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I still remember the first time my wife and I both earned Silver Medallion status and we did so on segments because my mom-in-law lived in Myrtle Beach and we could book a double connection every trip. We ended up either flying to Atlanta via Detroit or Cincinnati and spending a lot of time on CRJ-200s (CVG had a massive terminal for tiny jets at the time). We also became experts at volunteering for bumps and a number of times scored the coveted “double bump” that is bumping off of two of the three segments booked – it was a ridiculously fun game while earning status along the way.
But it was hard to earn status on segments when we were, at the time, only flying for pleasure and not mixing in business travel. The next year we could not keep up the pace and my wife lost her status but I kept mine but had to do a one day mileage run to top off what I needed for that year.
Then I became a travel blogger, with the urging from the legendary Frugal Travel Guy, and that ramped up my travel a bunch including learning some of the tricks for earning status faster by adding in a few mileage runs and, back then, the simple way of earning the spend waiver from Delta Amex card spend of $25,000. It was not long till I hit Gold and then Platinum and I was in hog heaven with almost all of my upgrades clearing every flight.
When Diamond Medallion status was created by Delta I missed qualifying the inaugural year but once I learned how simple it was to rack up a stupid amount of points flying Delta partners in discounted business class to push myself to the next level I was in. Between my normal flying and a few partner runs Diamond was a lock every year and was so valuable in terms of again always scoring upgrades and all the perks that came with the status like free Sky Club access for myself and guests.
Fast forward to many years of Delta devaluations to Diamond medallion status and to 2023 with their nonstop (and very successful might I say) campaign to sell 1st class seats either via SkyPennies or cash upgrade. On all of the dozen or so segments I have taken over the past month or so the seats open for upgrade have either been zero or maybe one here and there (on two of the flights that had only one seat I asked the guy what his status was and he said Delta 360). As I have said many times here on the blog that I chose early on in 2023 to give up the chase even though I could have pushed to be Diamond for a few more years had I wanted to with the new rules in place for 2024 with large balances of MQMs.
I have a few more Delta flights booked in January and they will be my last flying as a Diamond. All the legs are in 1st class as I am no longer willing to risk the highly unlikely chance at a “free” upgrade. I have used either SkyPennies or upgrade certs to clear my coach seats into first and am happy to proactively remove the stress of worrying about being stuck in coach even for shorter flights and while I know if things go sideways having status will help me vs. just buying 1st for most normal flights, status just does not matter anymore.
Starting February 1st of 2024 I will still fly the rest of the year as a Delta Platinum Medallion from MQMs and Amex card spend waiver but after that in 2025 will drop down to “Lifetime” Gold with the latest changes to the million miler program (very much appreciated Delta). That gives me Skyteam Elite Plus status and all the nice perks that yields me. I will not have to worry about bag fees and will continue over the year to cycle though all 6 of Delta Amex cards to get new card bonus offers and the 15% off award ticket prices. After that – who knows.
I know some will still next year, and for years to come, continue to game the new elite system Delta has laid out by holding multiple Delta Amex cards and still flying partners in business class for added spend earnings (yes, still possible but at a higher cost than before with less bonus points) and I am happy for those who still see the value for them personally.
It has been a fun ride, Delta and I will miss the excitement of each week looking for how I can reach top elite status but for me personally the effort is not worth it anymore. Oh I will still fly you when it works and I can’t find a better deal on other airlines. Even shifting my spend goals to cards that are great for transfer is strange after always pulling my Delta Amex cards is an odd – but more profitable – change I am getting used to and I thank Delta in many ways for pushing to make the right moves at long last.
But deep down it really is sad to have given up what once matter so much to me! – René
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I’m out too Rene. Delta Connections pulling out of my closest airport SCE and retirement meant trying to stay loyal to Delta was a wasted effort. Still love travel and still sometimes flying Delta but not holding any Delta branded credit cards or skipping better routes/value from other carriers. What a contrast to hotels where Marriott by providing modest lifetime platinum benefits continues to get my business consistently.
Well said. It was a fun ride, and I really enjoyed earning Diamond while treating my wife to a $300 end-of-the-year mileage run to London and Paris years ago. But the naked greed of Delta made it clear they were only interested in my $ and not my loyalty. The benefit simply isn’t equal to the price paid any more, so I’ve moved on. I’ll keep my Delta AmEx Platinum for the companion certs and 15% off, but they’re going in the drawer except for compelling statement credits. Transferable points give me the opportunity to try lots of airlines that I haven’t before, so I can enjoy some real “premium” carriers. Thanks again for all the tips and tricks that helped us truly elevate our travel for many years.
Diamond medallion here. Typing this while sipping sparkling wine in biz class on Iberia. I have given up on delta as mileage awards are obscenely expensive. Same flight was costing me 320K Skypesos I got it for 70K miles rounddtrip on Iberia. I used to put over 300K on my reserve card and only fly delta but I too am just becoming a free agent.
As an ATL hub captive and the very low bar of exchanging my accumulated MQMs for many years of free DM status is a no-brainer. I no longer have to worry about hitting the $250k (now $280k) spend and can now just focus on hitting $75k for unlimited SC access and $155k for my PM CBs. A year of free DM status and 4 GUCs is worth way more to me than 50k SM.
I have been a very close follower of this blog for many years and have learned a ton from Rene and now Chris that has made my family’s flying experiences exponentially richer so thank you for all of the great advice and fun memories.
Be happy, not sad. Some day, you will need Delta 360 to get only early boarding and a free checked bag! Those 2 perks are worth something but not if you have to do mileage runs.
The pandemic caused me to lose multiple elite status and levels but being a free agent means freedom. I am no longer in the SkyPrison trying to get more SkyPesos.
Same here Rene, theybeat me down until I could not longer be loyal. Found other airlines who appreciate loyalty more than Delta. Luckily I am not stuck in a hub city and have options. Got a match at Diamond level from a competitor. Still a little sad about such a long relationship ending even on a professional level. The Marriott lifetime relationship will continue on in contrast.
@Marcos – Nice to know I am not the only one a little melancholy about the end of an era.
It has been a fun, often times stressful ride. But with qualifying for Diamond this year and a stash of MQM’s I can coast as DM until 2028 and at 2.4 MM can coast from there as PM. (unless I’m motivated to try for 3MM for lifetime Diamond)
Thanks for all the tips along the way my friend. I would have never done it without you.
Thanks Rene. Sorry to hear of your decision. I will still be Diamond next year and have sufficient MQMs for 2025 as well. I too no longer count on upgrades other than RUC or GUC, and never fly coach( height = 6’3″; weight= 8th of a ton; age =71). Very little spend in 2023 on Delta Amex since no need for more MQM (that will include 2024). Based on your advice, I buy most tickets on Chase Sapphire travel site. I will keep the Amex card mostly for Companion Upgrade. Saved $1K this year using that one, more than covering the annual fee and including lounge access essentially for nothing. Although I will keep the Delta Amex for companion certs (and 2024 club access), I will charge very little to the card. The math is straight forward. For comparison, lets assume $28K in charges for airfare to reach Diamond and $47K in other charges to reach 75K threshold for unlimited lounge access. 3 skymiles per $ for airfare, 1 skymile per $ for other spend is $1,310 return in skymiles. Even with the 15% bonus for buying airfare that is $1,506 in benefit from the card. Using the Chase card, you get 5 points for airfare (using Chase travel) and possibly 3 points for other spend (hotels, restaurants). That is 2810 points, with a 50% bonus when buying airfare is $4215; thats $2,704 more benefit using Chase than Delta for the same amounts. That more than covers annual fee for club access. Even when not going for $75K total spend, it makes no sense to charge on the Delta Amex. It will not be folks dropping the card that will hurt Delta, it will be reduced card spending. That might force reconsideration of the changes. MQM bonus certainly drove my AMex card spend previously.
Starting in the 90s earned my first MM with US butt in seat miles, no international flights for 15 years. Boy did I hate those RJs.
I especially liked and will miss the Porche gate transfers at LAX and the JFK helicopter to 34th street seaport and the smooth Queen of the Aky 747 LAX HND.
It’s gotten ho-hum nowadays flights with award travel, fully booked and no upgrade seats. My last trip LAS-SYD in Premium select was a let down. It felt like sub-par C+, and not Business. The seat recline is not comfortable for a 15 hour flight when the foot rests don’t work both ways. I wondered if that where the Northwest metal went?
I always enjoy reading Rene’s posts and user comments.
SKY702
Rene,
Stress Free “Free Agent” ATL “hub” captive who has enjoyed “cheaper” alternatives with United and American. As long as you don’t mind 60-90 minute connections, BC/FC has been much more affordable than DL. I’ve received more “bumps” in these last 6 months from AA/US than I had for 31 years with DL.
BTW, ONE issue you’re missing. The level of Delta competency, even with “Red” Coats, the shear “attitude” of many DL employees is inexcusable. I understand they’ve lost many to COVID-19 retirements, but it’s worse than people think.
Thanks for the memories!
Perhaps you can take some of that money you threw at Delta out of “loyalty” and spend it on upgrading that ratty $30 Swissgear backpack from Ross Dress-for-Less.
@Carlitos – Zing!
…but from someone who is still using an AOL email I think I will pass.
As a DL flyer for 35 years, with the Pan Am takeover, I became SM, needing only 3 TransAlt segments per year.
I was doing this on my own dime, since I was never smart enough to work at a job that required travel.
I’d do one RT on the summer and one over Christmas, New Years to get the third and first respectively.
Even as FO, I loved the benefits and felt appreciated. Not living in a hub, I got upgraded about half the time. Wven on the transAtl trips of get upgraded at the gate east bound about 1 in 4 times. (And almost never west bound).
That ended of course around 2010? when delta went all computerized , thus neutering the gate agents.
I think it was around this time that the counter and gate agents started a downward trend since the expectation seemed to be that they didn’t need to think anymore.
I’ve only 25k more miles for my MM and I want to get there. All my miles were butt in the seat and I do appreciate the recognition, because as full as the flights are now, I also remember many flights with almost as many flight attendants as passengers. (Since I was paying for these tickets I had to fly when no one else wanted to).
Next year I’ll go back to the Amex Platinum, as I’ll never hit any of the new spending limits above Silver.
Thanks Rene for all the advice. It really helped.
Sad it will /would take so much to retain status !!
Congratulations on kicking SkyMiles to the curb, mostly. You should enjoy exploring your options. There are many. Several years ago I made a similar move for similar reasons. I gave up on Delta when MQDs were introduced and became a semi-free agent. I maintain top published status in oneworld alliance mainly through AA four- and five-star partners. Also there are enough fare and award deals that it is affordable to sample business and first class on airlines outside oneworld. Skyteam is one of my biggest issues with Delta. The other alliances have more members and have stronger airlines.
I haven’t completely broken the Delta bond either. “Lifetime” Platinum soon under the new program. And I hate to admit it but I’m tempted to shoot for 350,000 flight miles over maybe seven years to get “lifetime” Diamond.
I’d be very interested in how you manage your free-agent journey.
Rene! End of an era yes it’s tough to leave habits that made memories behind. Good news you have so many options and of course the cruise lines are like the airline programs 20 or 30 years ago for savvy travelers like you.
Rene, you definitely saw this coming and warned us about it. Nicely done. However, I have been enticed by the offer of diamond status for every 100k MQM that I have. I’m biting, but I have the feeling after seeing what they’re doing now that they’re going to just change to add another status like diamond plus or something like that or just add a ton more 360s and yes I’ll have Diamond for six more years, but it won’t mean anything. Is that kind of the direction you see them going?
I’m out too. They made it too difficult to earn status. I gave up all but one of my AMEX cards. But I feel a sense of relief and liberation at now being able to fly other airlines which, before the changes, I wouldn’t even have contemplated. Nice going, Delta – you achieved the exact opposite with the Skymiles program changes – I am now less loyal to Delta and I have given up my AMEX cards.
For over 10 years, you have been my hero, my mentor, and my guiding light. For that I will always be thankful. I remember the first time I heard you speak at the Chicago seminars and couldn’t believe my eyes or ears, as you explained how to become Delta platinum and diamond.
Being held hostage by the fact that I am locked into the Detroit airport , I always found your comments, simple and hitting the mark.
More important than anything. I found a true friend who I could always count on to answer questions when I became confused, or just not sure of what to do. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being there when we needed you. I look forward to getting on cruise with you and toasting the Goodlife. May 2024, bring your health, happiness and prosperity.
@Jerry – I have met thousands of people blogging – you are truly one of the most kind and amazing. Thank you for being you!