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Delta Air Lines has tried to make it simple for us to see how we are doing in our “quest” to reach the next Medallion level. It really is simple now because the only thing that matters is how much you spend with the airline — not how far you fly. Well, mostly because with partner tickets the spend number is still dependent on fare class and a percentage of distance flown that is then converted into dollars rather than what you really paid for the ticket.
Delta also on the SkyMiles page has tried to, in their Delta way, show you other bits of data all in a convenient place or at least with links for you to explore more. But there are a number of things missing I hope they provide in the future.
Starting in February 2025, if you hold the Delta Reserve (personal or business) or the Delta Amex Platinum (personal or business) cards you are going to be limited to how many visits per year you can use them to get into the Sky Clubs. A workaround is to have a number of these cards as the access per year is per card. But will either Delta on Delta.com or Amex on your “benefits” page for each card have a tracker to show just how many visits you have burned per year? I really don’t care which of the two has such a visit tracker but this would seem to be a VERY useful tool so we don’t show up at a club and are told we have used all our, ah hem, “free” visits.
Next, we have an adjustment to the MQD spend earnings on Delta Reserve and Delta Platinum cards. First off, it is just dumb for anyone to have as a goal spending on the Delta Platinum cards to earn MQDs at 1 MQD for every 20 dollars spent – just don’t, folks! But even on the Delta Reserve cards at $1 MQD for every $10 spent, you are talking about spending $280,000 for the Diamond waiver (if you don’t fly at all and spend anything on tickets) up from the $250,000 years before that was already ridiculously high. I hope Delta reconsiders this and brings the spend to earn an MQD down a bit.
I am not holding my breath on this next one because so many, when they spend their rollover MQMs sometime this year, will have many or very many years locked in as a Diamond Medallion without even flying. That said, I would love for Global Upgrade Certs to be guaranteed — in other words, if there is a seat open you can apply them. Once the “herd” of Diamonds is thinned (and, again, yes, this may take a while) there will be no reason for Delta not to make this happen and add value to spending such massive dollars each year flying Delta!
Will Delta dump the 100 Max10 order? Maybe I am just being paranoid (in fact, likely so), but I am just not a fan of the Boeing “MAX” jets. Having been, in the past anyway, an almost exclusive Delta flyer, I liked the fact that I did not have to worry about ever stepping foot on a MAX jet – that will change soon if they do buy the Max10s. Maybe they can convert the order but who knows. And before anyone says anything, yes I was not thrilled the time I flew a Skyteam partner on a MAX jet (the flight was fine but I did not like it).
How about ending the “sad” boxes? Delta is starting to bring back the quality food choices they had pre-pandemic domestically but they can take it further. It would be worth it with these many “out stations” to provide real catering. Yes it may cost a bit more but after all Delta IS a “premium” airline right?
Lastly I hope, as they have said they would, make sure on both transcon and international flights that service is course by course as it was rather than all one tray and done service (unless one tray is requested). For me, part of the fun and experience of either paying for or blowing a ton of points on a business class ticket is the meal service and that it is restaurant-like – dumping everything crammed onto one tray is so not what I expect from premium Delta.
So that is my short list of what I am looking forward to and most of them I do think are doable for Delta. Will they implement any or all of them? That we shall see! – Rene
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The DM waiver is $255k not $280k for someone who doesn’t fly as Amex gives you 2500 MQD by holding each card which is only $5k more than before. You also didn’t mention that $75k 2024 Amex spend gets you unlimited 2025 SC visits while flying (non BE) DL.
@Frankie – Well yes if holding 4 cards and I should have taken $25000 off the $280,000 for one Reserve card. But still…
Hold 4 cards would yield to 10K MQD off, which is equivalent to $100,000 spent off.
@Reese – Don’t forget the yearly fees for 4 cards
A MM/Diamond here and I moved on from Delta. Part of the fun of travel is tracking how many miles you’ve travelled in a given year but Delta execs took that away. To them, it doesn’t matter how many miles or how far you go, they really took the fun out it.
Now, I’m collecting KrisFlyer, Qatar Avios, and Aeroplan points in addition to generic points. Yes the one time MQM conversion will make me Diamond for the next 3 years, and yes, I’ll fly Delta occasionally to use my GUCs (I spent all my miles on upcoming flights this year with ITA, Gaurda Indonesia and AF – all in business) but not going to keep the card (not spending on it currently), and not going to chase status with an airline that became more less a credit card company.
Still not sure Delta IT is with the program. I flew 5400 miles this week but my Million Mile line item only went up by 2300 miles?? I have only 30,000 to go will 2MM but at this rate( not sure how they are counting it) It will take forever… any thoughts on how they are deciding the MM status as I though it was miles flown????
@dee – May be slow to update but please follow up! Thanks in advance
will do Rene..No change so far…
Do we know if current million milers – ME will be upgraded to lifetime Gold? Thanks!
Yes, they will be.
Wonder how the MQM rollover extended status will work with people who obtain status organically?
As opposed to? (Sorry, I don’t understand your question.)
Many people are already drowning in miles. Therefore, the best use of rollover MQMs is extended status. This is a fairly perverse disincentive to fly Delta — sure, you have status which makes flying more tolerable, but it might be better to seek out better prices and itineraries or matching status on another airline.
So if you’re still flying enough (or spending enough) to qualify for Delta status, even the extended status is pretty meaningless. I doubt it will stack with your earned status.
Another change Amex/Delta could make to improve the value proposition of the credit cards, especially the Reserve, would be to allow the certificate to be used anywhere complimentary upgrades apply (US50+nearby Caribbean, etc.). Or minimally all domestic flights, so US50 + PR/USVI/… etc. in any direction.
As per what I saw on a couple of places today, this might be happening (along with fee increases) — RT airfare to HW, AK, Mexico, Caribbean and Central America.