What’s your redeemable SkyMiles earn strategy (via credit card) for 2020?
Dec 12, 2019, 2:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,894
What’s your redeemable SkyMiles earn strategy (via credit card) for 2020?
I’ve been burning more SkyMiles than expected this year between flash sales (D1 to Europe), SkyMiles Upgrades, etc. On the earnings side, I will have earned about 85,000 RDM via flying and about 50,000 via ongoing credit card spending this year (this excludes a sign up bonus for a Delta Reserve). I’d ideally like to earn 200,000 SkyMiles a year or more. Obviously making Gold and flying more will drive it on the flight side. However with the changes in the Miles Boost for 2020, I’m wondering how to approach card spending. I will likely spend at least $30,000 on one Reserve boost, which gets me 30,000 SkyMiles, but without the Boost. Should I start sweeping more MR from Amex to Delta (I don’t remember transferring Amex MR to Delta in years)? I have a Amex Delta Platinum that my fiance is an AU for - maybe I have her switch some restaurant spending to that card for the 2x category boost now. How else are you guys seeking to boost SkyMiles earnings?
Dec 12, 2019, 3:16 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: CHA
Programs: DL-DM (1.75MM), Bonvoy LifeTi, Hertz-PC
Posts: 618
Amex Platinum (not Delta Amex) = 5x points on DL ticket purchases = 1:1 back to Delta
Hertz Car rentals thru DL.com gets a few thousand every booking.
Flying 130K miles annually as DM gets the points up there quickly also
Hertz Car rentals thru DL.com gets a few thousand every booking.
Flying 130K miles annually as DM gets the points up there quickly also
Dec 13, 2019, 2:22 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium, AA PLT for Life
Posts: 398
Four-card monte in January.
$50K on Delta Platinum AMEX, 70K RDM (20K MQM)
$50K on Delta Biz Platinum AMEX, 70K RDM (20K MQM)
$60K on Delta Reserve, 90K RDM (30K MQM)
$60K on Delta Biz Reserve, 90K RDM (30K MQM)
Total --> 320K RDM, 100K MQM
$60K more on Delta Reserve post January, 60K RDM (30K MQM)
$60K more on Delta Biz Reserve post January, 60K RDM (30K MQM)
Total --> 440K RAM, 160K MQM
Estimated opportunity cost vs. 2% cashback card = $6,400
Value of RDMs, $5,500-$6,500
Value of MQMs, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ $1,600-$6,400 (?)
Value of the scorn this will receive? Priceless!
$50K on Delta Platinum AMEX, 70K RDM (20K MQM)
$50K on Delta Biz Platinum AMEX, 70K RDM (20K MQM)
$60K on Delta Reserve, 90K RDM (30K MQM)
$60K on Delta Biz Reserve, 90K RDM (30K MQM)
Total --> 320K RDM, 100K MQM
$60K more on Delta Reserve post January, 60K RDM (30K MQM)
$60K more on Delta Biz Reserve post January, 60K RDM (30K MQM)
Total --> 440K RAM, 160K MQM
Estimated opportunity cost vs. 2% cashback card = $6,400
Value of RDMs, $5,500-$6,500
Value of MQMs, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ $1,600-$6,400 (?)
Value of the scorn this will receive? Priceless!
Dec 13, 2019, 4:49 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
Dec 13, 2019, 9:16 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, 2MM
Posts: 1,254
I agree that going for diamond is silly if you aren't going to use it. I only fly about 50 segments a year, but it sure is lovely to do those as a DM.
Dec 13, 2019, 4:57 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere above the Mason-Dixon
Programs: DL Ham Samich
Posts: 1,660
Four-card monte in January.
$50K on Delta Platinum AMEX, 70K RDM (20K MQM)
$50K on Delta Biz Platinum AMEX, 70K RDM (20K MQM)
$60K on Delta Reserve, 90K RDM (30K MQM)
$60K on Delta Biz Reserve, 90K RDM (30K MQM)
Total --> 320K RDM, 100K MQM
$60K more on Delta Reserve post January, 60K RDM (30K MQM)
$60K more on Delta Biz Reserve post January, 60K RDM (30K MQM)
Total --> 440K RAM, 160K MQM
Estimated opportunity cost vs. 2% cashback card = $6,400
Value of RDMs, $5,500-$6,500
Value of MQMs, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ $1,600-$6,400 (?)
Value of the scorn this will receive? Priceless!
$50K on Delta Platinum AMEX, 70K RDM (20K MQM)
$50K on Delta Biz Platinum AMEX, 70K RDM (20K MQM)
$60K on Delta Reserve, 90K RDM (30K MQM)
$60K on Delta Biz Reserve, 90K RDM (30K MQM)
Total --> 320K RDM, 100K MQM
$60K more on Delta Reserve post January, 60K RDM (30K MQM)
$60K more on Delta Biz Reserve post January, 60K RDM (30K MQM)
Total --> 440K RAM, 160K MQM
Estimated opportunity cost vs. 2% cashback card = $6,400
Value of RDMs, $5,500-$6,500
Value of MQMs, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ $1,600-$6,400 (?)
Value of the scorn this will receive? Priceless!
Dec 13, 2019, 5:55 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, MR Gold, Hilton Gold, National Exec
Posts: 534
Dec 13, 2019, 7:14 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 258
Run 30k through wives reserve to get her waiver which should lock in her gold renewal maybe hit plat. (24k rollover).
Run 30k through my reserve Decide how the year is going to on who gets the mgms. I didn’t need the waiver this year for platinum but got it not sure about next year. My rollover is 47k.
Put plane tickets on Amex Plat for 5x MR.
Use our 2 fc companion cert from the reserve card.
Run 30k through my reserve Decide how the year is going to on who gets the mgms. I didn’t need the waiver this year for platinum but got it not sure about next year. My rollover is 47k.
Put plane tickets on Amex Plat for 5x MR.
Use our 2 fc companion cert from the reserve card.
Dec 14, 2019, 8:20 am
#12
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: 100,404
Someone flying 50 segments @ 5,000 miles per segment would have the MQMs for "double Diamond" even if everything was flown in paid coach.
Dec 16, 2019, 8:20 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, 2MM
Posts: 1,254