Ugh! Going to book most of my miles on possible bookings at this point.

You’re out of your mind.

You can fairly easily get $900 worth of flying with 75k SkyMiles. The people spending that much on a DL card would clearly spend $225+ for the MQM boosts and SC access.

75K SkyMiles isn't enough for a RT international economy ticket on Delta these days. On AA it's more than enough for an economy ticket to Europe, or a one-way in JAL business class.

That's why I maintain that if Delta is going to move to an LP system, they need to make their miles actually worth collecting.

Not always the case at all, just pulled up a JAX-LHR RT on delta.com for 34k miles in Main Cabin while the cash fare is $1,000. Cheapest AA fare for the same dates is 48k miles. Not always the case, but it's completely the case at times. Miles redemptions on AA are better on average, yes, they always have been, but that's a little over exaggerated.

I don't factor random flash sales into mileage valuations 🤷🏼‍♂️

Checking random dates to London out of my home airport, I can't find a RT Delta Y mileage ticket for less than 80K miles, and most are almost 100K.

As for business class, I didn't even bother looking.

I'm also seeing 34k fares out of DCA. But the other thing you have to consider here too is their systems are vastly different and there's a trade off with this. Do AA miles go further on average than DL/UA miles, absolutely. But at the same time, AA awards don't get you any elite qualifying credit either like DL and UA awards do. DL awards might be more expensive on average but being able to get elite credit on them is huge for me.

this is also likely to change.

With the aggressive FCM, those upgrades aren't much more likely to occur in the future either. You could think the herd by 90% and most still aren't upgraded.

And I'm hoping they'll continue to do the MQM boosts on the credit cards to count toward MM staus

Don’t forget the 15% Amex discount on award tickets.

I have credit cards with 5% on travel, food, utilities, cell phone, home internet; and other credit cards with at least 2% on ALL other spending.

Let's say 50/50 (even though I'd normally spend more on the 5% categories), that would give me at least a value at $2,625 on $75K of annual spend even with the cash out option.

I have never been a big fan of co-branded airline credit cards, mainly because any earnings would be tied up in that program, and you are at the mercy of award availability in one program.

You are correct. But the MQM boosts, MQD waiver, first class companion cert, SC access and now 15% off award travel make up for the difference.

Sounds like a Macy's sale. 15% of $500 jacket that only costs $300 everywhere else.

SC access to wait in line? 15% off grossly inflated award travel redemption? Zero valve.