Medallion Status - Soft Landing
Dec 1, 2022, 2:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: DL 1MM/DM, SPG Platinum, Pete's Brass Rail & Car Wash Beer Club
Posts: 275
Medallion Status - Soft Landing
Hi All,
I can't seem to recall the answer to this question so I'm leaving it to the experts: I'm currently a DM (have been since inception) but due to employment changes, I'm not travelling as much these days. It doesn't look like I'll qualify for any medallion status next year (have the MQMs from rollover, but just shy of SM on MQDs) My question is will DL give me a soft landing from DM to SM given my history? I have ~97k MQMs right now but only $2,500 MQDs, so $300 shy of earning SM status.
Any thoughts as to what next year will look like for me? I can do a MR to get the additional $500 MQD if necessary but would rather not if possible.
Thanks
I can't seem to recall the answer to this question so I'm leaving it to the experts: I'm currently a DM (have been since inception) but due to employment changes, I'm not travelling as much these days. It doesn't look like I'll qualify for any medallion status next year (have the MQMs from rollover, but just shy of SM on MQDs) My question is will DL give me a soft landing from DM to SM given my history? I have ~97k MQMs right now but only $2,500 MQDs, so $300 shy of earning SM status.
Any thoughts as to what next year will look like for me? I can do a MR to get the additional $500 MQD if necessary but would rather not if possible.
Thanks
Last edited by BoeingGuy; Dec 1, 2022 at 2:06 pm Reason: verbiage
Dec 1, 2022, 2:05 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
SkyMiles does not have soft landings.
You may wish to fly the extra $500 MQDs so that you rollover 75,000 MQMs. If you don't earn at least silver medallion, you will not rollover anything.
If this is due to a life event such as a change in jobs and you think that you will continue flying, you may wish to consider the Reclaim My Status program.
You may wish to fly the extra $500 MQDs so that you rollover 75,000 MQMs. If you don't earn at least silver medallion, you will not rollover anything.
If this is due to a life event such as a change in jobs and you think that you will continue flying, you may wish to consider the Reclaim My Status program.
Dec 1, 2022, 2:20 pm
#4
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
Since you're a Million Miler, do you expect to do enough Delta flying in the future to earn more than the Silver Medallion Million Miler gets you?
Dec 1, 2022, 2:44 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: On the run
Programs: DL 2MM/DM, Hilton LT Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Titanium
Posts: 573
MM -> at least FO for 2023. I would do the MQD run not to loss the 98k MQM’s as I expect that balance would reset to zero for 2023 despite the MM Silver status.
Dec 1, 2022, 2:55 pm
#6
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
It would reset to zero, but unless they're going to reach the increased MQD for at least Gold Medallion in the future, there's really not much point in holding on to the MQM that have built up during the pandemic.
Dec 1, 2022, 3:08 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 254
If you don't expect to travel much in the next few years, or can only travel enough to hit silver, then rolling over the 98k MQMs is useless, since you have lifetime Silver anyways. And Gold in the next year is a much steeper climb at 8k MQD with less benefits (no STE+ lounge access on SkyClub, plus there are still DM/PM surplus from rollovers, you won't get upgraded much regardless)
Dec 1, 2022, 11:51 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 832
Do the mileage run to hit Silver and rollover the MQMs. That status isn’t worth much these days, but at least it gives you another year to see how your flying shakes out.
If it’s really not worth it, I know the cost of your mileage run isn’t going to hurt someone who’s been a DM as long as you have. And if you end up finding value in it, you’ve got a decent bank of MQMs to build on.
If it’s really not worth it, I know the cost of your mileage run isn’t going to hurt someone who’s been a DM as long as you have. And if you end up finding value in it, you’ve got a decent bank of MQMs to build on.
Dec 2, 2022, 12:27 pm
#9
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
They're a Million Miler, they'll get Silver Medallion no matter what, next year they need to hit at least MQD for Gold Medallion to have any incremental benefit over the Silver Medallion for life they've already earned. It's a waste of money it sounds like unless they are going to be flying/spending enough to earn Gold Medallion in the future.
Dec 2, 2022, 12:30 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,043
Agreed it's not really worth trying to spend $8K on DL tickets just for Gold. Spending $25K on a DL Plat Amex next year for MQD Waiver and Plat status through 2024 "might" be worth it depending on how much travel OP has planned for 2024.
Last edited by xliioper; Dec 2, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Dec 2, 2022, 1:53 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 798
save the money. Buy what you want when you want it.
Even as a diamond in a non-hub market I get very little from status. Sure, I get some primo phone support. That is hit or miss though. So are upgrades. And the clubs are actually less desirable now than at any time in my 30 years of flying.
WFBF.
PS. There will be a bunch of people who pile on now and tell you how this isn't true. The fact that they are willing to fly suboptimal routes at horrible times is the tradeoff they make. If status means enough to you to fly four hops to cross the country then you might want to rethink the mileage run .
Even as a diamond in a non-hub market I get very little from status. Sure, I get some primo phone support. That is hit or miss though. So are upgrades. And the clubs are actually less desirable now than at any time in my 30 years of flying.
WFBF.
PS. There will be a bunch of people who pile on now and tell you how this isn't true. The fact that they are willing to fly suboptimal routes at horrible times is the tradeoff they make. If status means enough to you to fly four hops to cross the country then you might want to rethink the mileage run .
Dec 8, 2022, 12:37 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: DL 1MM/DM, SPG Platinum, Pete's Brass Rail & Car Wash Beer Club
Posts: 275
Thanks everyone for the feedback, it was all extremely helpful!
I forgot that I have lifetime SM status from my MM status so I'm not sure if it's worth doing the MR to keep the MQMs as I don't know what my travel looks like next year. I was recently laid off from my job so not sure what's next for me.
I typically buy FC tickets when I fly so having the status isn't worth THAT much to me other than the choice benefits, DM line, etc.
I forgot that I have lifetime SM status from my MM status so I'm not sure if it's worth doing the MR to keep the MQMs as I don't know what my travel looks like next year. I was recently laid off from my job so not sure what's next for me.
I typically buy FC tickets when I fly so having the status isn't worth THAT much to me other than the choice benefits, DM line, etc.
Dec 8, 2022, 3:43 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: On the run
Programs: DL 2MM/DM, Hilton LT Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Titanium
Posts: 573
Thanks everyone for the feedback, it was all extremely helpful!
I forgot that I have lifetime SM status from my MM status so I'm not sure if it's worth doing the MR to keep the MQMs as I don't know what my travel looks like next year. I was recently laid off from my job so not sure what's next for me.
I typically buy FC tickets when I fly so having the status isn't worth THAT much to me other than the choice benefits, DM line, etc.
I forgot that I have lifetime SM status from my MM status so I'm not sure if it's worth doing the MR to keep the MQMs as I don't know what my travel looks like next year. I was recently laid off from my job so not sure what's next for me.
I typically buy FC tickets when I fly so having the status isn't worth THAT much to me other than the choice benefits, DM line, etc.
Dec 8, 2022, 5:00 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Virginia USA
Posts: 1,232
Thanks everyone for the feedback, it was all extremely helpful!
I forgot that I have lifetime SM status from my MM status so I'm not sure if it's worth doing the MR to keep the MQMs as I don't know what my travel looks like next year. I was recently laid off from my job so not sure what's next for me.
I typically buy FC tickets when I fly so having the status isn't worth THAT much to me other than the choice benefits, DM line, etc.
I forgot that I have lifetime SM status from my MM status so I'm not sure if it's worth doing the MR to keep the MQMs as I don't know what my travel looks like next year. I was recently laid off from my job so not sure what's next for me.
I typically buy FC tickets when I fly so having the status isn't worth THAT much to me other than the choice benefits, DM line, etc.
Dec 8, 2022, 5:25 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC, MSY
Programs: DL DM, 1.5MM, NEXUS, Sky Club Lifetime, Admirals Club Lifetime, LowValueCustomer everywhere
Posts: 6,447
I feel badly for the OP but his/her top priority is employment, not airline status and conserving $ is more important right now.