Never used one before.

What happens to the certificate if companion cannot go on trip? Is it burned?

Also, looking at using RUC on trip as well (MEM>ATL/DTW>HPN) usually get about 50% upgrade as GM (now PM - may hit DM by trip) to F (especially in & out of HPN)...would that be a good use of RUC since shorter legs are the ones (ATL and/or DTW) that are harder on complementary upgrades - or save RUC for longer trips....

Thanks!
FH

Yes if the companion can't go than it is basically burned/wasted. Otherwise you'd have to pay a change fee for both pax to modify it, so likely wouldn't be worth it then.

Personally I save RUCs for long legs and domestic D1 (bos/jfk-lax etc). Depends on your typical flight patterns and where you'd value the upgrade most.

Thanks for info on Comp Ticket!

Almost all is MEM>NYC area or BNA>NC area right now - usually at least 12 RT per year. May do some longer hauls next year - Caribbean for vacation.

But will have the 4 RUCs plus 8 RUCs to use during 2019 & 2020 and don't want them to go to waste. The way I earn PM & DM will probably be June will be PM and Oct will be DM each year. so should be able to spread out RUCs enough to cover if I need to use...routes I fly (HPN) almost always get F upgrade on that leg anyway.

Hold on. If your travel is 12 RTs MEM/BNA<>NYC each year and maybe a Caribbean vacation as a longer trip, how are you hitting PM/DM in June/October?

Assuming you're booking in coach since we're talking about RUCs, so the 12 RTs with a connection in each direction are 24k MQM, plus say another 3k MQM for the vacation, plus 20k MQM from the DL Platinum Amex.

Or do you have a bunch of super long-haul int'l trips and you're just looking for advice on the piddly domestic trips?

Just genuinely curious because the math isn't working my head and it's making me twitchy.

​​​​​​I would guess more likely than just "probably" given the point of the thread. Also I accounted for this in my post...

Actually have 4 Delta AmEx cards - Personal Platinum (20K MQM) & Reserve (30K MQM) and Business Platinum (20K MQM) & Reserve (30K MQM) . Probably run $500K plus on these each year so that is 100K MQMs then fly the other 25K - 40K depending on year and long distance. Lot of short haul stuff around South East with 8 - 12 NYC runs a year.

Not elegant but gets the job done. Worse comes to worse I bounce between PM & DM every other year. Use the miles for the kids and upgrades and sometimes hotels & car rental.

Learning a lot on this forum...appreciate the advice as I figure out how to maximize everything.

FH

Aha, that makes sense...at least math-wise. Although I do wonder a bit if all that DL Amex spend is worthwhile just to maintain PM/DM for what sounds like 12-15 trips a year?

I also fly mostly short haul so I get that some more intangible benefits multiply as segments pile up, but with that much spend I have to imagine you could earn better points elsewhere and have enough to just WFBF and buy outright all the other stuff you spend miles on?

I have other cards that do various cash back so the Delta perks add up for me.

Basically I am paying fees only on almost all flights (except when I use companion tickets!) with either direct use of points or Pay with Miles (to get MQMs).

Actually on a flight next week that the Pay w Miles cost is 65K miles and the Miles cost was 113K so every once in a while that actually saves me miles!

SC use and upgrades make the card use on all four worth what I give up on other cards. After next year we will ramp up our flying on longer haul trips too.

Last year had a total of 16 flights between our family and I think I paid about $500 cash??? Upgraded at least 50% of time. Now PM so C+ every flight - hopefully get F more. Will upgrade w miles for F also.

It has been a fun game as well to manage 4 cards to get them all maxed out for MQMs since two are personal and don't usually run that much personal card use - have been creative and found places that I never would have expected to take AmEx without a card fee - ie - our church for tithing!

FH