GatorBlues

By the way, not everyone questioning the wisdom of this move is some cranky FT poster. I'm not losing any sleep over it. Now that Delta has realigned its program, I'll move $150K of my $200K in annual spend to other credit cards where the rewards will be more valuable to me. I'll still be Platinum, but will be more likely to buy a cheaper fare or better flight schedule from another carrier in the future. The perks will no longer be worth it (to me) to pay the up charge incurred to fly Delta on many occasions. In short, the change will decrease the profit Delta receives from me, but not because I'm bitter or offended. The incentives changed, and like any rational businessperson, I adjust my behavior to stay aligned with what's best for me. Whether Delta demoting me will lead to increased profits overall, despite decreased profits from me, remains to be seen.

So why do I bother weigh in? I used to work for Delta, I flew frequently before and still do now after my tenure with the Company, I still have friends who work there, and thus, I am interested in the industry's business issues.

MSPeconomist

I know: China Air, based in Taiwan, is a member of SkyTeam.

The post I quoted said Air China, not China Air. In fact, knowing that Air China is based in mainland China, I specified that going from JFK to TPE would have connections at PEK or PVG.

gooselee

Even better, China Air has historically been a DL partner via SkyTeam.

Air China is now a member of *A, but IIRC was previously a partner of NW before NW joined SkyTeam.

Then there's China Eastern (and subsidiary Shanghai Airlines), China Southern, China United, and Grand China Air....it gets pretty fun keeping track of them all.

hiima

Never heard of China United and Grand China Air.

MSPeconomist

As I'm sure you know, China Southern (CZ) and China Eastern (MU) are Sky Team members, with MU having a somewhat closer partnership with DL.

JB1000

I know that some consulting firms have agreements with Delta that give their employees different criteria for hitting status tiers, particularly Platinum. It’s laughable how easy it is for some of them to hit it.

fliesdelta

There are also customized status matches (not challenges) at some corporations with lots of employee travel.

hdtv4me

You're right. I meant China Air. They have a direct JFK-TPE flight and J usually cost around $6k. Of which, I only earn 25% MQDs and 100% MQMs.

PirateJeff

After much consideration, I'll probably cancel the AMEX DL Reserve since the key benefits aren't very useful to a < $250K DM.

They'll lose my credit card revenue, gain a little bit of MQD next year (I hit around $12K in 2017), but lose any travel for the rest of 2016 (why spend money this year when I need the MQD for next year?)

How many people are having luck complaining to AMEX and getting the ($400?) statement credits?

AKABrownBear

I'm late to the party but man does this rub me the wrong way. I switched all of my spending over to my Delta AMEX, primarily to get this waiver. I have over $50k in spend this year but apparently that's not something Delta cares about. Well that's $50k in spend I'll be taking to another card with better rewards next year.

cestmoi123

Why did you switch more than $25k over to the Delta Amex?

AKABrownBear

Mostly laziness, a lot of my spend is for work so it's easier for me to keep track of all of the expenses I have to report if it's on one card. So I tend to use one card for all of my work expenses and then by habit tend to reach for it without thinking at home as well.

bergamini

Am I missing something? We get the second 10K bonus MQM at $50K spend.

DP-340

I have slowly been escalating the issue at AMEX. They seem very aware and well scripted as you move up the chain. Waiting for the next level to call me back. As they purchase a lot of DL miles they hate hearing that you are considering moving your business to AA or UA.

Bowgie

I'm sure DP-340 is calling Amex because he thinks they value his business more than Delta does. He'd be right!

I'm pretty sure raising the waiver was Delta's decision, not Amex's. A low waiver means more happy cardholders. I bet the reason that Delta raised the Diamond waiver to $250,000 instead of just eliminating it completely is that they were contractually required by Amex to keep it in some form -- even a ridiculous one.

Here is my household's planned airline travel will change:
Previously, wife and me both hold Amex Delta Platinum cards. She's plat with 75k MQM's and I'm Diamond with 150k MQM's

Next year, wife cancels her Amex card. I keep mine (need it for business anyway), and double up spending to 50k for two 10k MQM bonus. I fly 30k MQM's (mostly SAN-SEA) for easy Plat status (30k flying + 20k Amex + 25k rollover). Wife mostly stops flying Delta for no status at all.

It is the rational decision. The asian carriers want to sell me cheap biz class fares for transpacific travel and United wants to sell me cheap basic economy for domestic. Both are a superior value proposition to Delta.

I got a call back from a Delta customer service rep in Atlanta this week in response to my complaint about the new $250,000 waiver. It was polite and perfunctory -- and clearly makes zero difference to Delta's decision calculus. They don't give a rip and neither do I anymore.