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It is just about that time folks i.e. the clock for choosing your Delta Medallion Platinum and if Diamond, Diamond and Platinum Choice Benefits (you do have until the 31st – just don’t forget). I have been back and forth on just what I would pick this year.
I blogged here about my musing and what I may or may not pick.
Then just this past Tuesday morning I expanded on my thinking even more.
Well I have finally made the call and have made my final selection. It really was not a hard choice and a reader “Blake” said it just as good as I could when he commented here on the blog:
“I literally just chose my Perks yesterday and you know what I chose?….
All Points.
I have 8 Regional certs, 2 Global certs, and 4 Companion certs already sitting in my account right now that I’m fairly certain won’t get used this year so I saw no reason whatsoever to add more on.” – RenésPoints.com reader Blake
I hear you, Blake and agree with you 100%. I have more Delta points than I want to hold or care to admit that I now have amassed. I wish I did not have so many saved up with Delta RACING to devalue the value of my Skymiles day by day but they are, in the current COVID climate, still the best choice.
My reasoning also included this nugget. I really, really, really hated giving up 4 Global Upgrade certs that I normally value in the thousands of dollars range but since I get a fresh new set of Diamond Choice Benefits after February 1st – if I need them I will have access to a new set for this fall. Then, if I am able to follow my plans for 2022, I can get yet another set earned for then next medallion year when I need them.
Bottom line, much like 2020, 2021 is going to be a year like no other and I pulled the trigger to lock in what value I could.
What choice did you / are you going to make? – René
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Sorry but there really is no sweet-talking or justifying choosing all points. Take the 4 GUCs even if you already have upgrade certs in your account. They are used up very quickly. All you have to do is book a trip to Chile or Argentina in November (I am pretty sure it will be ok to travel in November, albeit with a test) with a friend, family member or SO. There go your 4 GUCs for a round trip reservation. And the economy fares are sometimes as low as $450 each. In contrast: What are 25,000 miles worth? Some will say 250$ if you use pay with miles but that’s not even true because you earn less RDMs by using pay with miles (as a Diamond, 1750 RDMs less). So more like $230. You don’t have to have a Harvard MBA to know that 4 GUCs will almost certainly be worth more than $230.
@Dave – I will not fly until I have had 2x vaccine jabs and waited 30 days. The chance that I will get one by summer, at age 50ish, is slim. Then, as we can see, the chance that Chile or Argentina will also have their population vaccinated by November are even more remote – and you don’t have to have a Harvard MBA to see those facts. Lastly, if you looked at the post, you will see after 1FEB2021 I will get 4 more GU certs!
@René, have you considered participating in a Phase 3 vaccine trial? I’m doing one and they are looking for more volunteers.
@Barry – No. I am happy to wait safe at home till I can get one of the two that are out / working / safe.
Understood and I respect that. I am happy to bet on two of those (working and safe) being true and by being one of 30000 participants hasten it being working, safe and out more quickly so that all of us can get vaccinated as quickly as possible. If you end up being vaccinated with an approved Novavax I will be glad to have helped to make that happen more quickly for you and others because without enough volunteers like us there wouldn’t be Pfizer or Moderna available now.
If we are still having to take tests in November then we will have bigger problems to solve, G-d forbid. I agree with your sentiment except you are making light of the ability to just hop on a plane and mosey on over to Argentina or Chile! i guess some of us can do that. I don’t think my wife and kids would be very happy if I did it though!
I get your point of getting the miles vs other choices… Since I got the Vaccine i want to use it before the immunity is up and then need to get in line for a booster!!!
@dee Can you expand on that comment about getting in line for a booster?
If you are suggesting that you need a booster dose, after the two shots, the CDC web site says “The need for and timing of booster doses for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines has not been established. No additional doses beyond the two-dose primary series are recommended at this time.”
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html
I got an email from Delta today stating that I had not selected my Choice Benefits, but I am going to wait a few more days.
First, the ability to select 2021 upgrade certificates at any point during 2021 causes me to think that taking points is the better choice. However, I just logged in and see that my Choice Benefit Options are as follows:
2020 Platinum Benefits
0 of 1 Benefit Confirmed SELECT BY Jan 31, 2021
2020 Diamond Benefits
0 of 3 Benefits Confirmed SELECT BY Jan 31, 2021
2021 Platinum Benefits
0 of 1 Benefit Confirmed SELECT BY Jan 31, 2022
I do not see an option to select 2021 Diamond Benefits. Are others seeing that option? It seems like I should be able to select 2021 Diamond Benefits now.
I just noticed that a companion certificate issued on 11/01/2019 has been extended to 12/31/2021. However, my upgrade certificates expire on 07/29/2021. If Delta is going to extend the redemption deadline from last year’s certificates I wish they would to it now to help with the CB decision.
I have taken four round-trips on Delta since since August and am not afraid to fly. I plan to fly this year and am tentatively planning a trip to China in November. If I knew that that upgrade certificates would not be extended and I can’t select 2021 Diamond Benefits for some reason, I would select the upgrade certificates.
Delta said the benefits would become available in February [as René mentioned in the post] for those that were grandfathered. In my case I earned Platinum and would expect to see my benefits already. Maybe that’s the case for you too?
Thanks Blake. I need to read more carefully. 🙂
Including my name, unless, you were joking 🙂
Sorry about that Barry. It’s a Monday and I need more coffee!
@Dave @Barry – I added BOLD to the FEB part in the post to help everyone out. 😉
Thanks @René