Delta Status Accelerator - 2021/2022 Skymiles Year
Jul 19, 2021, 11:54 am
#811
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,884
I was scrolling through the posts and didn't see anything related to a question I have. If I missed it I apologize. According to the accelerator web page,
Is it only upgrades with miles that count? Just curious since the examples DL uses on that page indicates cabin flown. Thanks for your responses.
- Round-trip purchased in Main Cabin, with padi upgrade to First Class with miles qualifies for 1.75% MQM
- Example: MQMs: 2,284 base MQMs for flown cabin x 1.75 = 3,997 Total Earned MQMs
Is it only upgrades with miles that count? Just curious since the examples DL uses on that page indicates cabin flown. Thanks for your responses.
I think that the answer is "It depends". Or maybe "your mileage may vary".
Last week, I had a PDX-ATL-PDX round trip. Nonstop flights in both directions. I used two RUCs so that I could enjoy the lay-flat seats on the 767s. For each flight I received 2172 MQMs + 1629 "Bonus MQMs". That works out to 75%.
I think that the official answer is supposed to be "no", and that it only applies to "paid" upgrades, but I have had it go both ways and I figure I am ahead enough that it might be dumb to call and bring their attention to it.
Edit: something that I just noticed, which might be in play - I am pretty sure that I got the bonus on certificates that cleared prior to checkin, and didn't get the bonus for the ones that cleared at the gate. So that could be a factor?
Jul 19, 2021, 11:58 am
#812
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Michigan, DL Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 353
I may call and check just to see. I have another trip I need to book that will get me to my Platinum status for next year if I get the 1.75 MQM/MQD. I was going to use a certificate on one leg of this new trip but may not depending on what DL says about the last certificate I used. Thanks for the response.
Jul 19, 2021, 12:06 pm
#813
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,066
How it is "supposed" to work is clearly answered in the FAQs -- https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles...on-accelerator
- If you are upgraded to a premium cabin using an Upgrade Certificate or through a Complimentary Upgrade, you will earn bonuses based on the cabin you paid for, not the cabin you were upgraded to.
Jul 19, 2021, 1:18 pm
#814
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,946
Should an upgrade using upgrade certificates qualify for the same 1.75% bonus? It looks like if I were to use miles to upgrade I get the bonus MQM but I'm finding that isn't the case. I used an upgrade certificate on a recent flight for one segment (main cabin) that upgraded me into FC. For that one segment, even thought the flown cabin was FC, I only received the 50% additional miles and not 75%.
Is it only upgrades with miles that count? Just curious since the examples DL uses on that page indicates cabin flown. Thanks for your responses.
Is it only upgrades with miles that count? Just curious since the examples DL uses on that page indicates cabin flown. Thanks for your responses.
https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles...on-accelerator
How will bonuses work on Upgrade Certificates and Complimentary Upgrades?
If you are upgraded to a premium cabin using an Upgrade Certificate or through a Complimentary Upgrade, you will earn bonuses based on the cabin you paid for, not the cabin you were upgraded to.
That being said, I think we've seen DPs of all of (1) no bonus at all (posting error), (2) main cabin bonus (expected), (3) 1.75 bonus (incorrectly, according to the terms, but who's going to complain if it happens...)
If you are upgraded to a premium cabin using an Upgrade Certificate or through a Complimentary Upgrade, you will earn bonuses based on the cabin you paid for, not the cabin you were upgraded to.
Jul 19, 2021, 1:31 pm
#815
Join Date: Jun 2021
Programs: Delta
Posts: 7
I do see that they are offering a lot of Bonus miles, but they specifically say that these do not count towards Medallion status.
Jul 19, 2021, 1:34 pm
#816
Join Date: Jun 2021
Programs: Delta
Posts: 7
I'm not sure what you mean by most efficient. Least time expenditure for you?
You have about 15% of the MQDs needed for GM and a bit over 50% of the MQMs. If you buy premium cabin fare tickets, you need to give DL about $2900 to meet the $6000 MQD requirement: (6000-913)/1.75 = 2907.
If you want to go to Alaska for a few days, this could be a fun way to earn a lot of MQMs from domestic travel, but hotel and rental car prices are high if you can even get a reservation. The schedules to Alaska aren't good for "pure" mileage runs.
Otherwise you could consider a couple out and back trips to the west coast, perhaps routed with the connections that give you more MQMs, especially since any extra MQMs will rollover assuming you at least get to the $3000 MQD requirement for FO. You can avoid needing to pay for a hotel if you're willing to do an overnight redeye on the return.
I'd avoid international and Hawaii because of the constantly changing testing etc. requirements.
You have about 15% of the MQDs needed for GM and a bit over 50% of the MQMs. If you buy premium cabin fare tickets, you need to give DL about $2900 to meet the $6000 MQD requirement: (6000-913)/1.75 = 2907.
If you want to go to Alaska for a few days, this could be a fun way to earn a lot of MQMs from domestic travel, but hotel and rental car prices are high if you can even get a reservation. The schedules to Alaska aren't good for "pure" mileage runs.
Otherwise you could consider a couple out and back trips to the west coast, perhaps routed with the connections that give you more MQMs, especially since any extra MQMs will rollover assuming you at least get to the $3000 MQD requirement for FO. You can avoid needing to pay for a hotel if you're willing to do an overnight redeye on the return.
I'd avoid international and Hawaii because of the constantly changing testing etc. requirements.
Jul 19, 2021, 1:37 pm
#817
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,323
You think Alaska’s bad, just look at Hawaii. Hotels that are usually priced between $250-$300/night before taxes/fees are up to $600-$700/night before taxes/fees! It’s crazy right now! Thankfully Vacation rentals weren’t nearly as expensive and I was able to get a beautiful condo on the big island for half the price of a standard hotel room.
Jul 19, 2021, 2:34 pm
#818
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 201
It look like Delta's MQM and MQD estimate at the bottom of the flight confirmation page (before purchase) seem to be showing MQM and MQD estimates with the accelerator bonus. Is this just me or has anyone else noticed this? It stood out because the MQD estimate is higher than the cost of the flight.
Jul 19, 2021, 3:25 pm
#819
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,946
Jul 19, 2021, 3:43 pm
#820
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,860
The fourth (return leg) was eventually upfared to First Class, and that leg accrued the 50% class of service bonus and the 75% accelerator bonus. I wanted to upfare the outbound leg of that trip also, but the Delta agent refused and said it could not be done. It was a travel agency ticket.
I was later told by another agent, that so many tickets are being refunded these days that Delta does not want to take over agency tickets until the outbound leg is flown. I was not able to upfare the ticket until the outbound was flown, so maybe that is correct. It was very annoying as the upfare after the outbound was flown cost slightly more than it would have cost to upfare the whole ticket right after booking.
Jul 19, 2021, 4:25 pm
#821
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,066
It look like Delta's MQM and MQD estimate at the bottom of the flight confirmation page (before purchase) seem to be showing MQM and MQD estimates with the accelerator bonus. Is this just me or has anyone else noticed this? It stood out because the MQD estimate is higher than the cost of the flight.
Jul 19, 2021, 9:52 pm
#823
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,946
Pulling this over from the long hold times thread, where there was a sub-thread about months-long waits for responses to the web feedback form:
I noticed that my MQMs/MQDs changed slightly today without having any flight activity that would explain it. Drilled down further and found that although they still haven't fixed the April trip (which will add ~$500 MQDs when fixed) they did fix a shorter/cheaper trip that I hadn't asked about because the amounts involved were tiny ($18 more MQDs, woohoo! 
also a bunch of MQMs but I'm swimming in those already and don't care as much)
so maybe they are slowly working their way backwards in fixing mistaken postings?
I still have never heard back on a web form comment I submitted in late April, regarding an incorrect accelerator posting. However I recently made a web form complaint about slow response times (both web form and phone wait times) and got a phone call literally within 15 minutes from someone, who although they weren't able to offer much beyond apologies and the explanations others have mentioned receiving (i.e. nothing new to add there). They did say they researched my April case and that (1) accelerator promo issues are apparently being handled by a dedicated team (2) there was a record of someone replying to me already (but which I never received) (3) she resubmitted a request to the accelerator team and told me to email them back if it doesn't get resolved.
also a bunch of MQMs but I'm swimming in those already and don't care as much)so maybe they are slowly working their way backwards in fixing mistaken postings?
Jul 20, 2021, 11:34 am
#824
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: DL DM, 1.5 MM; AS MVP Gold 100K; HHonors Diamond; AMEX Platinum
Posts: 488
Pulling this over from the long hold times thread, where there was a sub-thread about months-long waits for responses to the web feedback form:
I noticed that my MQMs/MQDs changed slightly today without having any flight activity that would explain it. Drilled down further and found that although they still haven't fixed the April trip (which will add ~$500 MQDs when fixed) they did fix a shorter/cheaper trip that I hadn't asked about because the amounts involved were tiny ($18 more MQDs, woohoo! also a bunch of MQMs but I'm swimming in those already and don't care as much)
so maybe they are slowly working their way backwards in fixing mistaken postings?
I noticed that my MQMs/MQDs changed slightly today without having any flight activity that would explain it. Drilled down further and found that although they still haven't fixed the April trip (which will add ~$500 MQDs when fixed) they did fix a shorter/cheaper trip that I hadn't asked about because the amounts involved were tiny ($18 more MQDs, woohoo!
also a bunch of MQMs but I'm swimming in those already and don't care as much)so maybe they are slowly working their way backwards in fixing mistaken postings?
Jul 24, 2021, 3:55 am
#825
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
How do you earn towards Medallion Status by purchasing a Delta Vacations package?
You earn MQMs and MQSs like you normally would on Delta tickets:
MQMs: based on distance flown and the fare class bonus
MQSs: 1 MQSs per segment of your trip
MQDs: Delta Vacations tickets are Exception Fares. Exception Fare classes (Delta-ticketed only) earn MQDs based on the distance flown multiplied by a percentage based on the fare class, then divided by 5. The percentage multiplier based on the fare class is as follows:
Delta One®/First Class/Delta Premium Select - J, C, D, I, Z, F, P, A, G: 150% of distance flown
Full Fare Main Cabin/ Delta Comfort+® - Y, B, M, W, S: 100% of distance flown
Main Cabin and Discounted Main Cabin - H, Q, K, L: 75% of distance flown
Deeply Discounted Main Cabin - U, T, X, V, E: 50% of distance flown
A 50% or 75% bonus will be applied to MQMs, MQSs and MQDs, depending on the cabin you purchased .
For example, if you book a roundtrip, non-stop, Deeply Discounted Main Cabin Ticket (T fare class) through Delta Vacations, and the roundtrip flight distance is 3,000 miles, here is how you would calculate your MQDs:
3,000*50%=1,500; 1,500/5= 300; 300 + 150 (50% of 300 -– the Main Cabin Accelerator bonus) = 450 MQDs
If you booked that same roundtrip, non-stop flight in First Class (Z fare class), here is how you would calculate your MQDs:
3,000*150%= 4,500; 4,500/5= 900; 900 + 675 (75% of 900 – the First Class Accelerator bonus) = 1,575 MQDs
Note: Delta Vacations tickets that are operated by Delta are the only exception fares that are eligible for the 2022 Medallion Status Accelerator bonuses.