Silver Medallion...what does it get you?
#2
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: ATL/SLC
Posts: 3,537
25% bonus on Skymiles earnings.
Small discount on Crown Room membership.
I think those are the only things of interest. You have to be Gold Medallion to even use the special security line that the rest of the herd doesn't get to use.
Small discount on Crown Room membership.
I think those are the only things of interest. You have to be Gold Medallion to even use the special security line that the rest of the herd doesn't get to use.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,790
Originally Posted by MastaHanky
I think those are the only things of interest.
Then there is medallion/first class checkin lines where they still exist and let's not forget preferred boarding. Those are actually huge deals.
#5
Join Date: May 2004
Location: New Orleans, LA (MSY)
Programs: DL 1 MM/DM; HH Lifetime Diamond; Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 986
I agree. As a recent member to SkyMiles who made SM my 1st year and now GM in my 2nd, making SM that first time was a big deal for me. At MSY, I had preferred boarding as the DL terminal had FC/Medallion status; enjoyed preferred boarding, and got upgraded about half the time (more or less, on mostly LUT fares).
Originally Posted by indufan
Unlimited upgrades aren't of interest? Yes, they are at the bottom of the pecking order but my silver coworker is getting about 50% upgrades, most of them on LUT fares.
Then there is medallion/first class checkin lines where they still exist and let's not forget preferred boarding. Those are actually huge deals.
Then there is medallion/first class checkin lines where they still exist and let's not forget preferred boarding. Those are actually huge deals.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: TLH
Programs: DL Silver, Hilton Diamond, Avis Preferred
Posts: 657
Silver Medallion:
-Useless, but very decorative credentials for your luggage
-FC/Medallion Ticket Counter (kinda useless if you use the kiosks or online check-in)
-Depending on where you fly out of and the number of elites in your location, the occasional surprise upgrade to FC
-Boarding privileges if you can get all the numbnuts standing in front of you saying, "duh..what zones did they just call" out of your way
-Preferred seating. Nothing like having the exit row and knowing the exit row speech by heart.
It isn't a totally useless status, but highly overrated.. Guess I am giving NW a shot now. I'll miss that ATL concourse train. I have the recording memorized. "Careful doors are closing and will not re-open. Next stop Concourse C..Concourse C"
-Useless, but very decorative credentials for your luggage
-FC/Medallion Ticket Counter (kinda useless if you use the kiosks or online check-in)
-Depending on where you fly out of and the number of elites in your location, the occasional surprise upgrade to FC
-Boarding privileges if you can get all the numbnuts standing in front of you saying, "duh..what zones did they just call" out of your way
-Preferred seating. Nothing like having the exit row and knowing the exit row speech by heart.
It isn't a totally useless status, but highly overrated.. Guess I am giving NW a shot now. I'll miss that ATL concourse train. I have the recording memorized. "Careful doors are closing and will not re-open. Next stop Concourse C..Concourse C"
#8
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SAN
Programs: DL PM, HH Gold
Posts: 165

Originally Posted by MastaHanky
25% bonus on Skymiles earnings.
Small discount on Crown Room membership.
I think those are the only things of interest. You have to be Gold Medallion to even use the special security line that the rest of the herd doesn't get to use.
Small discount on Crown Room membership.
I think those are the only things of interest. You have to be Gold Medallion to even use the special security line that the rest of the herd doesn't get to use.
Benefits most important to ME:
1) Upgrades. Since the introduction of unlimited upgrades for all medallion levels, I have been able to upgrade about 80% of the time on non-RJ/shuttle flights. Admittedly, this is in part because I have some flexibility in selecting my travel dates and times to avoid peak business travel times.
2) Access to preferred seating.
3) Access to targeted promotions. As I recall both the recent Great Choices/Great Rewards and IC Ambassodor promotions were "targeted" to Medallion members.
4) Access to SMS representatives.
5) Access to Medallion check in lines and security lines (some airpots usually allow Silver Medallion in preferred security lines, such as DCA and LAX).
So yeah. Not so bad being Silver Medallion (except perhaps for some folks around here assuming that we're 3rd class citizens).
#9
Join Date: May 2004
Location: New Orleans, LA (MSY)
Programs: DL 1 MM/DM; HH Lifetime Diamond; Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 986
You sound kinda bitter as an FO. No offense.... The only thing I didn't like about being an FO was that I wasn't a GM or PM. 

Originally Posted by JPoor007
Silver Medallion:
-Useless, but very decorative credentials for your luggage
-FC/Medallion Ticket Counter (kinda useless if you use the kiosks or online check-in)
-Depending on where you fly out of and the number of elites in your location, the occasional surprise upgrade to FC
-Boarding privileges if you can get all the numbnuts standing in front of you saying, "duh..what zones did they just call" out of your way
-Preferred seating. Nothing like having the exit row and knowing the exit row speech by heart.
It isn't a totally useless status, but highly overrated.. Guess I am giving NW a shot now. I'll miss that ATL concourse train. I have the recording memorized. "Careful doors are closing and will not re-open. Next stop Concourse C..Concourse C"
-Useless, but very decorative credentials for your luggage
-FC/Medallion Ticket Counter (kinda useless if you use the kiosks or online check-in)
-Depending on where you fly out of and the number of elites in your location, the occasional surprise upgrade to FC
-Boarding privileges if you can get all the numbnuts standing in front of you saying, "duh..what zones did they just call" out of your way
-Preferred seating. Nothing like having the exit row and knowing the exit row speech by heart.
It isn't a totally useless status, but highly overrated.. Guess I am giving NW a shot now. I'll miss that ATL concourse train. I have the recording memorized. "Careful doors are closing and will not re-open. Next stop Concourse C..Concourse C"
#10
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: ATL/SLC
Posts: 3,537
Originally Posted by PaulLB
So yeah. Not so bad being Silver Medallion (except perhaps for some folks around here assuming that we're 3rd class citizens).

(The only upgrade I've ever managed to land was an SLC-SMF flight. But I guess that's what I get for having SLC as a home airport. And I'm not complaining...I realize there are many higher-rev passengers than me.)
#11
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Seattle , WA DL DM 2MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy, Delta Skymiles
Posts: 318
Originally Posted by JPoor007
I'll miss that ATL concourse train. I have the recording memorized. "Careful doors are closing and will not re-open. Next stop Concourse C..Concourse C"
#12
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: MLB
Programs: DL GM, UA 2P, SPG Aambassador, Marriot Silver, Hertz Gold
Posts: 107
It gets me a lot more than having no status, that's for sure. In fact, I've been upgraded quite a few times. With only 39,000 MQMs I was very surprised to see my name in the #1 spot on the upgrade list from DCA->ATL. Sure enough, at the very last minute my name was called and I had a much more pleasant flight

#13
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, DL DM since inception, 3+ MM, HH Gold, SPG-Gold
Programs: DL, UA, AA, HH, SPG, HH, Hertz, Avis
Posts: 1,833
Originally Posted by NOLA Flyer
You sound kinda bitter as an FO. No offense.... The only thing I didn't like about being an FO was that I wasn't a GM or PM. 

In my world (where after 8 years in college you work 90 hours a week for 4-8 years at $30,000/y before making the big bucks) it is called "Paying your dues"!!.
Similarly to the skymiles hierarchy. The vast majority of PM's were SM's at some point, and I for one remember looking at my watch to time the 24 hour mark (this was before the web-upgrade option) to call Delta and how exhilarating it was when 1/5 or so you were upgraded, as being put on the airport wait list (back then) usually meant nada, zip upgrade for SM's.
#14
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: MA
Programs: DL DM/2MM Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond,
Posts: 8,885
Hey, gang, anytime you see the GIDS display offering the masses a chance to purchase a FC upgrade, that's a flight where a Silver Medallion would have been given an upgrade even on a LUT fare.
That happens nearly half of the flights that I have been on, so anyone who states that FO status is worthless is very mistaken, IMO.
That happens nearly half of the flights that I have been on, so anyone who states that FO status is worthless is very mistaken, IMO.
#15
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA,USA
Programs: AA Plat, DL Gold, UAL Premier, SPG Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 566
What's my upgrade odds...
I'm a former Gold that was bumped down to Silver after not flying DL much after they changed earniings on LUT (i.e. in my case, corporate) fares to 50%. During my 3 years as Gold, I carefully hoarded segment upgrades, which DL then ditched (losing me 521). I used miles to get my wife a ticket in first for LAX-CVG-CLE over Labor Day; I bought my ticket. What are my odds of being upgraded?