Approaching 5 Million - No Expectations
Apr 25, 2019, 2:07 pm
#31
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum, etc etc etc
Posts: 2,341
As a non MM DM I certainly have decided that having ZERO expectations has worked out well for me. 
Ironically the twitter team has done more for me then the DM desk has ever done. In fact if I get a bad response on the phone EVERY time the twitter team has gone above and beyond to fix or in some cases give me more then I expected or hoped for.
Ironically the twitter team has done more for me then the DM desk has ever done. In fact if I get a bad response on the phone EVERY time the twitter team has gone above and beyond to fix or in some cases give me more then I expected or hoped for.
Apr 25, 2019, 2:40 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,184
Apr 25, 2019, 3:24 pm
#33
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: LA,NYC
Programs: AA-EXP 2.8 MM,UA-GS 1.3 MM,DL-PL,HH-DM,LH-SEN,Bonvoy-GL
Posts: 296
UA even gives Global Services for 4MM. Almost feel like that's a bit too generous and will eventually be walked back (either through devaluation / elimination of Global Services or removal of it as a benefit for hitting 4MM with others getting grandfathered in) as it is too "easy" to hit 4MM. Then again, Global Services is pretty easy to make too (relative to 360) so who knows.
I do agree that it seems cheap that Delta doesn't give Diamond status to 4-5MM. Get rid of the "Choice" benefits if they need to. Either the person continues to fly a lot (and would likely have DM status anyways), or they retire and they aren't using their service benefits much anyways.
I do agree that it seems cheap that Delta doesn't give Diamond status to 4-5MM. Get rid of the "Choice" benefits if they need to. Either the person continues to fly a lot (and would likely have DM status anyways), or they retire and they aren't using their service benefits much anyways.
Apr 25, 2019, 3:58 pm
#34
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
That is not correct as with United it can only be earned on United metal and not on partners even from star alliance and also class of service miles although it counts towards elite status miles it does not count 4 million miler program as such 4MM miles is actual BIS miles Think of it a person flying in business class 4MM which in their program gets 2x elite qualifying miles in essence only gets 2MM Counted towards million miles
I may have a warped perception as I do about 300K BIS miles a year which is probably higher than most. Roughly 200K on Delta (netting maybe 230K MQM due to fare bonuses - almost all of my Delta flying is domestic economy, I avoid them for international J due to the 767 plague) and 100K spread across United and Alaska.
Case in point on the fare class bonus - I will probably fly United only maybe 50-60K miles this year but will probably make 1K due to a number of international J trips given the generous bonuses they have. This would be very tough/expensive on Delta without credit cards (which I don't use).
Agree it could be tougher if you fly partners a lot - Delta is far more generous in that regard - but I've always found it silly (JV partners aside) why Delta gives either MQM on non-DL ticket stock for partner flights.
Apr 25, 2019, 5:45 pm
#35
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Flying to a boat
Programs: DL DM/2MM, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 823
Before MQM's were invented, ALL credit card spend earned miles, which counted towards MM status. (I remember this from the 90's, don't recall when it changed). I imagine many of the folks with 4+MM were in the program back then, when earning was easier. Also, for those that also flew NWA, those miles/MQMs merged into DL as well.
Apr 25, 2019, 9:02 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: Frontier Gold, DL estranged 1MMer, Spirit VIP, CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat/comped gold now dust.
Posts: 38,151
Congrats to the OP. To take the Clooney thing further, IIRC his character hadn't used any of his RDMs until calling to get that free trip for his sister & fiancee. I hope you've had the chance to burn more over all this time, given all they're doing there.
Apr 25, 2019, 9:10 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: Frontier Gold, DL estranged 1MMer, Spirit VIP, CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat/comped gold now dust.
Posts: 38,151
Before MQM's were invented, ALL credit card spend earned miles, which counted towards MM status. (I remember this from the 90's, don't recall when it changed). I imagine many of the folks with 4+MM were in the program back then, when earning was easier. Also, for those that also flew NWA, those miles/MQMs merged into DL as well.
If there's a silver lining it's that SkyTeam Elite status (even at lowly 1MM silver level) did count for something on Xiamen Air on a recent trip and let me jump some pretty long lines at check-in and at the gate. It made the whole experience a little less of a cattle drive.
Apr 25, 2019, 11:19 pm
#38
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 894
Apr 26, 2019, 9:14 am
#39
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: DL Charter DM/DM/2MM, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,925
If I recall correctly, Delta's highest mileage flyer is out of NYC, does JFK-ZRH almost weekly. I can't remember just how many miles he has, but it's a heck of a lot more than I ever want. If you talk to the NYC crews who fly that route, they all know him by name ... heck, I'm told he even gets the same seat every time!
Apr 26, 2019, 10:28 am
#40
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Franche Comté, FR, Atlanta, USA
Programs: DL DM-2MM, BA Gold, A3 Gold, AF Plat
Posts: 408
Congratulations on 5 million. I find that both cabin crew and ground staff often thank me for my 2mm. There was no hooha when I had my 2mm flight. It was a number of years ago, and they do seem to pay more attention to it now.
Apr 26, 2019, 11:26 am
#41
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SDF
Programs: DL:360/DM/6 MMer; Bonvoy: Lifetime Titanium 10+M pts, 3100+ nights;
Posts: 1,441
Congrats on the approaching 5 MM milestone. You should be aware that MM level advancement recognition is spotty at best. I've never had any front-line recognition at (or near) my advancement from one MM level to the next. They've had plenty of opportunities to do so.
Apr 26, 2019, 2:45 pm
#42
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2019
Programs: Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 117
Apr 26, 2019, 2:58 pm
#44
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2019
Programs: Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 117
Have you told your life insurance agent about how many miles you have flown? Surely the actuaries would make some adjustments.
Apr 27, 2019, 9:18 am
#45
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Delta PM/2MM, Marriott Ambassador Elite/Lifetime Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 142
Having started to fly UA this year, I received a postcard on my seat at boarding for the flights which got me to Premier Gold and then to Premier Platinum. (My 1K flight was on OS).
No recognition of the milestone on my 2MM flight ATL-ICN with DL.
Interesting data points.
No recognition of the milestone on my 2MM flight ATL-ICN with DL.
Interesting data points.