Oh, Delta. Dearest Delta. You really are too funny. After so many years of getting away with gutting loyalty, it finally caught up with you this time. Your arrogance in being able to do anything you want and we will take it has hit its limit and you had to backtrack (just a little bit).
So, let’s take a snarky view of these latest changes and even some speculation as to why in the world Delta has decided to do what they did.
- Let’s begin with the spending numbers for status.
Yes, I practically nailed them in my estimates from last week and the only thing I was really wrong about was the timing (by a few days). They are still ridiculously and nauseatingly high for Platinum and Diamond and as we know you can not trust Delta ever again and these (puke) “lower” numbers are just for now and will go up year after year after year. Bank on that (they are)!
- Next up we have Amex.
They must have simply peed their pants when they saw the onslaught of folks dumping cards. They, too late, realized that the 9/14 program would result in not just tons of folks dumping cards but it also eliminated any rational reason to hold more than ONE SINGLE Delta card EVER! Clearly, that is not OK with Amex thus the reason you can now practically “buy” Delta Gold Medallion status for $1600 in card fees per year without ever flying. While, for now, $10,000 in Delta MQD credit sounds amazing for holding 4 cards – remember the paragraph above and your “joy” will be short-lived.
- Then we have Sky Club access (also closely tied to Amex).
Delta, once it had it explained to them by me on the radio in Atlanta, got the fact that with the non-Delta Amex Platinum cards you could burn up 67% of your yearly lounge visits in ONE ROUND TRIP. Once again I am sure Amex got sick of folks dumping $695 fee per year cards when users told them it was not worth holding the card to enter the clubs just once or twice per trip per year. Also, for those fools who over drink when traveling, the new 24 Sky Pub clock rule lets the “pub crawl” live another day (please don’t do this btw)!
- Mileage runs are “back baby”!
I find it hilarious that Delta is giving us, by holding 4 Delta credit cards, 6:1 MQD ratio. Heck as a past runner I was thrilled with 3:1 finds. I mean think on this, you can in 2024 (for 2025) hold 4 cards and fly Delta partners like AeroMexico, Air France, KLM and more in business class and likely only need to spend well under $9000 all-in (including the card fees) to be Diamond for all of 2024 and all of 2025 (yes we will help you do this if you want or you can reach out to our Point.me team for help). Crazy right?
- No backtracking on SkyPennies.
While everyone was YELLING about the 9/14 changes Delta did what Delta does and massively devalued one of the last good values redeeming Delta points (other than for cruise auctions that is). They did not walk this back nor have they ever walked back any of the years of the total obliteration of the award program. Clearly Delta is happy, for now, that their points are worth 1 cent!
- They gave us something we did not ask for and it now motivates many to fly other airlines.
I get why Delta made the changes to the million miler program (to all but match United) because long term travelers clearly were lifetime better off with United’s program for status. They have fixed this now but also removed the reason for many to even try to be 100% loyal to Delta (the old gang not the new kids just getting started). I mean if you are already Diamond as a 3 million miler why push it to always fly Delta when you don’t have to to keep your status?
- The honest question we all need to ask ourselves is ARE THE LEFT OVER CRUMBS WORTH IT?!
I mean seriously? Are you getting upgraded as a Diamond or Platinum (yo yo – C+ does not count)! Are you ever clearing your GUC or RUCs? Do you have to school the Diamond or Platinum reps how to do their jobs? Are you getting PFBs or are the Delta SkyStews hiding up front on most of your flights? Are these same reps following FEBO or how many times do you get “this is what is left over – want it“? How many flights do you get a SAD BOX for your meal? How long are you waiting in line for the Sky Pub to see standing room only and picked over snacks (at least they dumped the canned wine in First — but still serve it in C+ and coach)?! I think you see my point.
- Bottom line is this roll out was a hot mess.
The changes are a hot mess and will not accomplish any of the things they have told us they want for many many years. We can still sport the system and be rewarded for doing so and the chagrin of over spenders with the airline that were going to be “kings” under the 9/14 program. Personally, I am still done chasing Delta elite status and as a 1.5 Million Miler will enjoy my Skyteam Elite Plus status and may, by the time I no longer care about flying, reach 2 million, and have Platinum status for “life” for what that is worth. – René
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No mention of the DM folks currently sitting with 1M(+) MQMs from covid rollover and status boosts who can now trade them for (8-10!!) years of DM with zero Amex spend and never flying. And still no official word on whether this “extended” DM status comes with CBs.
Your above points are right on!!!keep them coming!
The Skymiles program has been a sh*tshow for 15 years. What we are seeing with these changes is finally the explicit admission that Delta is a wholly owned subsidiary of Amex. The 9-14 program was a complete sop to Amex. And now with the revision it is even more evident. I do have a feeling that there will be a future change that limits that yearly MQD boost from holding that cards. If CEO was being honest (lol) and the intent was to lower the amount of elites, the revision is insane. As an ATL based flyer I never even entertained the thought of accumulating status on DL. Way too many Diamonds and 360’s with insane corp spend make it worth it. I have lived here for 9 years and out of 277 short haul and 111 long haul flights, only 11 short hauls have been on DL metal accumulating ~6K SkyRupiah.
Can someone explain this?
“Mileage runs are “back baby”!
“I find it hilarious that Delta is giving us, by holding 4 Delta credit cards, 6:1 MQD ratio. Heck as a past runner I was thrilled with 3:1 finds. I mean think on this, you can in 2024 (for 2025) hold 4 cards and fly Delta partners like AeroMexico, Air France, KLM and more in business class and likely only need to spend well under $9000 all-in (including the card fees) to be Diamond for all of 2024 and all of 2025 “
@Judd – What are you confused about?
Just don’t get it. I don’t understand where you are getting this “6:1 ratio” or how having four credit cards improves the ratio?
As far as I understand, excess MQMs from 2023 will convert to MQDs next year at 10:1. What does the rest of it mean?
@Judd – From what we have been told so far if you hold both personal and business Delta Platinum and Reserve cards (next year) you get $2500 MQD credit per card. That, for now, would cost you $1600 in card fees that is about 6x the fee price in MDQ yield (clear?). If you were doing a mileage run I am happy with 3x return on my ticket spend.
But it’s not a mileage run? Just a similar way to earn? As someone who does mileage runs, this analogy threw me too. I’d call it a card run.
@Martin – I like that YES! #CardRun
Oh OK. I thought you were saying that having more credit cards improves the MQM-to-MQD calculation somehow.
Rene,
Does 600k mqm carry over mean automatic Diamond for 6 years without doing anything else? With 1.8 Miles how do you achieve 2 MM without earning mqms?
Thanks!
@Rand – Likely 600k minus 125k for 2024 Diamond. You will still earn MM points for flight distance.
Do these DM extensions (exchanging 100,000 MQMs) get choice benefits???
@Frankie – That has been the case in the past yes but we do not know for sure.
“They must have simply peed their pants when they saw the onslaught of folks dumping cards.”
LMAO… Love it, Rene! 😀
Excellent points here. No, these “revisions” are not changing anything for me. The year 2024 will be my last with Delta.
My ‘home’ airport is EWR where United rules the day. Yet, I have 100% flown Delta out of there or gigged out to LGA or even JFK rather than fly United. Why? Plain and simple…I loved Delta…I was all in on making status each year and I loved having that purple card for the Sky Club (but certainly not for its earning ratios).
But, yes Delta has shown us as – ‘eds183’ stated – they are a subsidiary of AMEX and nothing more. So, it is with quite a touch of sadness that I’ll be moving over to United but…that’s the beauty of having choices.
Rant on brother! The true value of maintaining status continues to decline. Bring back NW airlines!
Agreed! They lost me as Diamond when they made you pay biz prices for PE in order to use GUCs. I have enough MQMs to extend Platinum through 2025, but no plans to pursue status beyond that. I’ve had good luck getting value with RUCs, but I’m tired of Delta requiring GUCs for upgrades on domestic routes. The bottom line is that Delta is no where near as good as they used to be and other airlines are getting better. I haven’t flown Delta internationally in over a year and have no plans to… much better biz class on other airlines. I’ve already stopped spending on my Delta AmEx and my wife’s is going in the drawer on Jan 1.
I always appreciate your perspective @rene thank you!
RE: Section called “Milage runs are back baby!” where you reference partner airlines…
I would love to know more about how new MQDs will be calculated when flying on airline partners. Do you know if it will be different under the new program and can you point us to links that might describe this?
I am Platinum and fly to Europe 5-6 times per year. I have always selected Delta-marketed (not necessarily Delta-operated) flights, and wonder if i should opt for the same flights marketed by Delta partners.
Read this post and then follow it up with this one.
Then visit the point.me Mileage Run page and bookmark it for safe-keeping!
@pas721 – Chris has a post on those changes. See: https://eyeoftheflyer.com/2023/09/14/delta-decreases-mqd-earnings-on-some-partner-airline-business-class-fares/
When the change updates were announced, I almost thought of changing my plans to drop Delta and the SkyMiles Reserve card. But Delta has shown its hand. Between the changes they wanted and this overreaction to try stopping the hemorrhaging, I just don’t see this current set of terms remaining as a sustainable loyalty program. It will change again. I’m not going to hold my breath and wait for it.
Even before these announcements, I’ve been noticing that I recently pay about 1.3x to stay on Delta flights as I’d pay on United or American. This is in contrast to years ago when they were mostly equivalent in price on my routes. I kept using my status perks as an excuse to myself to keep buying Delta. But I’d also become accustomed to riding SkyWest, Republic, and sometimes Endeavor. Those Delta Connection carriers account for around 50% of my recent flights. Considering that now, I’ve been paying a premium to fly regional carriers that maintain lower standards and older aircraft. I’ve been a sucker and was almost proud of it. I’m not going to let Delta status affect my judgment going forward. (Also, I get United status for free due to their partnership with Marriott. Hello, free agent life!)
With Delta status out of the picture, my Delta card is now redundant with my AmEx Platinum. The few times I may end up flying Delta in the future, my Platty will still get me into the lounges. That leaves the companion pass as the differentiating perk, which essentially is pre-paying for a second ticket with restrictions and that can expire. Thanks, but no thanks.
My top concerns are the sky high redemption rates, the devaluation of the GUCs and the inability to confirm upgrades with RUCs on so many domestic flights, but you can confirm them with GUCs. I’m also not happy with the lack of availability of first class seats (most importantly upgraded but even reasonable offers to upgrade with money or miles). With it now being so much easier than it was before the original changes to keep Diamond status, I don’t see this most of these issues going away.
I have been DM for 10 years. This year will be my first to not make it bc of the current spend requirement. I used to get 2-3 international flights but only one this year and it is impossible to hit otherwise. I have 300k MQM so maybe there is a path via the rollover. Despite that status, my last four months:
– not a single complimentary upgrade to 1st.
– applied 6 (!) regionals and never had a single one clear.
So if I can’t use my benefits and I don’t get an upgrade anyway, is there any practical difference between Platinum and DM?