The elimination of credit card waivers for MQD is a tough game for Delta. I can't imagine Amex would be happy about it and they'd likely lose a lot of people who spend on a Delta credit card just for the waiver. Fewer miles for Delta to sell to Amex.

Curious to see what, if anything, happens.

Mike

Even if DL eliminates the MQD waiver as we currently know it, the new system is practically guaranteed to be formatted in a way that still encourages spending on DL co-branded cards. As I've noted before, don't be shocked if the new system is set-up to encourage incremental spend or putting as much spend as possible on DL co-branded cards because right now, once you've hit the highest threshold you know you're going to hit and won't be able to spend enough to reach the next threshold, there's no real incentive to keep the spend on DL co-branded cards when one can shift that remaining spending to a CC with a better reward rate.

This will probably evolve to a series of medallion qualifying boosts after certain spend thresholds, that will encourage people to spend far beyond $25k per year

AFAIK, BA and Iberia made the first move towards revenue-based earnings, and AA synchronized.

In the case of DL, will KLM/AF/VS do something similar…?

This is essentially what UA/Chase do -- there isn't a PQP (UA version of MQD) waiver anymore, instead your spend translates directly to earning PQP where you earn 500 PQP for every $12k (yes you are that correctly) that you spend with different cards having a different max on the overall number of PQP you an earn via this method. If you max out the top tier card, you can earn up to 10k PQP (via $360k in spend) which would give you UA Gold without stepping foot on a plane.

AMEX still gets their incentive for spending in there, it's just turned around from being a waiver to being something that you can earn towards whatever points system DL is using

I, respectfully, disagree. Ex-JFK, I’ve used GUCs for me & family over number of years flying to DEL, BKK, and even SYD either on DL or other SkyTeam metal. I value the GUCs as a huge perk for being a DM.

They don't upgrade straight to business class anymore, just premium select. I consider that to be a massive devaluation.

True - I have always bought PS or equivalent in DL and ST partners.

Ok just curious......
Booking flights with miles today.... vs after the "change"....
any projected difference in skymile cost of flghts?
thanks

Amex/Delta will surely keep some credit card spending for status aspect - the thing about the current system though is that $25K or $30K is attainable for more people than you think, and offers a pretty meaningful benefit. Effectively devaluing that level of spend may have consequences. It is fine to put $30K spend on a Delta reserve to get a boost for Platinum every year. If you now have to spend $50K or $75K for the same level of boost, some people will cancel

$75K on an Amex is a forgone $1125 straight cash on a mere 1.5% cash-back card. Sure, you get largely useless miles as well, but I assume people can do the math.

I doubt it -- but there is zero risk in booking your flights today - you'll get them all back if you cancel.

thats what Im thinking!
Thanks:-)

Goes near $50k lots are out.

I project a 50% deval in DL metal redemption rates.