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Above is my current million miler status with Delta. I will cross 900,000 by the end of this year with flights and Delta AMEX Reserve card bonus MQMs from hitting $60,000 in spend.
That means all I need is 100,000 more miles in 2016 to hit 1 million lifetime miles with Delta. I will get 30,000 again from my AMEX card and thus only need 70,000 flying (or maybe flying and pick up a business Delta AMEX Platinum card to fill in the rest).
Now you may be saying to yourself, “Really René? Why do you care?” Folks, complimentary annual Medallion status is nothing to sneeze at and I am looking forward to it one day (just not right away). Think of the perks of this “lifetime-ish” status. I no longer will need worry about MQMs or MQDs to keep my status. Plus I get all the perks of Silver like:
- Unlimited Upgrades (including companion on paid fares). Yeah I know they will be few but they will be a bonus when they happen and I sorta know how to work it for max performance.
- Preferred Seats & C+ at 24 hr mark. I can tell you that on many jets the exit row is the best seat on the jet for leg room. Plus, as is being widely reported, at the 24 hr mark C+ seats on many routes are showing availability. As a Silver I will see C+ as an upgrade and worst case exit is just a winner for me!
- A free bag. This just works. You know what, my wife on the same PNR gets a free bag too. So between the two of us we are can check 2. With a carry-on each and a personal item we are good to go for almost any trip. If I find myself flying more with bags I can pick up a Delta GOLD or Platinum AMEX card and we are then good up to 4 bags. Simple and winning!
- Priority check-in and boarding. Hey, it matters. Silver is a HUGE step up here from a non-Medallion flyer plus even if I don’t hold a Delta AMEX card at that point I still get at least ZONE 1 boarding (or whatever they call it at that point) and that means I should not be forced to gate check my bag. That is of absolute vital importance to me flying Delta.
- Dedicated Phone Line. Yep, I still get to call the Medallion line for life. I know when to call, I know how to ask and I know how to get things done. This is another perk I cannot live without. I will have it each year. Thank you Delta!
- SkyTeam Status Elite. This is the last of the very nice perks. No, this is not an AMAZING perk, but just like domestically, being an elite is night and day better than not being an elite.
So there you are. Right now I am a little over 150k shy of reaching my goal of “lifetime” Delta Silver status and that is within reach in a little over a year. Now I will not drop that low down the elite ranks until my Diamond status ends in 2018 (or Platinum that I plan on maintaining for a few more years). But when that day is at last here, it will be great to not care one bit about MQMs or spend and just work my status for all I can – Silver here I come! – René
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Rene, you’ve failed to consider the impacts of future #keepdescending devaluations of Delta loyalty programs. I’m 50K miles short of 2M and lifetime Gold – we’ll both achieve our milestones this year. But, by 2018, one has to wonder if there’ll be any benefits remaining.
April Fool.
@FNT – NO! All true. No joke! Truly!
I wonder if I will be able to travel with a lowly Silver Medallion when that happens!
René, look into your crystal ball and tell me what you see for us MMers down the road a few yeae.
What do you think “Delta thinks” of a MMer who revs down below their current level of status? I’m sure Delta plans on the fact that a MMer will either be flying another airline or using this “lifetime-ish” status a few times a year.
@Dr. John – I think down the road the economy will change and that Delta will, for a while, appreciate those who are MMers.
Don’t get too excited. More Delta downgrades, even for MM fliers, will be coming. Who would have seen what we have now coming down the pike even 5 years ago?
I am doing the exact same thing. I have been platinum for the last 6 years and decided to stay with Delta for at least one more year. I will make MM by the end of the year. And hopefully Delta wont take the lifetime silver away in the future.
Hey René:
I know this is an older article, but like you I am flying Delta this year for the same reason. I need 40k to make my Million, combined with my lifetime club membership (from NWA days) it leave Delta as a reasonable option as they devalue their loyalty. I know they don’t care about me, and after this year, they won’t miss me as I move on to other airlines.
Good luck!