Nov 21, 2019, 1:25 pm
Last edit by: bgriff
Key benefits of moving up in status level, besides higher upgrade priority and more miles earned per dollar on flights:
Nothing to Silver:
Free access to preferred seats, including exit row on most aircraft types (except on Basic Economy fares)
Free checked bag
Priority check-in
Zone 1 boarding (actually the sixth zone or so to board, but better than regular coach)
Any MQMs over 25K roll over to next year -- if not qualifying for at least Silver, no rollover
Silver to Gold:
SkyPriority security and boarding (including on SkyTeam airlines)
Free same day change and standby
Lounge access when traveling internationally on SkyTeam members and Virgin Atlantic/Virgin Australia
Second free checked bag domestically
Gold to Platinum:
Free Comfort+ at time of booking
Free award redeposit (meaning you can cancel and change award tickets for free, as long as the miles were used from your account. Includes tickets issued for other people or tickets issued before you earned PM.)
Choice benefits -- regional upgrade certificates or $200 gift card or 20K miles
Third free checked bag domestically
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse access at LHR
Platinum to Diamond:
Free Clear
More choice benefits -- 3 choices, including things like global upgrades, various Sky Club access options, gifting GM status, 25K miles (up to 3x)
Board with First Class/Delta One
Free same day change to coterminals (i.e. between JFK/LGA or other pairs; this is an official but unpublished benefit)
Nothing to Silver:
Free access to preferred seats, including exit row on most aircraft types (except on Basic Economy fares)
Free checked bag
Priority check-in
Zone 1 boarding (actually the sixth zone or so to board, but better than regular coach)
Any MQMs over 25K roll over to next year -- if not qualifying for at least Silver, no rollover
Silver to Gold:
SkyPriority security and boarding (including on SkyTeam airlines)
Free same day change and standby
Lounge access when traveling internationally on SkyTeam members and Virgin Atlantic/Virgin Australia
Second free checked bag domestically
Gold to Platinum:
Free Comfort+ at time of booking
Free award redeposit (meaning you can cancel and change award tickets for free, as long as the miles were used from your account. Includes tickets issued for other people or tickets issued before you earned PM.)
Choice benefits -- regional upgrade certificates or $200 gift card or 20K miles
Third free checked bag domestically
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse access at LHR
Platinum to Diamond:
Free Clear
More choice benefits -- 3 choices, including things like global upgrades, various Sky Club access options, gifting GM status, 25K miles (up to 3x)
Board with First Class/Delta One
Free same day change to coterminals (i.e. between JFK/LGA or other pairs; this is an official but unpublished benefit)
Consolidated: Should I try to get the MQM/MQD/MQS for the next medallion level?
Dec 6, 2019, 8:36 pm
#151
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,264
If you're tall or leggy, preferred seats include the exit row and can make Silver very much worth $150 for some folks over the course of a year.
Dec 6, 2019, 8:38 pm
#152
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 189
At PM you get a $200 choice benefit or 20,000 SM. So now the cost is $1,800. As a PM you get free redeposits for SM award tickets which is normally $150 per ticket. My family of 5 easily has close to 100 redeposits each year with trips we all take together and separately. We often book multiple outbound and return flights and then decide before T-72 hours which ones we will actually take. If you do this on 12 flights next year your $1,800 fee will be paid for. Plus you get automatic DC+ at booking.
Dec 6, 2019, 9:23 pm
#153
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Not next to Dorian anymore =(
Programs: Status... we don't need no stinkin' status
Posts: 218
Perhaps you can switch your address on your profile to be a Canadian one. Canadian medallions don't have that silly MQD to deal with... also we get free sky club access when we travel from Canada to anywhere international and back.
Dec 7, 2019, 9:18 am
#154
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
That would be fraud if the person doesn't really reside in Canada.
Dec 7, 2019, 12:46 pm
#155
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,234
And people wonder why the airlines keep tightening things and take away benefits. I am pretty sure Delta checks things when you change your home country. This isn't their first rodeo. Geez
Dec 7, 2019, 1:09 pm
#156
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 45
Currently auditing my trips for the year as I’m only 25 MQMs away from the next tier. I did a Hawaiian Airlines interisland hop from HNL-OGG back in February. They credited me with the minimum 500 MQMs but it was ticketed and flown in F. Does anyone know if there should be a 50% (or 100%) MQM bonus or does that not apply in this situation? Thanks!
Dec 7, 2019, 1:27 pm
#157
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
Currently auditing my trips for the year as I’m only 25 MQMs away from the next tier. I did a Hawaiian Airlines interisland hop from HNL-OGG back in February. They credited me with the minimum 500 MQMs but it was ticketed and flown in F. Does anyone know if there should be a 50% (or 100%) MQM bonus or does that not apply in this situation? Thanks!
Dec 7, 2019, 1:35 pm
#158
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 45
Dec 7, 2019, 9:10 pm
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,040
As noted in the other threads on this topic, they will most likely direct you to the Elevate Your Status buy-up offer rather than grant an exception. A mileage run will be your safest bet.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delt...ion-level.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delt...ion-level.html
Dec 8, 2019, 12:06 pm
#162
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 36
So I'm $3 MQD short of silver. (I forgot to account for taxes when I purchased an upgrade that I thought would push me over.)
I haven't had status with Delta before. I work for a large company that lists Delta as its super preferred air carrier. I have no more business travel planned this year.
Any chance I can get a waiver? Or should I just buy Skymiles Select for $59 MQD and be done with it? Seems like such a waste, but so does all the MQMs.
My lowest EYS offer was $299 which is a no-go.
I haven't had status with Delta before. I work for a large company that lists Delta as its super preferred air carrier. I have no more business travel planned this year.
Any chance I can get a waiver? Or should I just buy Skymiles Select for $59 MQD and be done with it? Seems like such a waste, but so does all the MQMs.
My lowest EYS offer was $299 which is a no-go.
Dec 8, 2019, 12:56 pm
#164
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 45
So I'm $3 MQD short of silver. (I forgot to account for taxes when I purchased an upgrade that I thought would push me over.)
I haven't had status with Delta before. I work for a large company that lists Delta as its super preferred air carrier. I have no more business travel planned this year.
Any chance I can get a waiver? Or should I just buy Skymiles Select for $59 MQD and be done with it? Seems like such a waste, but so does all the MQMs.
My lowest EYS offer was $299 which is a no-go.
I haven't had status with Delta before. I work for a large company that lists Delta as its super preferred air carrier. I have no more business travel planned this year.
Any chance I can get a waiver? Or should I just buy Skymiles Select for $59 MQD and be done with it? Seems like such a waste, but so does all the MQMs.
My lowest EYS offer was $299 which is a no-go.