Sorry - didn't keep track of when I passed that mark. Knowing I was going to get a pen, I didn't exactly spend any time tracking it week to week. They don't let you see it on the web page - I believe you have to call the 1-877 to get your actual base miles.

We all knew the 3 tier was coming, didn't expect it at NWA so soon - was hoping it would last til Dec 09. Time to burn!

Just burned 87.5K today for three trips, total cost $17.50. Without miles, $2300. ^

If history is any guide, it won't happen. When AA ate TW, they gave the TW MMers AA Lifetime Gold status. Which is to say, next to nothing. The only practical use for Gold is you get to board a little sooner than the herd.

I suspect DL will give the NW MMers the 'ceremonial' treatment as well, making themselves look good (in the eyes of the non-flying public) while the FFers get crumbs. It's all about the PR.

The current deal at DL is:

1MM = Lifetime Silver
2MM = Lifetime Gold
3MM = Lifetime Plat
They claim your miles on NW will count...we will see.

Does DL use BIS miles for this?
I am currently at 966k on NW and a whopping 9k on Delta so I should go over the 1M BIS sometime mid next year.

They call them MQM (Medallion Qualifying Miles) so same as EQM's with NW:

Million Miler Status
The Million Miler™ Program recognizes and rewards those customers who have flown an exceptional amount with us.
Members who reach one million Medallion Qualification Miles are currently awarded complimentary annual Silver Medallion status.
Members who reach two million Medallion Qualification Miles are currently awarded complimentary annual Gold Medallion status.
Members who reach four million plus Medallion Qualification Miles are currently awarded complimentary annual Platinum Medallion status.
Every time you reach a new level of Million Miler status you will have the opportunity to choose an exclusive gift by Hartmann™ as a token of our appreciation.
Million Miler balances are based on total Medallion Qualification Miles earned over a member’s lifetime.

Edit to add: My mistake: It is 4MM for Plat for lfe not 3MM.

I have been burning too. But with 4 plats, it's difficult to burn them all. I am still sitting on 1.3 million miles of my own plus about 200K miles between my wife and two kids. This is going to be their last year as plats. More upgrade opportunities for you.

If I read this correctly, in the DL doesn't care how the MQMs are earned. So going forward you can leverage credit card spending and partner promos. However, as you race towards the MM check points the FF from the DL program are going to have quite a head start on the NW FFs.

I love quoting myself

Got a box today, in it were a pen and a luggage tag and coupon for $100 bucks off a two night Marriott stay. Both the pen and tag were generic -- that is, not engraved with my name (or even WP# )

This whole combining miles brings up some interesting questions. I wouldn't think they'd give out the physical "goodies" (the leather portfolio or whatever it is) to people who cross 1MM (or 2MM or 4MM) when the accounts are merged. But then, if I was a Skymiles person with 950K BIS on Delta and 60K BIS on NW, I'd be really pissed at losing out on my goodies.

Do they keep track of "real" (i.e. Delta) BIS miles until full integration and only give out "goodies" to people who have 1MM "real" miles? Seems like you'd have the same sort of problem, pissing off some frequent customers.

That being said, expect they'll give people the complimentary Medallion levels as that doesn't cost them much.

Until recently the only way to earn additional MQMs (other than flying) was via the AMEX card. There were class of service bonus. Many, many moons ago, all miles counted. But the vast, vast majority of MMs in the last 10-15 years were minted via BIS.

I consider my $1000 piece of luggage that I got a lot better than a leather portfolio...which coincidentally I got also but that is a long story.

Thanks to this thread I just burned another 200,000. Only a half million to go!

What's the "three tier" system? I'm completely unfamiliar with Deltla's product or policies... hardly ever fly them. I'm 99% sure I'm switching my loyalty over to CO in January... I've been NW silver the last 2 years, sitting on 800K miles. I can get direct flights to CO where I need to travel, vs taking connections on NW/DL, so it seems like a no-brainer to switch.... I've been posting my CO flights to my NW account the last 3 years, because I've been using a travel agent and CO only wants to give me 50% EQM for those flights.... I guess I have to start booking my own stuff on continental.com when I switch over.

I can't believe there isn't more discussion about whether or not we NWA Plats will score upgrade certs next year. This would be a GREAT benefit as I am not on track to get them via ExtraPerks.

Cause the answer is yes, see the early posts in this thread.

Delta changed the language from Lifetime to Complimentary a fews years back. I have Lifetime Silver, but Complimentary Gold. Probably just the lawyers needing something to do, but it does give Delta an out.