Thinking about going for Reserve... hoping to get some feedback about my situation.
 

Hey all,

I am thinking about going for the business reserve. (or non business). I live in NYC, we are a family of 4, we fly about 3-4 times a year altogether.

The reason I am thinking about it is since I will be able to use the companion certificate quite easily once a year - the annual fee won't matter.

Now for my business I use my cards very heavily. I put about 200k a month on them. So my thinking is that by putting 120k on reserve I will reach Gold and with roll over maybe even hit platinum every other year.

So my thinking is that since the 120k doesn't really matter to me, and the companion will get used for sure once a year, then even if I get upgraded for free once a year (all of us? or is that a stretch? ) then maybe it is worth it.

If I do not do that then that 120k will go on freedom unlimited or partially on amex bbp or platinum business so doesn't seem like such a huge tradeoff.

My main question is really how likely I am to get a free upgrade once when traveling 4 of us - 3/4 times a year on delta? I usually travel on kids holiday from school of course...

It'll never happen. With two or more companions, everyone has to have Medallion Status in order to be eligible for an upgrade.

If you’re spending $200k/month, you could do $250k in your name and $250k your spouse’s name (if appropriate given your business, I assume you are the owner) and you would both be diamond. As a DM in NYC, I’d say I clear into FC about 50% of the time (used to be higher even as a PM in 2019) and that’s often with one companion. This would get you RUCs and GUCs to use on your travels as well as sky club and centurion lounge access.

IMO, your best bet is using your points from Amex or Delta reserve or other travel ccs to buy first for special vacations especially if there’s only a few per year.

They'd hit the MQD waiver, but nobody's hitting Diamond with only 3-4 flights per year.

Why not just do a 2% cash back card, and just PAY for the flights in the class of service you want?

2% of 200K = $4000/month. That adds up to some real vacation money in 12 months. At least do the math on a cash back card.

Ah yes I forgot you can only get 60k MQMs with the card spend

oh if all need medallion status then it is not worth it.

might be better to get a hotel affiliated credit card. at least you'll get to stay for free at your location

On 2 reserves (personal/corporate) you can earn 120,000 MQMs with $240,000 of spend. And after $150,000 you earn 1.5 skymiles per dollar. Spouse can do the same.

I know two people who were not able to use the companion certificate in 2022 for First Class flights. I am not sure if was because one of the legs had no First Class but you may want to research as I think you can find a thread on flyertalk.

Yes but then you’re looking at $2400 in annual fees and have to decide if that is worth it to you to get DM + 600k redeemable miles which depending on the destination might cover 3 domestic main cabin round trips for the whole family or would rather have the $48k in cash back. I guess on my calculation it wouldn’t be worth it for only 3-4 flights per year and I would spend on a different card but to each their own. With that volume of spend you could always have the reserve in the mix to get some skymiles in the bank.

How do you get $48,000 cash back on $500,000 spend? That's over 9%.

200k/mo is 2.4mm annually. Which is 2%. Though I would argue that the absolute baseline for almost anyone doing this spend per year is 2.625%. So it's closer to $60k.

yes was going off OP’s total spend and conservative cash back estimate.

The discussion was about whether OP and spouse should each get DL credit cards and put $250,000 spend times two on them for two DM cards. I don't anyone is suggesting that they put all of their annual spend on DL AmEx cards.