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, 11:30 am
#1096
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: CA
Programs: DL DM, AA Gold
Posts: 223
How does one fly 130K EQM and spend only $7800??
Here I was saying to myself reading this thread is why are all these people complaining-- if you're flying the required 125K miles of course you're going to meet the minimum MQD or whatever DL calls it.
You might be the lone exception.
Here I was saying to myself reading this thread is why are all these people complaining-- if you're flying the required 125K miles of course you're going to meet the minimum MQD or whatever DL calls it.
You might be the lone exception.
Sep 27, 2017, 11:30 am
#1097
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: MA
Programs: DL DM/2MM Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond,
Posts: 8,906
One of the original features of Skyteam was that your miles accumulated by flying DL or a partner. Now it doesn't count unless you're buying 006 ticket stock.
Sep 27, 2017, 11:36 am
#1098
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,397
Joint Ventures are not the same as alliances. Delta and AF/KLM, and Delta and Virgin Atlantic, (and soon, Virgin Atlantic and AF/KLM!) have Joint Ventures on transatlantic flights. I don’t know the exact details (not sure it’s public) but they do some degree of joint planning and pooling money over routes they fly from the USA to Europe (and back). That’s why you’ll see some routes where Delta pulls out and Virgin takes over all their slots, or airports where all the groundside operations for one of those airlines are handled by employees of the other.
Sep 27, 2017, 11:41 am
#1100
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,204
https://www.jcbusa.com/for_consumers...remium-hawaii/ https://www.jcbusa.com/for_consumers...mium-jcb-card/
Alliant Visa gives you 3% back first year, 2.5% back second year and onwards, for $59 annual fee (2nd year and on). http://www.alliantcreditunion.org/ba...signature-card
Both are solid options. The latter as a Visa will work everywhere, though the fee is a bit higher and the return a bit lower. The former has greater than AmEx acceptance (works at almost any merchant, since JCB is included with practically every Visa/MasterCard merchant account - many merchants just don't even know about it), and good global acceptance (except Europe), along with the highest simple straight all across cash-back of any card.
Every comparison I've done with travel specific cards, with a few specific good value redemptions excluded (that are usually hard to get and are in the way of becoming extinct anyway), a simple 3%/2.5% cash back card will yield better returns than any travel specific one, when averaged out across all purchases and redemptions, and give you total freedom in terms of airline, hotel, etc. that you book. Unless you are chasing the few unicorns of specific redemptions and have extreme flexibility and a lot of time to devote to chasing it, travel program specific cards are just too much hassle and the returns are too low to make it worthwhile, IMO.
Oh and there's also Discover It Miles, that is 3% for the first year (no fee), but only 1.5% 2nd year and thereafter...so that is only good for one year use.
Sep 27, 2017, 11:57 am
#1102
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, 2MM
Posts: 1,254
Here’s the thing — and I don’t post often and am not trying to enrage some of you. I am a Diamond. I pay for my own flights. I don’t see mathematically how you could maintain Diamond status without coming pretty close to the $15,000 spend which isn’t changing. The MQD’s through Amex have been nice, but there’s a point where it ends up making next to no difference. Again, not trying to spark controversy, but it seems that those outraged probably aren’t really the Diamond spenders that Delta — which is a business — is trying to retain. But as others have pointed out, if you pay for F class routinely anyway, status relevance is decreased. I have not been on a flight in six months with more than 1 F seat left for upgrading.
Am I missing something?
Am I missing something?
Sep 27, 2017, 12:25 pm
#1103
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: DL Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, Hertz Prez Circle, National Exec
Posts: 1,357
MQD requirements impacted every single Delta elite. This change impacts only the subset of Diamonds who don't meet the MQD minimum but met the waiver. A much smaller group of people.
Sep 27, 2017, 12:35 pm
#1104
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LAX
Programs: DL DM, 2 MM; OW Emerald; MVP Gold 100k;Marriott/SPG LTPlat; HH Diamond
Posts: 968
And IMO the PM's even more...I made DM for the first time this year only because of a very inexpensive J fare last year, ended with 125,592 MQM's, scraping back to PM again which I have been for years even before the DM level. All the fallen DM's will be competing for UG's now with the PM's...which is already dismal odds. Good for the DM's that earn it and spend though.
Sep 27, 2017, 12:36 pm
#1105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,021
Not following. You still earn miles and MQD's for flying Skyteam partners even if they are not on an 006 ticket.
Sep 27, 2017, 12:44 pm
#1106
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: 100,369
Moreover, MQD requirements didn't really affect anyone who was already spending at least $25,000 per year on DL AmEx cards, which would include a large fraction of those with at least one DL AmEx Plat or Reserve card. It was never something of concern to folks in this group.
Sep 27, 2017, 1:09 pm
#1107
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Posts: 762
JCB Marukai Premium gives you 3% cash-back on all purchases + $50 extra, for only $15 annual fee. No forex fee.
https://www.jcbusa.com/for_consumers...remium-hawaii/ https://www.jcbusa.com/for_consumers...mium-jcb-card/
Alliant Visa gives you 3% back first year, 2.5% back second year and onwards, for $59 annual fee (2nd year and on). http://www.alliantcreditunion.org/ba...signature-card
Both are solid options. The latter as a Visa will work everywhere, though the fee is a bit higher and the return a bit lower. The former has greater than AmEx acceptance (works at almost any merchant, since JCB is included with practically every Visa/MasterCard merchant account - many merchants just don't even know about it), and good global acceptance (except Europe), along with the highest simple straight all across cash-back of any card.
Every comparison I've done with travel specific cards, with a few specific good value redemptions excluded (that are usually hard to get and are in the way of becoming extinct anyway), a simple 3%/2.5% cash back card will yield better returns than any travel specific one, when averaged out across all purchases and redemptions, and give you total freedom in terms of airline, hotel, etc. that you book. Unless you are chasing the few unicorns of specific redemptions and have extreme flexibility and a lot of time to devote to chasing it, travel program specific cards are just too much hassle and the returns are too low to make it worthwhile, IMO.
Oh and there's also Discover It Miles, that is 3% for the first year (no fee), but only 1.5% 2nd year and thereafter...so that is only good for one year use.
https://www.jcbusa.com/for_consumers...remium-hawaii/ https://www.jcbusa.com/for_consumers...mium-jcb-card/
Alliant Visa gives you 3% back first year, 2.5% back second year and onwards, for $59 annual fee (2nd year and on). http://www.alliantcreditunion.org/ba...signature-card
Both are solid options. The latter as a Visa will work everywhere, though the fee is a bit higher and the return a bit lower. The former has greater than AmEx acceptance (works at almost any merchant, since JCB is included with practically every Visa/MasterCard merchant account - many merchants just don't even know about it), and good global acceptance (except Europe), along with the highest simple straight all across cash-back of any card.
Every comparison I've done with travel specific cards, with a few specific good value redemptions excluded (that are usually hard to get and are in the way of becoming extinct anyway), a simple 3%/2.5% cash back card will yield better returns than any travel specific one, when averaged out across all purchases and redemptions, and give you total freedom in terms of airline, hotel, etc. that you book. Unless you are chasing the few unicorns of specific redemptions and have extreme flexibility and a lot of time to devote to chasing it, travel program specific cards are just too much hassle and the returns are too low to make it worthwhile, IMO.
Oh and there's also Discover It Miles, that is 3% for the first year (no fee), but only 1.5% 2nd year and thereafter...so that is only good for one year use.
Sep 27, 2017, 1:13 pm
#1108
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL - PM (Sky Priority);HH - Gold; Marriott - Silver; National - Executive; DL Reserve AMEX
Posts: 5,232
I find it very hard to believe that you can fly 90,000 MQMs (assuming worst case where you get 30,000 MQM from the Reserve card) and you won't spend $15k on flights? Seems unlikely.
Sep 27, 2017, 1:15 pm
#1109
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: 100,369
Sep 27, 2017, 1:19 pm
#1110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,028