Delta Status Accelerator - 2021/2022 Skymiles Year
Mar 31, 2021, 11:27 am
#91
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
I don't understand part of your math here. If you earn DM (assuming you earn enough MQDs for DM or spend $250,000 to get the AmEx waiver, assuming not a foreign address recognized by DL), you would get one PM and three DM choice benefits. If you pick redeemable miles for each choice benefit, you would get 3 X 25,000 (for DM) + 1 X 20,000 (for PM) = 95,000 RDMs.
If someone only chose miles for all 4 choice benefits (1 PM and 3 DM) then you are absolutely correct = 95K miles
Mar 31, 2021, 11:33 am
#92
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: DL 4MM; DM
Posts: 1,397
This promo makes me think of some of the 3x MQM and Fly through focus city promos that DL IT had issues with. My guess is this is going to be a BIG mess. Lots of incorrect numbers of MQMs and MQDs. And no Kevin Pinto (RIP) to come to our aid 
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Mar 31, 2021, 11:38 am
#93
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,363
I don't wanna turn this into an armchair CEO discussion but let me remark two things real quick.
One: The issuance and redemption of miles is hugely important from the finance/economics side for Delta. Perhaps even more important than elite status. I find it interesting that Delta uses this promo (which might very well turn out to be the biggest promo of all of 2021) to encourage redemptions..
One: The issuance and redemption of miles is hugely important from the finance/economics side for Delta. Perhaps even more important than elite status. I find it interesting that Delta uses this promo (which might very well turn out to be the biggest promo of all of 2021) to encourage redemptions..
The fact that this will encourage redemption vs cash ticks this year is significant. It does not really push the P/L as rewards flights do count as income (the SM liability on the books as unearned income). And not the balance sheet either for the same reason. But cash flow will certainly change with 2021 being hurt and 2022+ helped.
I would assume they know 2021 will suck by all metrics, so try to make future years look better. Not a bad idea.
Mar 31, 2021, 11:44 am
#94
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
Yeah am actually surprised that DL made the first move, since they've been in the 'follower' position for a few years. I'd expect AA to something simple like a blanket 2x/3x as stated above, and UA to come up with something even more complex that they can't even decipher it. Either way, will be difficult for the competition to respond with anything lower.
The issuance of MQD/MQS/MQMs are not on the books. So that changes nothing.
The fact that this will encourage redemption vs cash ticks this year is significant. It does not really push the P/L as rewards flights do count as income (the SM liability on the books as unearned income). And not the balance sheet either for the same reason. But cash flow will certainly change with 2021 being hurt and 2022+ helped.
I would assume they know 2021 will suck by all metrics, so try to make future years look better. Not a bad idea.
The fact that this will encourage redemption vs cash ticks this year is significant. It does not really push the P/L as rewards flights do count as income (the SM liability on the books as unearned income). And not the balance sheet either for the same reason. But cash flow will certainly change with 2021 being hurt and 2022+ helped.
I would assume they know 2021 will suck by all metrics, so try to make future years look better. Not a bad idea.
Mar 31, 2021, 11:52 am
#95
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,947
These changes are about incentivizing new bookings for the second half of the year; making it retroactive serves no purpose whatsoever for the company.
Mar 31, 2021, 11:58 am
#96
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,677
Mar 31, 2021, 12:00 pm
#97
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Lol looks like I'll qualify for silver with rollover and a TATL J award in December.
I don't really get what they're trying to do here. Sure it's very generous, once you work out the math, but it really feels like they've given the accountants a turn at running the marketing department.
I don't really get what they're trying to do here. Sure it's very generous, once you work out the math, but it really feels like they've given the accountants a turn at running the marketing department.
Last edited by KDCAflyer; Mar 31, 2021 at 12:13 pm
Mar 31, 2021, 12:13 pm
#98
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Marriott LTT, DL FO
Posts: 185
At first glance, this seems to make me want to avoid flying Delta the rest of the year. I had a job change, so I would qualify for the Reclaim My Status program the next time I need to fly a lot for work. If I go from DM down to nothing next year, I could do the status challenge at some point in 2022 when I know my travel will pick up. I have 35k MQMs from rollover, but now it looks like I should avoid flying on Delta so I don't accidentally hit FO. I guess I'll have to be judicious in using my expiring GUCs and RUCs on cheap flights.
Go all in for this year:
2021: Burn a lot of personal money to ~maybe~ hit PM
2022: PM earned in 2021 in effect
2023: No status
Strategically use Reclaim My Status:
2021: Let DM run out
2022: No status to start, do RmS challenge at some point to get back DM
2023: DM earned in 2022 in effect
2024: No status
In my mind, I think I would get better value out of a year+ of DM than a year of PM, especially if I got two sets of choice benefits (one after the challenge for medallion year 2022, and one for medallion year 2023). I'm not sure if Reclaim My Status grants choice benefits for both years though. Regardless, I would probably be looking at higher status for less money out of pocket if I go with the latter option.
Mar 31, 2021, 12:23 pm
#100
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,878
Mar 31, 2021, 12:34 pm
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
As far as MQMs go...
LGA-ATL-ANC is a little over 4,000 flown miles one way. So roundtrip is approximately 8,000 flown miles.
With the 50% bonus - this would amount to 12,000 MQMs.
And, if basic economy counts towards this promotion (it doesn’t explicitly include or exclude it, besides stating that all tickets eligible to earn MQM etc WILL count), someone could purchase that roundtrip for 11,000 SkyPesos now.
So with a little over 100K SkyMiles and the time/willingness to take 11 pointless basic economy roundtrips from NY to AK, someone could have the MQMs for Diamond (doing this roundtrip 10 times). And earn 50K SkyMiles back in Choice Benefits...
LGA-ATL-ANC is a little over 4,000 flown miles one way. So roundtrip is approximately 8,000 flown miles.
With the 50% bonus - this would amount to 12,000 MQMs.
And, if basic economy counts towards this promotion (it doesn’t explicitly include or exclude it, besides stating that all tickets eligible to earn MQM etc WILL count), someone could purchase that roundtrip for 11,000 SkyPesos now.
So with a little over 100K SkyMiles and the time/willingness to take 11 pointless basic economy roundtrips from NY to AK, someone could have the MQMs for Diamond (doing this roundtrip 10 times). And earn 50K SkyMiles back in Choice Benefits...
A quick MR or extra connection if you're *just* shy of a status level or because you've found a really cheap fare and are making a quick vacation out of it, sure. But it's quite another thing to go from zero to top-tier status based on trips planned for the sole reason of attaining that status, even within the FT ranks.
Mar 31, 2021, 12:39 pm
#104
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Mar 31, 2021, 12:45 pm
#105
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM; UA 1K; AA 1MM
Posts: 4,516
I was confused about this upthread as well, but it *appears* to be that you get the standard 150% and then a 75% bonus based on that 150%. Definitely unclear wording though.