Based out of SEA. Been banned from AMEX because they are a bunch of xxxxxxxx because of that this will be my last year of gaming status, no more AMEX to hack my way to DL status.

I am at 70k MQMs now so will get Gold till Jan 2025, have a last minute possibility to get another 5k MQM by spending about 90k miles on a family trip to get Platinum (it's either spend 90k DL miles or 90k UA miles for that trip). Should I do it? The only benefit for Platinum useful for me is the ability to get C+ at the time of booking, that will give me another 2 years of C+ booking (both 2024 and 2025, if booked before losing status). With Gold, I lose C+ booking after 2023.

Based on excess MQM to miles redemption, if I remain Gold, I will get 20k miles. If I go to Platinum, I will get 0 miles. So I have to spend the choice award on either 25k miles or RUCs. This is almost a wash from the miles perspective, and RUC may not be usable in 2024. Why? Most of my personal travel for 2024 are booked on AA/UA, as DL is not competitive on price. I will also switch to AA in 2024 and charge my spend there to get Plat (which gives MCE at time of booking!). I could use RUC for work travel, but I will likely fly AA now because I have no more AMEX cards, which means no lounge access. Lounge access is useful for me to take meetings before I fly out.

Is there a case to get the extra 5k MQMs to get Plat till Jan 2025?

Bummer on the Amex. Depending on what you did, credit card jail likely isn't forever.

I'd spend 90k DL miles on the simple basis that UA miles are more valuable. Plus, if you don't want to fly DL again, the miles aren't going to do you much good so might as well use them up and save UA miles for later.

If most of your 2024/25 travel is on UA/AA, no reason to go for PM. Also being SEA based, I dropped from PM to GM and I did not have as much of a difference in upgrade % as expected, but most of my travel is now in the western half of the U.S. If doing a lot of TCONs, c+ at booking would be much more valuable. When I dropped down, I also tried to book as far out as possible, but with schedule changes and most flights that are way in the future that you would want to be on being insanely high priced, none of my seats stuck beyond March. In most cases, buying an F seat closer to departure was cheaper than buying a y seat with a free upgrade to c+ 6-12 months out.

🤔

As a Platinum Medallion, every weekend I'm invited to a nearby pool where beautiful women serve me bonbons off a tray.
A nearby gentleman gently fans me.
Tropical drinks are just a request away.
Platinum Medallion is the life for me.
It should be for you too.

I would rank AA Platinum ahead of DL Platinum at this point. The upgrade rate is pretty similar, and both come with extra legroom seats at booking.