I believe Delta�s intention is that extended status would be a soft landing using 100k roller MQM per year after the 2024 status year deduction if said customer doesn�t organically re-qualify via MQD for CY 2024� not to extend additional status if a customer re-qualifies during the 2024 CY for 2025 status. An example would be a PM extends for 2 years at 200,000 MQM, but has 28,000 MQD for CY 2024. Delta is not going give an additional year of PM since you made DM. Then for CY 2025 your MQD drops to 10,000 MQD, your 2026 program year status would be PM.

For example as a former 1MM my status started each year at FO (silver), but I was not provided an extra year of FO since I re-qualifying for DM.

This is why I feel it is best to wait until the end of CY 2024 to decide how to best use the rollover MQM, that is unless you really need the future program year choice benefits as a PM or DM.

I feel that I�m writing in circles just posting this as Delta has now complicated the MQM rollover.

Changing the subject slightly, what is the take on the change in upgrade priority criteria? Yes, Million Miler is the third tiebreaker, but take a look at item 2 on the new tiebreaker list effective January 1, 2024. It says that "Cabin Purchased (Original + Paid Upgrades)" is the second tiebreaker. It used to say "Fare Class Groupings."

Does this mean that if you bought Comfort+, you would be ahead of everyone who bought Main Cabin?

Scroll down on the linked page: Upgrades

indeed yes.

Well, then, that is a substantial change, seems to me. You could easily have a Main Cabin fare that is substantially higher than a Comfort+ fare, yet it would appear that the cabin trumps the fare group effective Jan 1. It would also mean that instead of taking the complimentary DM/PM upgrade to Comfort+, you should buy the actual Comfort+ fare.

exactly.

I'd be cautious on assuming this for C+. Remember that C+ is per DL just an enhanced experience within the main cabin. It is not actually a separate cabin. PE is a separate cabin, but not C+. YES, you "upgrade" into C+ like F, but this was simply a method of controlling seat capacity. It wasn't done because they made it an actual cabin.

That was always my thinking as well. But if this is true, other than perhaps a domestic flight operating with Premium Select, when would the tiebreaker #2 "Cabin Purchased (Original plus Paid Upgrades") come into play?

The wording makes me think of a scenario where someone purchases Main and then uses miles to buy-up/upgrade to C+, or just buys C+. Not coming up with any other scenario where that wording would make sense, unless it is a domestic Delta One flight where PS is sold/marketed.

Regardless, I was struck by the change in wording.

At a minimum, by using "Cabin Purchased" instead of fare bucket inventory as tiebreaker #2, it means that a MM Diamond buying a T fare would trump a non-MM Diamond buying a Y/B/M coach fare. That is a substantial departure from the previous arrangement.

If C+ is not a distinct cabin, tiebreaker 2 is gibberish.

Sadly, whether you are number 1 or 2 of 69 for 0 available FC seats it doesn�t matter.

Yes, correct.

still thinks this devalues the AMEX cards.

Interesting, I didn't notice that! I can book flights well in advance, so I usually end up with LUT fares if I book main cabin. Does this now put me on equal footing with full fare refundable? That would be a big change! As a DM 2MM, it looks I might actually be able to get complimentary upgrades on the transcon flights I typically take out of ATL instead of continuing to resign myself to booking paid F. But why would DL do this? I imagine the person I'd be taking a F seat from isn't too happy right now!

I read this as "550 000 ROLLOVER" MQM's - thats the MQM's you have left AFTER the deduction for your 2024 status. If Delta would not deduct any mqm from this years balance you would get your status for free... Your 2024 status will be calculated be this years mqm/mqd numbers and within the first week of 2024 your 2024 status will be shown in exchange for the app. numbers of mqm's. Like every other year before. Whats left then is your rollover balance. I can't believe that Delta would give out status for free without collecting the mqms thus giving away another year of status extension for us.

That is my exact question as well. I just found it odd that the wording would be changed. They clearly meant something by it. Are they trying to get more PM/DM to buy C+ instead of take the free upgrade at time of booking?

I�m sure they�d rather get paid than give upgrades.