Originally Posted by orca15

I kind of feel like once you make Diamond, the whole point is to enjoy the benefits. Why start over at some lesser set of benefits at another (presumably less convenient) airline, just to try and achieve what you already have? I feel a little differently about hotels since it's rare that a single chain serves my purpose. But for me, from PHF especially, going to someone besides DL would just be more pain.

Originally Posted by onebobobo

I can see your point. I think the question is why doesn't DL give HVCs more incentive to continue flying with them once they've already hit DM? i.e. additional RUCs or GUCs after hitting 175k and 250k MQM

Originally Posted by FlyingBeanCounter

All of this is true - except the "less benefits". UA has the same benefits (indeed a few more) but their airline sucks compared to DL,

I am also thinking about AA. They fly direct DEN-ORD as well. As a bonus I would get upgrades more frequently than now. The outbound would be a lock (all DL flights out of DEN I get upgraded). With DL its the connection problem. I can fly to LAX, SEA, SLC, ATL, DTW, MSP, JFK and LGA direct. Connecting any where else adds three hours to the flight normally. That is just not doable anymore. I did do that for a several years when I didn't have kids as I had time to kill and flying on a saturday morning wasn't a huge issue.

I do think the lifetime MM perks are WAY better on UA. I have MM status on DL. Silver..... whoopee.. Based on my flights I think I could earn MM on UA and 2MM on DL in the next four to five years. It won't be that long until I retire/slow down and personal travel becomes a bigger deal than work. I suspect having the multi-million miler would be bonus then. I could see having 3MM on DL would maybe be a bit better (platinum for life) but I worry that the airlines will take aim at that stuff too. Its not like the status is guaranteed.

Originally Posted by nrr

Suppose someone got 375K MQMs by the end of 2020, 250k should rollover into 2021, would another 125k rollover into 2022? [I like investigating "interesting" what-ifs.]

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

Sort of but the post is wrong: Assuming that the person earned DM for 2020 (375,000 MQMs is certainly enough, but the person also would have needed $15,000 MQDs or the DM MQD waiver), the person would have DM through January 2022 and all 375,000 MQMs from the end of 2020 would rollover into 2021 and under current rules, if the person earns the MQDs (or waiver) for DM during 2021, then 250,000 MQMs would rollover into 2022.

Originally Posted by FlyingBeanCounter

Roll over MQM's are not useful to me. I have had a large number of rollover miles for several years. That's great, but I still have to hit the spend requirements. Spending 15k means I will see at least 125k in miles - so the rollover is moot.

I like the extra GUC's though. The problem there? I can only use them on myself and one other person. With a family of 5 it doesn't help all that much. If I have 10 that is 5 trips with one other person. Even with a heavy travel schedule I do not see that happening.

I am beginning to wonder if I should just buy J and be a free agent. The miles are not worth much and with most of my travel being INTL it doesn't really matter. Amex and Chase both make this possible through their travel portals. I could just focus on earning points with them and use them in a much less restrictive manner.

Originally Posted by metalblaze

Thanks for the explanation. If someone is DM now (in 2020), and re-qualifies for DM again *before* end of 2020, under the current DL rules, would they be eligible for DM Choice Benefits?

Originally Posted by Duke787

+1. These threads sometimes confuse me. What's the point of re-qualifying for Diamond if you aren't going to use the benefits? There may not be added incentive but surely the whole point of qualifying for Diamond was because the Diamond benefits (and flying on DL) is superior to EXP/AA or 1K/UA