Why haven't Choice Benefits increased with inflation?
May 23, 2022, 12:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2021
Programs: Delta SkyMiles | Platinum
Posts: 195
Why haven't Choice Benefits increased with inflation?
Why haven't choice benefits increased with inflation? $200 or 20,000 SkyMiles doesn't quite cut it anymore... This should be increased to $500 or 50,000 SkyMiles to reflect Delta's price increases.
May 24, 2022, 6:25 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,233
Inflation has increased dramatically in the last few months. Delta isn't going to change things half way through the year, after a lot of members have already chosen their benefits. Maybe next year, but I wouldn't count on it. I think they have been quite generous with other things related to status already.
May 24, 2022, 8:01 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: LAX
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,530
What benefit does Delta get from increasing the value of benefits? It cuts into their bottom line, and while people here might be willing to switch FF programs over something like this, I doubt the impact it would have on the broader population.
May 24, 2022, 8:29 am
#7
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,888
Why hasn't Delta increased the amount of MQD needed to qualify for status? Given inflation of ticket prices, surely qualifying for Platinum and Diamond should require $15K and $20K in MQD, respectively, at the bare minimum. And why on earth hasn't Delta increased the amount of Amex spending needed to meet the MQD waiver to $50K instead of $25K. $25K is far too low in today's economy.
May 24, 2022, 8:58 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Tahoe
Programs: Delta DM for now
Posts: 474
Why hasn't Delta increased the amount of MQD needed to qualify for status? Given inflation of ticket prices, surely qualifying for Platinum and Diamond should require $15K and $20K in MQD, respectively, at the bare minimum. And why on earth hasn't Delta increased the amount of Amex spending needed to meet the MQD waiver to $50K instead of $25K. $25K is far too low in today's economy.
May 24, 2022, 11:29 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,889
Then why do they do it at all? I think Choice Benefits do move the needle. No, I don't think they need to change the benefit in the middle of a rapidly changing year.
May 24, 2022, 11:35 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 495
Why hasn't Delta increased the amount of MQD needed to qualify for status? Given inflation of ticket prices, surely qualifying for Platinum and Diamond should require $15K and $20K in MQD, respectively, at the bare minimum. And why on earth hasn't Delta increased the amount of Amex spending needed to meet the MQD waiver to $50K instead of $25K. $25K is far too low in today's economy.
May 24, 2022, 12:56 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MSP Mainly
Programs: Delta PM & 2.4M+ Miles - Bonvoy - Lifetime Titanium - DL AMEX Reserve
Posts: 267
I know the DM folks got a third choice benefit in recent years - so that was nice for them. Maybe give PM a second choice? I'm happy with what we get - they could eliminate them totally... I wonder how much they could save if they eliminated the useless "brag tags" that 85% of people toss away???
Jun 2, 2022, 10:25 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: US-Europe
Programs: DL DM Charter/2.5MM, AA EXP, Marriott AMB, LT Titanium, HH Diamond, Avis PP, National Exec-E
Posts: 529
Jun 3, 2022, 12:09 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA ExPl, DL PM, UA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, probably some others
Posts: 4,076
Don't worry. Delta raised the cost of award flights to reflect the cost of revenue tickets and the rise in inflation.
Jun 3, 2022, 8:34 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: EDI/GLA
Programs: DL 2 MM Unobtainum | UA 1.1MM Gold | MR Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 2,268
It's interesting to observe the comments in this thread. Due to the hyper-inflation that we're experiencing right now discretionary spending is being curtailed so therefore people are spending less on luxury goods despite Delta commanding a pricing premium (supply versus demand).