Workarounds for attaining Diamond medallion in 2019
Oct 1, 2017, 8:13 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2008
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Until DL knows how much you spent on partner tickets, they can't close it completely, and it's not really that large of a loophole to begin with. For every super-awesome-premium-economy fare you can find, it's offset by an expensive-low-bucket-coach-fare that earns 5%, or even a pricier-premium-economy-fare-in-the-same-fare-bucket. I suspect in the aggregate the numbers roughly balance out. If they don't, then you'll see DL tweak the percentages.
Oct 1, 2017, 8:20 pm
#17
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Until DL knows how much you spent on partner tickets, they can't close it completely, and it's not really that large of a loophole to begin with. For every super-awesome-premium-economy fare you can find, it's offset by an expensive-low-bucket-coach-fare that earns 5%, or even a pricier-premium-economy-fare-in-the-same-fare-bucket. I suspect in the aggregate the numbers roughly balance out. If they don't, then you'll see DL tweak the percentages.
Oct 1, 2017, 8:58 pm
#18
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The math depends on a bunch of factors. In my example, i spend $100k already. So I need to "spend" $150000 additionally which costs me $2805. Assuming 1 cent a mile, $150000 gives me $1500 in miles. Diamond choice benefits of $200, 25k points is another $450 in benefits. Total cost now is $855 for me for 4 global certificates and priority in upgrades. Probably worth it to me.
Oct 1, 2017, 9:05 pm
#19
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Probably because someone spending $100K a year on a CC doesn't mean they're spending $15K per year on airline travel? They could be putting work expenses, mortgage payments, car payments, college tuition payments for kids or student loan payments, etc. on the card, and if so, I could easily see where that totals $100K for some people, all without spending $15K per year on air travel.
Oct 1, 2017, 9:31 pm
#20
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Oct 1, 2017, 9:35 pm
#21
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Probably because someone spending $100K a year on a CC doesn't mean they're spending $15K per year on airline travel? They could be putting work expenses, mortgage payments, car payments, college tuition payments for kids or student loan payments, etc. on the card, and if so, I could easily see where that totals $100K for some people, all without spending $15K per year on air travel.
It's not about $15K in PQD, but rather the remainder to get to $15K in PQD. Evaluate that number vs. the incremental credit card spend to $250K (at mostly 1 mile per dollar no less).
Oct 1, 2017, 9:50 pm
#23
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In the scenario that was being discussed:
i.e. if you had nothing else you needed to buy, and had to manufacture $250K of spend from scratch and pay 1.87% to do it then $250K x 1.87% = $4,675.
Oct 1, 2017, 10:43 pm
#24
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Join Date: Dec 2006
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Probably because someone spending $100K a year on a CC doesn't mean they're spending $15K per year on airline travel? They could be putting work expenses, mortgage payments, car payments, college tuition payments for kids or student loan payments, etc. on the card, and if so, I could easily see where that totals $100K for some people, all without spending $15K per year on air travel.
Oct 1, 2017, 10:45 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Of course not. That said, unless one has a huge rollover MQM balance, it takes a good chunk of $ to meet the DM level of MOM, even on heavily discounted fares.
It's not about $15K in PQD, but rather the remainder to get to $15K in PQD. Evaluate that number vs. the incremental credit card spend to $250K (at mostly 1 mile per dollar no less).
It's not about $15K in PQD, but rather the remainder to get to $15K in PQD. Evaluate that number vs. the incremental credit card spend to $250K (at mostly 1 mile per dollar no less).
Oct 2, 2017, 12:36 am
#26
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 56
Oct 2, 2017, 12:44 am
#27
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
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Running about 250,000 MQMs/EQMs per year between DL and AA with almost no business travel is easiest done through flying in PE on partners.
I’m relinquishing my DL status once the waiver disppears as top tier status with AA has way more perks that DL doesn’t—mainly true International First Class lounges and more SWUs after 150k EQMs.
I will remain DL PL after 2018 putting $25k of my income taxes on my DL AMEX Reserve, Ive decided.
I’m relinquishing my DL status once the waiver disppears as top tier status with AA has way more perks that DL doesn’t—mainly true International First Class lounges and more SWUs after 150k EQMs.
I will remain DL PL after 2018 putting $25k of my income taxes on my DL AMEX Reserve, Ive decided.
Oct 2, 2017, 12:48 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
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Posts: 4,783
For me it is all about the GUCs -- that lets me upgrade 4 outbound TATL trips and get some rest on the overnight portion. I am fine with C+ (and some Woodfords) on the returns. If the return is thru JFK I will (try to) use an ROC on the JFK-LAX leg. Sometimes on ATL-LAX but I've been less successful there.
Oct 2, 2017, 12:50 am
#29
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Probably because someone spending $100K a year on a CC doesn't mean they're spending $15K per year on airline travel? They could be putting work expenses, mortgage payments, car payments, college tuition payments for kids or student loan payments, etc. on the card, and if so, I could easily see where that totals $100K for some people, all without spending $15K per year on air travel.
Oct 2, 2017, 7:29 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Amb, Hertz PC, Natl EE
Posts: 285
Running about 250,000 MQMs/EQMs per year between DL and AA with almost no business travel is easiest done through flying in PE on partners.
I’m relinquishing my DL status once the waiver disppears as top tier status with AA has way more perks that DL doesn’t—mainly true International First Class lounges and more SWUs after 150k EQMs.
I will remain DL PL after 2018 putting $25k of my income taxes on my DL AMEX Reserve, Ive decided.
I’m relinquishing my DL status once the waiver disppears as top tier status with AA has way more perks that DL doesn’t—mainly true International First Class lounges and more SWUs after 150k EQMs.
I will remain DL PL after 2018 putting $25k of my income taxes on my DL AMEX Reserve, Ive decided.