UPDATE: The NEWS IS OUT! See this post for all the Delta changes!
We’ve seen and heard a few rumblings that significant changes are coming to Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles loyalty program. Welp, someone on Reddit posted a screenshot of a message that at least some Delta employees received informing them that September 14 is the day that program changes are announced.
What’s going to change?
Nothing is officially confirmed, of course. But the rumor and prediction mills certainly are spinning.
Many people think Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM) and Medallion Qualification Segments (MQS) will no longer factor into earning Medallion status. Everything will be based on how much you spend flying Delta flights — with a Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card spending component thrown in.
Remember that eligible Delta Amex Card members can spend their way to status without coming near an airport. I think that will still be an option — except spending tiers will be adjusted.
Perhaps status would be based something like “Medallion Points” that we’d earn. Like, $XX,000 Delta flight spending would earn 3 MP and spending $YY,000 on a Delta Amex would earn 2 MP. (I’m spitballing there.)
Worth noting: I don’t see any Delta Amex welcome promotions offering bonus MQM.
If you currently need to spend $250,000 on the cards to earn a Diamond Medallion MQD waiver, what will Platinum be? $150,000? Gold for $100,000? Silver for $50,000? If it’s something like that, my Amex card portfolio will have fewer Delta cards.
Another theory is that MQM and MQS will remain — but we’ll see an increase in the Delta Amex MQD Waiver spend thresholds. As FlyerTalker DrMilano notes, “The MQD AmEx waiver has to increase, maybe a sliding scale that [Silver] remains at $25K, [Gold] $35K and [Platinum] $50K. This will drive DL’s goal of $10 billion annually from AmEx.”
That is easier to swallow. (My household wouldn’t have two Platinum — or any — Medallions in 2025 but maybe that’s what Delta wants.)
Redditor Excusemytootie (yes) writes, “So they are still pushing the Amex card(s) with the MQM bonuses and earnings that will possibly be worthless? This should be interesting. I’m guessing the MQMs will have to convert to something but be devalued in the process. I hope not, that will really sour me on Delta.”
Some other theories:
- Delta will mess with rollover MQM. (Adult language warning)
- If MQM are still in play, we can’t earn them on award tickets anymore.
Sky Club Lounge Admission
We wrote last month that someone claiming to work for Amex said wholesale changes are coming to Delta Amexes with Sky Club admission privileges.
Basically, there would be no more unlimited complimentary admissions for the Reserve Cards, as well as both business and personal flavors of The Platinum® Card. If you want to enjoy the lounges to your heart’s content, you better be ready to spend on your card and earn that privilege, gollydarnit!
Also, one person said a Sky Club bartender mentioned the complimentary menu will undergo some changes. If Sky Club admission becomes rationed and peons like me don’t spend a jillion dollars for unlimited entry, I wouldn’t be surprised if Delta offered free hooch as a reward for their big spenders who always come in.
Or, they’ll somehow downgrade the current complimentary adult beverage offerings.
Delta and Amex are a financial love story. The airline makes so much money from their credit card partnership. Making credit card holders and spenders angry doesn’t seem wise. Then again, I run a blog, not an airline or a bank…
One Thing I Can Practically Guarantee
I’ll be shocked if Delta doesn’t announce limited-time welcome offers for the SkyMiles Amexes the same day they drop these significant changes. “Hey! Start spending toward higher status now!”
Final Approach
Thursday, September 14, will be interesting for Delta enthusiasts and other followers. There’s a sense that Delta is dropping some news that’ll irk many people.
But we’ll probably do what we always do: complain about it, talk about canceling our cards, threaten to move to another airline, and continue our weird Delta relationships. 🙂
What’s your take on all of this?
H/T: skislc on FT
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So depressing !
Personally would be fascinated if they went like AA and offered status earning via non flight partner spend and engagement like online shopping portals, RocketMiles, etc. And maybe limited it to those who carry /use a Delta Amex for that spend to be eligible.
It’s so easy for me to make the $250,000 spend at this point it’s a no brainer for me. I’ll be interested to see if they try to bleed more spend from card holders like me.
So glad it’s so easy for you. This peons don”t give a crap about your easy $250,000 spend
All the devaluation has turned me off. Also, zi used to get a free round-trip. To Europe for 50,000 or 60,000 miles, now it’s 80,000 miles. No thank you. I cancelled my Delta Skymiles Amex card. I can get better awards with other airlines.
I wouldn’t have expressed it quite that way but I do agree that people should be sensitive when talking about their financial blessings in public.
There have to be some big changes coming both in terms of restricting unlimited SC access and earning Medallion status. DL makes their primary income now from Amex not from flying. And DL now realizes they made a big mistake with MQM rollover so they have to blow the whole MQM/MQS/MQD thing up. The second highest published tier (PM) is now at such a low bar anyone with covid rollover and a mere $2,100/month can achieve it. I wonder if it’s a coincidence that DL FAs are now peddling Amex cards in flight.
I would be very happy to see a hybrid flying/spending model like American and United have, and have suggested it to Delta (so can partially blame me if it happens and you don’t like it). It would be frustrating to have 75% of the MQD and 75% of the MQD waiver and not end up Diamond. Thankfully that has not happened to me yet but it could.
It would be strange to sunset the two metrics (MQS and MQD) that most accurately reflect the amount of flying you do.
September 14 might soon be known as Barry Graham Delta Day. 😉
“It would be strange to sunset the two metrics (MQS and MQD) that most accurately reflect the amount of flying you do.”
Not necessarily. Airlines are practically credit card institutions that also fly planes.
Please STOP the “Companion + 1” policy, OR, force the “Diamond Medallion” to assume the lower status of your “companion.
At one stage up to 8 people could get upgraded to Delta Comfort which was a great benefit for Platinum and Diamond members with large families. It was a huge devaluation when they reduced it to one companion. One of the other airlines, I believe, still allows large families to upgrade to better seats in coach.
One thing that’s always puzzled me. Connecting flyers earning way more points yet costing the airline way more money in travel cost.
@Dave – Connecting passengers, by virtue of having to connect, are free agents and can fly any airline compared to those that are captives in hub cities. Airlines have to compete for those free agents.
I wonder what will happen to international medallions who are currently MQD exempt under the new system as they cannot get a DL Amex card. And if DL blows up MQMs how will million miler status be tabulated? So many questions.
I also believe there will be a change to partner earning. It’s too easy to just take 4-5 long haul trips on Air France and instantly become a Diamond after that.
Delta today announced that they have teamed up with Tom Brady in some type of marketing relationship. It’s a rather ambiguous announcement.
This seems like a total waste of money.
How long until they have a Tom Brady aircraft, a la Mariano Rivera and the Georgia Bulldogs?
I will cancel two of my three Amex Skymiles cards. I predict others will, too. Skymiles has become increasingly worthless. Companion tickets? Only if you want to visit Fargo on a Tuesday in February. Florida, California, Arizona. Forget it.
“Only if you want to visit Fargo on a Tuesday in February.”
What’s wrong with that?! 😉
Been 100% loyal to Delta since 2012…all of a sudden I’ve found myself immersed in the details of United’s and AA’s program requirements. I can’t imagine why???
I did actually visit Fargo for a day with my 5 year old son, when I was completing my quest to visit all 50 states, 13 years ago. I can’t remember if it was a February though. We had a great time!
I love returning to Fargo! The city has grown so much since I moved away in 2000. I know there are hundreds of new restaurants and bars but I keep returning to the hits.
Although, I occasionally branch out.
Pull up Delta.net for this past weekend from LAS to ATL. Confirmed with gate agent, 62% of one flight, my flight, was “Non Revenue”. I mentioned that Ed Bastian should rename the airline “Delta Employees Airlines” and let the rest of us lowly Platinums pay on upward to $1,000.00 for a one way ticket from LAS – ATL, be number 3 of 44 with 4 seats open at T-20, only to miss out and be 8/44. Just amazing, simply amazing.
How do you get access to deltanet?
Work for Delta
We were informed that starting Oct. 1 each person entering SkyClubs will be required to have an Amex card to enter.
I highly doubt that as Delta sells Sky Club memberships.
Maybe that’s one of the things that will be announced as changing on September 14th?
I won’t fly this stingy Delta airline anymore…why?? Because last Aug 19, 2023 we flew from JFK to LAX and they fed us only with pretzels on this more than 5 hours fight. Restrooms were so dirty after about 2 hours being airborne.. paper towels were littered on the floor and mini sink counter. How can this dirty airline continue to operate?
Does any airline offer meals in coach anymore on that route?
By the way the main reason I switched to Delta is that they were for several years the only airline offering special meals on domestic flights where meal service was offered. I have never forgotten that.
Just received an email from Royal Caribbean stating that they will have a major announcement also on 9/14. Hmmmm…. wondering if Delta is teaming up a cruise line like Royal Caribbean. It kind of make sense because Cruise Lines transports a lot of guests and crews around the globe; so teaming up with an airline makes a lot of senses.
While looking at flights for the fall today – I noticed that the MQM calculator now shows ZERO MQM EARNED on partner flights. Looks like this applies to award and paid travel, on Virgin, KLM, Air France, and Aero Mexico. It would be a major loss not to earn MQM on partner flights – assuming MQM are still with us in 2024.
Zero MQM was always the rule for all award travel on airlines other than DL.