Question about MQM's and medillion
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 117
Question about MQM's and medillion
Ok, so I have a little over 18,000 alaska air line miles earned through credit card purchases and a little over 8,000 earned though actual flight this year. I was wondering if I used a site like points.com to transfer my alaska airlines miles over to delta, would I qualify for the silver medallion level as I would have over 25,000 miles. Also what is the best way to go about transferring the miles over for alaska air to delta. Or is their a better way to go about this?
#3




Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,902
Ok, so I have a little over 18,000 alaska air line miles earned through credit card purchases and a little over 8,000 earned though actual flight this year. I was wondering if I used a site like points.com to transfer my alaska airlines miles over to delta, would I qualify for the silver medallion level as I would have over 25,000 miles. Also what is the best way to go about transferring the miles over for alaska air to delta. Or is their a better way to go about this?
You have 26000 RDMs, expiring in 18 months,
8000 MQMs expire Dec 09 - new clock starts Jan10
The RDMs are like coins/ cash - worth 1c / mile.
The MQMs are for status for free upgrades.
RDMs
Any transfer costs money,
go to points.com and see the costs, at least 1c/mile
You can often buy miles for 2.5-2.8c/mile usually.
1.3-1.5c during promotions depending on the airline.
To transfer miles costs at 1c/mile = 260$
To do all that and buy a 250$ ticket is not worth it.
The best use for you is to get a DL award using Alaska.
It is better to give /swap free tickets or miles than to transfer, unless you really need that small amount for a first class award to e.g., Australia Singapore etc, when you can't afford to wait for the miles to accumulate.
MQMs
If you call AS and transfer all miles to your DL account, (by asking them to credit all the flights to your DL account) you will get only 8000 MQM miles -
useless, unless you plan many more trips this year.
#6




Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,902
Fly on DL for 17000 miles - or with double promos 8500 miles
(these double MQM promotions come and go)
if you have an Amex Delta card and you register
or
Get a Delta Reserve credit card from Amex 450$ / year
Spend 30000 miles billed to you by Dec.
you get 15000 MQMs for that
Not on the January statement. That may count as 2010 not 2009
Then you need fly only 2000 miles
At the end of it,
you find Silver gets you nothing really except free bag check in and the ever present hope of a free upgrade.
I never got upgraded as Silver.
#8




Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Bonvoy Platinum, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, UA Gold, AS Silver, B6 M2
Posts: 602
I actually disagree. If you fly the not very popular routes you do get upgraded as a Silver Medallion (I have been), and in addition I also enjoy the early boarding so that I always get my bag up.

