I think this quote is really underlining one of the problems that Delta is trying to rectify: you are qualifying the requirements for airline elite status on how much money you need to spend on a credit card.

Based upon customer feedback we have decided to lower the DM requirement from $40,000 to $35,000.

Oh wait...LOL

US airlines need to become airlines again, and not credit card companies.

With the debt they are carrying that is not going to happen.

I suspect that a number of major corporate customers may have had a bit of a snit. Especially since most of those will require spending on a corporate credit card for travel expenses.

I can see them putting in something similar to UA's 1K rule. Maybe $25k of strictly flying plus 60 segments on DL metal, or $35k between flying and 1:10 Reserve.

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I think the phenomenon of increased premium leisure travel post-Covid hasn't been studied or analyzed enough. Leisure travelers seem more willing than ever to pay for F, and that's causing the ranks to swell. I imagine the 3-year rollover of MQM padded the ranks a bit too.

More people buy F now if they're seeking top-tier status because that's really the only way to achieve it unless you're flying full fare Y on a weekly basis

DL might retreat a little, but at the end of the day, one quote struck me (paraphrasing): "We have twice as many DMs relative to pre-pandemic. That's ridiculous. DL does need to cull that mob. I think they'll retreat a little on SC access, but still raise the elite qualification hurdles significantly. Maybe 30 vs 35 for DM.

I wish they would do a segment+MQD qualification like UA has.

The 40% to 30% MQD earn on for "discount" biz partner flights was petty. Especially after (I assume) many have flights already booked next year.

20:1 conversion to MQD as well as 1 per $10 on the Reserve will hopefully be made better.

1mqd per $10 reserve spend currently but I agree, they really should make this more favorable (although it may be a tough sell just because no one wants to do the math on an e.g., 8:1 conversion ratio...)

Um, that is the program they already announced.

This is what strikes a nerve how Ed is not manning up nor taking full responsibility as CEO "COVID almost doubled the amount of Diamonds". How did a virus which shut down the airline industry, forced a majority of people to stop flying and WFH cause the DM ranks to almost double? Was COVID a flying passenger earning MQM/MQD? NO, Delta was very greedy going after market share and AmEx remuneration with the excessive status extensions, roll over MQM's and not deducting MQM's for 2023 status.

Now we know why the GUC's are now useless by clearing into PS and T-24 for D1, as "in terms of our assets-whether its Delta One, whether it's the Sky Clubs, whether it's the upgrade certificate, whatever it is--we have grown that population".

Yep and also, I remember going back a few years when DL did not forecast the surge in leisure demand post-Covid. That tells me they didn't forecast the surge in premium demand either but rode with it anyway. If Diamonds doubled, it's probably the rollover MQM. When you increase the spend requirements, of course people are going to buy F more. He also said he wanted to "rip off the band aid" instead of going through this year after year, meaning the requirements they announced are probably going to eventually happen whether they delay implementation of some of it or do a "softer landing" for a year.

All this airline has done, year after year, is devalue. And amazingly, it's only swelled the amount of Diamonds? How did the airlines do elite programs before spend became a requirement then?

Until people stop buying F or J, it's not going to matter whether there are less elites when the seats are already bought. That's the real reason why everything seems like it's getting worse as far as providing benefits. MQD was supposed to quell, and 10 or so years later it's only swelled.

Adding a bit more here...I really think the inability to forecast the high demand made them do the "Reclaim My Status" ( how liberal was that program in handing out Plat and Diamond? ) and the 3-year rollover MQM. They also decided to retire hordes of aircrafts during the pandemic. I think they really thought travel wasn't going to come back for a very long time.

If these corporate accounts actually matter to Delta they will be dealt with in the sidelines through more targeted corporate challenges next year. Doubt we will see much publicly.

Stay of execution for 12-24 months...

One bitten twice shy, as I hope you all realize that you can't trust a snake. I wouldn't be jumping up for joy and throwing a party just yet. Delta is just going to prolong the game and play you along.