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
#2041
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,947
Thanks for the warm welcome.
GUC's are definitely next to impossible to use. Personally, my most traveled route is JFK-LAX and I have a pretty good clearance rate with using RUC's. In fact, I even wound up using my last global's for JFK-LAX-JFK flights I found that by picking the A330, your chances of clearing are very good and, you get the lounge access. My travel is all leisure so I can pick and choose travel dates and travel times to best suite OY availability. Even if I do make DM for 2020, and I might, like you, I don't think I would even pick the GUC's.
GUC's are definitely next to impossible to use. Personally, my most traveled route is JFK-LAX and I have a pretty good clearance rate with using RUC's. In fact, I even wound up using my last global's for JFK-LAX-JFK flights I found that by picking the A330, your chances of clearing are very good and, you get the lounge access. My travel is all leisure so I can pick and choose travel dates and travel times to best suite OY availability. Even if I do make DM for 2020, and I might, like you, I don't think I would even pick the GUC's.
Depending on how flexible you can be, you may be able to book a different routing or date that will significantly improve your chances of the upgrade clearing...
#2042
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,041
Regards
#2043
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: Fallen DL DM (PM) 2MM
Posts: 4,783
GUC's are definitely next to impossible to use. Personally, my most traveled route is JFK-LAX and I have a pretty good clearance rate with using RUC's. In fact, I even wound up using my last global's for JFK-LAX-JFK flights I found that by picking the A330, your chances of clearing are very good and, you get the lounge access. My travel is all leisure so I can pick and choose travel dates and travel times to best suite OY availability. Even if I do make DM for 2020, and I might, like you, I don't think I would even pick the GUC's.
I'm dropping to PM and I am most sad about losing the GUCs.
#2044
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
I don't mean to seem rude, but seriously? What in the world would make you think that? If one spends any time at all on the AA,UA, or DL forums, there does not seem to be any evidence, whatsoever, that elite benefits/upgrades are any easier on any one of the three vs. the other...
Regards
Regards
Sadly, FT is not a very good sampling size for what happens in the real world. I'm told that we tend to get a bit obsessive about miles and upgrades.
Mike
#2045
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: FB Platinum, SM Diamond
Posts: 645
Thanks for the warm welcome.
GUC's are definitely next to impossible to use. Personally, my most traveled route is JFK-LAX and I have a pretty good clearance rate with using RUC's. In fact, I even wound up using my last global's for JFK-LAX-JFK flights I found that by picking the A330, your chances of clearing are very good and, you get the lounge access. My travel is all leisure so I can pick and choose travel dates and travel times to best suite OY availability. Even if I do make DM for 2020, and I might, like you, I don't think I would even pick the GUC's.
GUC's are definitely next to impossible to use. Personally, my most traveled route is JFK-LAX and I have a pretty good clearance rate with using RUC's. In fact, I even wound up using my last global's for JFK-LAX-JFK flights I found that by picking the A330, your chances of clearing are very good and, you get the lounge access. My travel is all leisure so I can pick and choose travel dates and travel times to best suite OY availability. Even if I do make DM for 2020, and I might, like you, I don't think I would even pick the GUC's.
But on all flight I want to use them, it is always clear (even on my next flight in end Jan/Feb it is already clear).
On my side, I come from Flying Blue and I am VERY satisfy with the Skymiles program. I estimate the value of the Diamond choice benefit at +- 10K usd (for me)
#2046
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,041
The world is rapidly moving to a want first/premium, buy first/premium model. Delta has made abundantly clear, in writing I believe (e.g. investor presentations) their intent to continue shifting the mix of paid vs. upgrade (and I don't mean shifting in our favor)
Regards
#2047
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 222
Oh, I agree with that but the exceedingly long upgrade lists that you can generally see with your own eyes on the gate monitor (or app) at the airport have nothing to do with the sample size of FT.
The world is rapidly moving to a want first/premium, buy first/premium model. Delta has made abundantly clear, in writing I believe (e.g. investor presentations) their intent to continue shifting the mix of paid vs. upgrade (and I don't mean shifting in our favor)
Regards
The world is rapidly moving to a want first/premium, buy first/premium model. Delta has made abundantly clear, in writing I believe (e.g. investor presentations) their intent to continue shifting the mix of paid vs. upgrade (and I don't mean shifting in our favor)
Regards
#2048
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,041
Regards
#2049
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
DL doesn't need just road warriors buying the UGs, though. If they get 2 or 3 twice-a-year vacationers to bite on every flight, that's a consistent 2 or 3 fewer UG spots on every flight.
Don't underestimate the number of people out there who consistently pay $29/person on their DL Gold Amex to use the SkyClub for an hour before their ATL-TPA flight. These are the same people who are most likely to drop $79 on a one-way FC upgrade on that same flight.
Don't underestimate the number of people out there who consistently pay $29/person on their DL Gold Amex to use the SkyClub for an hour before their ATL-TPA flight. These are the same people who are most likely to drop $79 on a one-way FC upgrade on that same flight.
#2050
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: Delta Diamond 1MM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 503
DL doesn't need just road warriors buying the UGs, though. If they get 2 or 3 twice-a-year vacationers to bite on every flight, that's a consistent 2 or 3 fewer UG spots on every flight.
Don't underestimate the number of people out there who consistently pay $29/person on their DL Gold Amex to use the SkyClub for an hour before their ATL-TPA flight. These are the same people who are most likely to drop $79 on a one-way FC upgrade on that same flight.
Don't underestimate the number of people out there who consistently pay $29/person on their DL Gold Amex to use the SkyClub for an hour before their ATL-TPA flight. These are the same people who are most likely to drop $79 on a one-way FC upgrade on that same flight.
#2051
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
#2052
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,041
Not everyone uses airport lounges just to try maximize alcohol/food intake in a given period of time.
Regards
#2054
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
Mike
#2055
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,349
Keep in mind that some of that buy-up for a non-status pax on economy tickets buys things that we're often used to getting complimentary because of our status that they otherwise wouldn't get or would have to pay for with their economy ticket. If a non-status passenger is planning to check bags, $79 becomes a lot less of a premium for F when F would include checked bags that is now $30 for the first bag and $40 for the second. So if a passenger has a choice of $79 for FC and getting "Free" bags or paying $70 at check-in for two bags, it becomes a bit of a no-brainer. The past couple trips my parents have been on to HI, they've bought F for the island hopper flights on HA. It's not that they needed F for a flight that is ~15-20 minutes takeoff to touchdown but they saw that the premium for FC over Economy was basically the same as what two checked bags would have costs anyway, so why wouldn't they buy-up at that point?