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
Oct 4, 2017, 1:20 pm
#1366
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
I wonder how long it will be before delta starts putting a limit on the number of MQM's you can apply for status from Am Ex spend
Oct 4, 2017, 1:36 pm
#1367
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 822
Thus, I'm surrendering $525 in rewards, not to mention locking myself into Delta flights for the year and a rewards currency that has no set value. I'm also dealing with the fact that, while Diamond status will make it that much more likely that I will get upgraded, Delta is actively trying to sell those upgrades to passengers who will pay for them.
BOGO First Class (or economy) ticket
Skyclub access (if you aren't a DM already)
Those can assist making up some value for your remaining $525. The First Class Bogo being the more realisitic value here.
Oct 4, 2017, 4:00 pm
#1368
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,047
You could be a DM and not choose it also (I didn't).
Oct 4, 2017, 9:47 pm
#1369
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Delta DM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,495
My wife called to cancel her Amex Reserve today, as the annual fee just posted. After complaining about the change to the MQD waiver they offered her 25k miles or a $400 statement credit to keep the card. She choose the statement credit.
Oct 5, 2017, 6:15 am
#1370
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
So they effectively cut the annual fee to $50? Wow.
Oct 5, 2017, 8:48 am
#1371
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,202
Why do you assume these two things (waiver boost to $250k for DM and more FCM) are connected? If this move reduces the number of DMs, then anybody who's either (a) still going to be DM,or (b) still going to be a PM, benefits in the competition for whatever number of FC seats are available for upgrade.
Oct 5, 2017, 9:14 am
#1372
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
They're not directly connected... my points is that FCM is ever increasing. Delta has already stated that they don't want to give away upgrades. Their goal is to sell those seats. Whoever thinks they are going to be in a better upgrade situation in a smaller pool of DMs is very shortsighted, as those upgrade seats are being sold and will be bought outright by some of the former DMs.
1. If you're a PM, you're no worse off, since you wouldn't have gotten that seat anyway. The fact that it was bought by a former DM vs. that DM getting it for free, is irrelevant.
2. If you're remaining a DM, then you're still probably better off. The only scenario where you're worse off is if the no-longer-DM buys a F seat (so you don't get it), but, if the no-longer-DM were still a DM, you would have beaten that DM for the free upgrade based on tiebreakers. That might well happen in some cases, but I'm skeptical that it will outweigh the cases where the no-longer-DMs either just stick with PM, and don't pay to upgrade, or fly other carriers entirely.
Oct 5, 2017, 11:03 am
#1373
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
Mike
Oct 5, 2017, 1:49 pm
#1374
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,461
The real downside to this.....
If there are fewer DMs we might not have near the entertainment as the "entitled" try to figure out why someone got a seat they think they deserve! (I still laugh when I think about the man who got on our flight in MSP and started quizzing every passenger in First to find who took HIS upgrade!)
If there are fewer DMs we might not have near the entertainment as the "entitled" try to figure out why someone got a seat they think they deserve! (I still laugh when I think about the man who got on our flight in MSP and started quizzing every passenger in First to find who took HIS upgrade!)
Oct 6, 2017, 8:35 pm
#1375
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Beverly Hills, CA
Programs: DL DM & 2MM, UA-PE, AA
Posts: 1,074
I agree; although, I plan to move my $$ elsewhere due to the change, I will probably purchase F when DL offers direct connections.
Oct 6, 2017, 10:45 pm
#1376
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
The real downside to this.....
If there are fewer DMs we might not have near the entertainment as the "entitled" try to figure out why someone got a seat they think they deserve! (I still laugh when I think about the man who got on our flight in MSP and started quizzing every passenger in First to find who took HIS upgrade!)
If there are fewer DMs we might not have near the entertainment as the "entitled" try to figure out why someone got a seat they think they deserve! (I still laugh when I think about the man who got on our flight in MSP and started quizzing every passenger in First to find who took HIS upgrade!)
Oct 6, 2017, 10:57 pm
#1377
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: Delta Sky Miles DM
Posts: 89
Great move
Maybe they should have just eliminated MQD waver. Though I think it is a great move. Reward those who spend money on tickets and fly a lot. I like the MQD on tickets idea. Reward those who pay. Never have a problem reaching MDQ on ticket purchase.
Oct 7, 2017, 7:07 am
#1378
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta DM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,987
You mean the spend bonus MQM like how I get 10K MQM at 25K and just got another 10K MQM at 50K? I thought it was capped at 20K (10+10) and 30K (15+15) for Platinum and Reserve cards already? If not, I've made a huge mistake by switching spend to my Ritz card.
Oct 7, 2017, 7:10 am
#1379
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: 100,417
Some people have two AmEx DL Plat credit cards and two Reserve cards, so that they can get 100,000 MQMs. In addition, Reserve card MQMs can be "gifted" (but I suspect that in some cases they're really sold, which is not allowed) in apparently unlimited amounts into a single DL FF account.
Oct 7, 2017, 7:26 am
#1380
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta DM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,987
Some people have two AmEx DL Plat credit cards and two Reserve cards, so that they can get 100,000 MQMs. In addition, Reserve card MQMs can be "gifted" (but I suspect that in some cases they're really sold, which is not allowed) in apparently unlimited amounts into a single DL FF account.
