Apr 5, 2020, 9:47 am
Last edit by: Zorak
https://news.delta.com/delta-extends-medallion-status-club-memberships-and-more-support-skymiles-members-future-travel
https://www.delta.com/us/en/coronavirus-update-center/extending-skymiles-benefits
Above is a summary, not a full list. See the links for more details.
https://www.delta.com/us/en/coronavirus-update-center/extending-skymiles-benefits
- current 2020 Medallion status (including gifted and promotional) is being extended through January 31, 2022
- all MQMs earned in 2020 will be rolled over into 2021, even for non-status members; this includes AMEX boost MQMs
- Rollover MQMs from 2019 that are currently in members accounts WILL be included when everything rolls over into 2021
- PMs/DMs who do not re-qualify organically, but instead have their 2020 status extended into 2021, will receive another set of Choice Benefits on Feb 1, 2021
- many other benefits (including but not limited to upgrade certs, AMEX companion certs, SC memberships/Reserve guest passes) are being extended 6 months -- check the links above for details
- "SkyMiles Members enrolled in a challenge or promotion to earn Medallion Status [...] can start a new promotion when they are ready to start traveling again if they missed out on achieving the requirements the first time."
Above is a summary, not a full list. See the links for more details.
DL to Extend Status to Feb-2022 due to COVID 19 (Consolidated Thread)
Mar 24, 2020, 9:14 pm
#76
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,198
I think the only way they stimulate demand is to lower fares. And that would allow people to fly more for sure. It would make status tougher to get but we have already established that in a vacuum this is not necessarily a bad thing so long as one is on the side of having status.
You can't artificially create demand when there is none due to a shock to the industry just by making the supply cheap.
Mar 24, 2020, 11:48 pm
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
Lets put this nonsense in perspective. This is two-four weeks of the year. From mid March to Mid april we likely will limit travel. That is less than 10% of the entire year. This is not going to go on for six months. or even four months. By late april at the latest this will have run its course and we will be back to traveling.
i guess we can wait till late april to see where we are....i'll be more than happy to be proven incorrect here but i don't see the situation improving till august or september....
Mar 25, 2020, 12:08 am
#78
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SLC
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 63
Mar 25, 2020, 12:41 pm
#80
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,319
If DL does extend status, I wonder what would happen in regards to choice benefits? Would we get to select new ones for 2021 even though we technically didn’t earn the status?
Mar 25, 2020, 1:37 pm
#82
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
My guess is that it’s probably not worth the effort to differentiate on choice benefits. By extending for a year it’s good PR and reinforces loyalty. Plus most of those benefits are tied to purchasing travel, which Delta, and other airlines, will want to greatly encourage
Mar 25, 2020, 1:49 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
in my opinion it would be fair to only offer choice benefits to those who have re-qualified....
Mar 25, 2020, 8:08 pm
#85
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,319
If this drags on until late in the summer, I doubt many would be able to re-quality for PM and DM at the normal requirements unless they continue to spend on their DL CC’s and had a large rollover from last year. This year due to not getting much of a rollover, if my regular travel resumes in June, I’d probably go back down to GM if nothing is done to status requirements. Hopefully this all gets resolved early enough where DL can just lower the requirements needed rather than just extend everyone’s status.
At this rate, not many DMs and PMs will be re-qualifying at the normal requirements.
At this rate, not many DMs and PMs will be re-qualifying at the normal requirements.
Mar 25, 2020, 8:59 pm
#86
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 48
It is a zero sum game - less diamonds means less competition for the perks of status.
Lets put this nonsense in perspective. This is two-four weeks of the year. From mid March to Mid april we likely will limit travel. That is less than 10% of the entire year. This is not going to go on for six months. or even four months. By late april at the latest this will have run its course and we will be back to traveling. The fact that one's company doesn't allow you to travel should not give you access to a status extension because 10% of the year people could not travel.
I don't care if people agree or disagree with the choice to fly now - that is not on them. And quite frankly it is none of their business. If people want to bunker in then feel free. People treat this like it is the plague. Its a flu. perhaps a bit more contagious and perhaps a bit more serious for some but it still a flu. I do not understand why the fear of others should result in a reduction of benefits for those of us who fly this year.
If people fall short they should use the "reclaim my status" feature of DL. That is why it is there.
Lets put this nonsense in perspective. This is two-four weeks of the year. From mid March to Mid april we likely will limit travel. That is less than 10% of the entire year. This is not going to go on for six months. or even four months. By late april at the latest this will have run its course and we will be back to traveling. The fact that one's company doesn't allow you to travel should not give you access to a status extension because 10% of the year people could not travel.
I don't care if people agree or disagree with the choice to fly now - that is not on them. And quite frankly it is none of their business. If people want to bunker in then feel free. People treat this like it is the plague. Its a flu. perhaps a bit more contagious and perhaps a bit more serious for some but it still a flu. I do not understand why the fear of others should result in a reduction of benefits for those of us who fly this year.
If people fall short they should use the "reclaim my status" feature of DL. That is why it is there.
Mar 25, 2020, 9:59 pm
#87
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 17
Losing status after dropping below AMEX spend?
So the COVID is presenting all sorts of unique challenges... I have a Platinum Delta AMEX that I use for my day-to-day card, but at the end of last year I signed up for an Reserve card to get the 10k bonus MQM's and hit platinum status. As part of completing the new cardmember offer required spend, I booked a cruise and a bunch of shore excursions. I have not used the Reserve card since I met the spend to get the bonus MQM's. I just got word that my cruise was cancelled and the fare and excursions are all going to be refunded to the card. This is like $5k in spend from 2019. I'm worried that Amex is going to think I tried to cheat the 2019 spend, when in reality the cruise line refunding this is beyond my control. I'd much rather be going on the cruise!!!
Anyone ever had a similar situation? I feel like if I just chat with generic Amex customer support they'll be totally clueless on this. Any need for me to be worried about they trying to retroactively pull my MQM's? I would hope they see me as a good customer (I go way over the MQD waiver spend on my platinum card each year) and recognize this is an odd year with the COVID, but not sure how smart they are versus what they have automated.
Thanks for any insights!
Anyone ever had a similar situation? I feel like if I just chat with generic Amex customer support they'll be totally clueless on this. Any need for me to be worried about they trying to retroactively pull my MQM's? I would hope they see me as a good customer (I go way over the MQD waiver spend on my platinum card each year) and recognize this is an odd year with the COVID, but not sure how smart they are versus what they have automated.
Thanks for any insights!
Mar 25, 2020, 11:07 pm
#88
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: FB Platinum, SM Diamond
Posts: 645
In the event DL operation comeback a little more normal for May/June, I believe to renew my Diamond (will be difficult if it go to August...)
But I wish DL will still lower the requirement, because I think it is many other Diamond who are more "tight" in their renewal than me.
I prefer a little more peoples in lounge and some more difficulty to use my GUC, but for DL to keep a good number of FF to be "healthy" after.
In situation like this. We must be emphatic/supportive between all medallion FF, not be selfish/egoist.
I think about other FF who can need a little "push" to re-qualify.
Mar 26, 2020, 1:29 am
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
yes, based on the normal requirements....
i agree....there is going to a be a tiny percentage of people who must have already re-qualified....the rest will have a hard time the longer this situation drags on....
in my opinion, this disruption is going to last till july at least....so lets suppose travel resumes from august then dl could reduce requirements by 1/3rd....if travel resumes in october then they could half the requirements....if its beyond that then it would be fair to just extend status for the next year....
having said that, i think it would also make sense for dl to reduce the choice benefits for those who re-qualify with reduced requirements....this way it will be fair for those who have or will re-qualify with regular requirements....so taking diamond status into consideration, if status is extended then you get no new choice benefits but your 2020 benefits are extended along with your status....if you re-qualify with 1/3rd requirements then you only get 1 choice benefit....if you re-qualify with half requirements then you only get 2 choice benefit....if you meet the regular requirements then you get all 3 choice benefits....
in my opinion, this disruption is going to last till july at least....so lets suppose travel resumes from august then dl could reduce requirements by 1/3rd....if travel resumes in october then they could half the requirements....if its beyond that then it would be fair to just extend status for the next year....
having said that, i think it would also make sense for dl to reduce the choice benefits for those who re-qualify with reduced requirements....this way it will be fair for those who have or will re-qualify with regular requirements....so taking diamond status into consideration, if status is extended then you get no new choice benefits but your 2020 benefits are extended along with your status....if you re-qualify with 1/3rd requirements then you only get 1 choice benefit....if you re-qualify with half requirements then you only get 2 choice benefit....if you meet the regular requirements then you get all 3 choice benefits....
Mar 26, 2020, 1:33 am
#90
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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Posts: 29,678
i agree....its extremely irresponsible for those who are doing non-essential travel right now....they risk infecting themselves & others....people who are doing this are part of the reason why this will take longer to control....