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We wrote last week about Delta extending the expiration dates of active, unused Upgrade Certificates — and that certs are now redeemable for award travel and not limited to just one companion.
Upgrade Certificates are Choice Benefits options. And Choice Benefits are available only to Diamond and Platinum Medallion members. So that’s great news for those elites.
But Silver and Gold Medallions might be thinking, Will our loyalty be rewarded like the bone Delta just threw Platinums and Diamonds?
Because Silvers and Golds don’t receive Choice Benefits or anything similar, there’s no special benefit that can be extended. And keep in mind Delta extended everyone’s status last year. I think a lot of people would’ve lost status otherwise.
So Delta already did people a favor. I think the Upgrade Certificates extension was Delta’s way of rewarding and pleasing their higher-value customers.
That being said: What would be something reasonable Delta could give Golds and Silvers? Bonus SkyMiles? Extra drink tickets? If you’re a Silver or Gold and genuinely feel neglected, here’s your chance to vent.
Granted, we’re barely into March. There’s plenty of 2021 in front of us. Could Delta once again extend everyone’s status, MQM, Companion Certificates, and vouchers? Possibly, though, I’m proceeding as though they won’t.
But if you want to be a higher-value Medallion, then consider taking some partner mileage runs (yes, we’ll post them in the coming months — or you can get in touch with Juicy Miles if you can’t wait). And consider that, with fewer people flying now than before, Golds and maybe even Silvers could have shots at upgrades when flying within North America (i.e., positioning to start mileage runs).
What are your thoughts? Please tell us in the below Comments section.
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I think everyone who wants to will become Platinum in 2022. Many Diamonds will drop down to PM due to the $15,000 MQD requirement and GMs who want to will easily hit 75,000 MQMs with rollover and Amex thresholds MQM bumps plus only $25,000 of Amex spend is a very low bar. So harder for Delta to distinguish loyalty when everyone is PM.
Yeah, the upgrade tie-breakers are going to be fairly important for those who crave upgrades (like most of us.
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I am silver out of Atlanta and I would like to see them extend it for another year so I continue to have free bags and the mileage multiplier. Without the free bag, Delta makes themselves like every other airline, especially if I have to add $70 cost to every flight. American is running some amazing specials out of ATL right now, but they are on the 737s . I haven’t done it yet as I don’t trust them sneaking the Max in there. Delta doesn’t fly the Max and that’s a point in their favor.
Hey, BookGirl! (I love your handle!) Something to keep in mind: you can get free bags with the Delta Gold Amex — which waives the annual fee for the first year. Once the annual fee hits, you can downgrade to the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card.
I hope they extend Gold status again. Also they should consider giving Million Milers a tiebreaker for upgrades!
The Million-Miler tie-breaker is an interesting suggestion!
I don’t know about a lot of the people; but spending $25,000 on AMEX is a big hurdle. I still hope to achieve my MQD by flying partner airlines. However, to do that, one has to do a couple long haul international flights going to places like Singapore, Australia, Korea…etc. With international borders closed, countries requiring COvid negative test and mandatory quarantine (21 days in Hong Kong at your own expense), US requiring negative Covid Test to return, no vaccine passport … etc, I just can’t figure how one can get the $15,000 MQD by just flying domestically. I guess there are still some folks who are traveling in domestic first class for FREE because they have a corporate expense account. For us everyday people, this is not realistic. May be Delta can lower the MDQ requirements just for 2021.
@Roger – 25k not a big hurdle. Just pay or over-pay your taxes (and get a refund). See: https://eyeoftheflyer.com/2021/02/10/pay-taxes-credit-card-earn-points/