Medallion Status
Oct 17, 2018, 9:44 pm
#16
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: 100,399
Has the OP satisfied the MQD requirements for FO or obtained a waiver? The waiver would imply, in the absense of a foreign address, a DL AmEx card which as others have pointed out gets most of the FO benefits except for free elite upgrade eligibility.
Oct 18, 2018, 5:58 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
1. Take the amount of money you would spend on mileage run(s) needed to get to Silver and put it in a bank account.
2. Use that money to cover the difference between the coach fare you're buying on your 10K/year travel and the discounted F/J fare.
This trick has worked for me all year on DL.
Oct 18, 2018, 12:38 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Central Florida
Programs: DL PM; MR Titanium & LTT; Hilton Diamond; National Exec Elite
Posts: 69
I’d say not worth it for upgrades alone. As a TPA based Platinum, I’m running about 35% on upgrades to first but 100% on C+. As a Silver, you wouldn’t be eligible for C+ until 24 hours out, so they would be unlikely, especially if you don’t want a middle seat. First would be even harder, I frequently see Diamonds in the back. Again, times, days of the week and routes flown matter greatly. Perhaps more than status? My silver co-worker has about a 50% F upgrade percentage, but flies off peak times and days. I don’t know what his C+ UG rate is.
Oct 18, 2018, 3:17 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
If so, then the complimentary upgrades are definitely not worth it. You can't get upgraded if you don't fly. You can't use ANY of the benefits if you don't fly.