new MQD Waiver amount of $250,000.
Thank you for your continued loyalty and for choosing Delta.
Sincerely,
Robert W.
Sep 27, 2017, 2:55 pm
#1130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
It's pretty revealing. That would mean that, on average, it takes $25k MQD to gain 125k MQM. So...those of you getting to DM on $2k MQD are in fact the cheapskates.
My CPM with DL for the year is just over $0.26, and in past years it's been closer to $0.50, so I'm now going to strut around with the believe that I'm the one paying for all the benefits for you low-rev freeloaders.
Sep 27, 2017, 3:00 pm
#1131
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
Sep 27, 2017, 3:10 pm
#1132
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
I have flown between 140,000 and 160,000 MQMs each of the last three years, excluding the MQM bonus from the Reserve card. My MQD has been between $14,000 and $19,000. This year, I should finish with about 150,000 MQMs and $16,000 spent.
Sep 27, 2017, 3:30 pm
#1133
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Maryland
Programs: DL-Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 459
Not sure if this has been mentioned in here already, But DL CEO mentioned this MQD Waiver thing echoing what many on here have said
"Delta wants to reward customers who spend to fly on the airline"
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/09/del...itch-below-31/
SO anyone questioning the motivations there it is
Diamonds hitting MQD requirement via flying would probably mostly agree
Platinums like me welcome former Diamonds who used the loophole to join us in line for upgrades...potentially behind us depending on fare class
"Delta wants to reward customers who spend to fly on the airline"
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/09/del...itch-below-31/
SO anyone questioning the motivations there it is
Diamonds hitting MQD requirement via flying would probably mostly agree
Platinums like me welcome former Diamonds who used the loophole to join us in line for upgrades...potentially behind us depending on fare class
Sep 27, 2017, 3:49 pm
#1134
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: DL DM MM
Posts: 184
Given the incredible response by FTers to this thread, Delta will dramatically reduce the number of Diamond Medallions with this new policy. A few will win (less crowded SCs and more complimentary upgrades) but many will lose.
Sep 27, 2017, 4:03 pm
#1135
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: BHM LEX NYC
Programs: 3MM DM, DL Reserve, HH Diamond, Nat Exec Elite, SPG, PC, etc...
Posts: 440
I'll still achieve PM easily by Q1 of each year and will do so by spending 1500-2000 USD with them and the MQD waiver. I'll migrate the other 8-10K in airline spend a year to other airlines and 150-175K in CC spend to another card.
I realize I am on the bubble on hitting either metric but both are still an unrealistic stretch with my schedule.
Next year this will look like 25K spend, 75K miles...PM Medallion. I can't imagine I'll be alone here. DL chased me off with the move for next year.
Sep 27, 2017, 4:03 pm
#1136
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And I'm guessing the gamers (I'm one) are disproportionately represented here.
Sep 27, 2017, 4:04 pm
#1137
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL PM 1MM
Posts: 3,439
The more I think about the new DL rule, the more I'm concerned that the problem is that the $250,000 waiver will allow the worst of the "gamers" to continue as DM by doing extreme MS as well as getting lots of MQMs from credit cards (or rollover in some cases) while booting some people with rather reasonable frequent travel patterns from the DM ranks. To me, this doesn't look fair and I would have *much* preferred to see DL simply eliminate the DM MQD waiver entirely rather than continue it at the quarter million level if DL didn't want to have it depend on elite tier in a reasonable way or be redefined in the form of threshold DL AmEx spend (at least on ONE personal Reserve card, perhaps not counting authorized users) giving credit toward modest numbers of MQDs.
I wonder if one of the reasons for a 250K threshold is to help Amex actually find the MS guys and shut them down - to be really cynical, maybe at the 240K mark. Seems to me it would be easier to find the handful of customers on track for 250K on DL cards and look into possibility of MS vs the millions of customers on track to the 25K level and check them for abuse of MS.
Just a thought, as a non-MSer myself.
Sep 27, 2017, 4:05 pm
#1138
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,037
Do credit card companies "approve" of MS?
I wonder if one of the reasons for a 250K threshold is to help Amex actually find the MS guys and shut them down - to be really cynical, maybe at the 240K mark. Seems to me it would be easier to find the handful of customers on track for 250K on DL cards and look into possibility of MS vs the millions of customers on track to the 25K level and check them for abuse of MS.
Just a thought, as a non-MSer myself.
I wonder if one of the reasons for a 250K threshold is to help Amex actually find the MS guys and shut them down - to be really cynical, maybe at the 240K mark. Seems to me it would be easier to find the handful of customers on track for 250K on DL cards and look into possibility of MS vs the millions of customers on track to the 25K level and check them for abuse of MS.
Just a thought, as a non-MSer myself.