Loads has been written recently about a Reddit submit that means that large modifications to Delta’s SkyMiles program can be introduced on September 14th. We don’t have any particulars about what the modifications will entail, nor do we actually know if it’s true in any respect. My guess is that it’s true, although, and so it has had me questioning what’s up. What do I suppose Delta will do? On this submit you’ll discover my wild guesses. If the announcement actually comes out on the 14th, we’ll learn the way proper or improper I’m subsequent week…
Intro
A Reddit submit claims to indicate a screenshot of a partial memo about worker coaching for brand spanking new SkyMiles modifications. The partial memo states:
Coaching and Onsite Help for Upcoming SkyMiles Modifications
Revealed 8/28/2023
WHAT
On Step. 14, Delta will announce modifications to its SkyMiles Program. Since we all know any change to our SkyMiles Program can generate questions or considerations from clients, we need to guarantee our frontline group members are totally ready to reply, which is why we’re launching a
If we take the phrases within the memo at face worth, then we are able to count on main modifications to the SkyMiles program. Delta wouldn’t want coaching and onsite help for minor modifications. Certain, it might be good if the modifications have been in the direction of making SkyMiles extra priceless, however that appears most unlikely to me. As a substitute, I’m betting that the modifications are about Delta’s elite program. The Reddit contributor who posted the memo suggests the identical. They wrote:
Notes:
- This isn’t my screenshot
- I don’t know what the modifications are however what I’ve heard is MQM, MQD, and MQS can be consolidated into one metric, much like how United simply has PQP and AA has LPs.
Edit: this additionally looks like a very good time for Delta to announce the brand new SkyClub entry restrictions and every other modifications they’ve deliberate for his or her bank cards.
The final level refers to rumors that bank card SkyClub entry can be restricted sooner or later. For instance, these with Amex Platinum playing cards could also be restricted to 6 or seven visits per yr. Which will occur with this announcement, or not. I do not know. And I do not know if the bounds will actually be applied. My random guess is that limits can be imposed for Amex Platinum cardholders, however not for Delta Reserve cardholders.
The remainder of this submit discusses my guesses about Delta’s modifications to their elite program necessities…
Delta’s 2023 Necessities for the 2024 Elite Yr
At present, to earn elite standing with Delta, you need to earn MQMs or MQSs (definitions under) AND MQDs or MQD Waivers.
Definitions:
- MQMs: Medallion Qualifying Miles will be roughly considered the precise miles flown.
- MQMs are earned on each paid flights with Delta or Delta companions the place the flight is credited to your Delta account, and award flights booked by means of (and flying) Delta.
- It’s also attainable to earn MQMs by means of large spend on Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve bank cards.
- MQSs: Medallion Qualifying Segments are the variety of segments flown.
- MQDs: Medallion Qualifying {Dollars} are the sum complete of your base-fare spend (e.g. doesn’t embrace taxes) on Delta-marketed flights.
- MQD Waiver: Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve cardholders can earn a MQD Waiver (in order that MQDs aren’t essential for standing), as much as Platinum standing, with $25,000 calendar yr spend throughout a number of Delta bank cards, or as much as Diamond standing with $250,000 calendar yr spend.
Delta’s new necessities beginning in 2024 for the 2025 elite yr
The next is 100% conjecture. That’s, I’m making this up primarily based on what I believe could occur. We’ll discover out on September 14th how a lot of this I bought proper, if any.
One elite metric: Medallion Qualifying {Dollars} (MQDs)
When Delta first launched Medallion Qualifying {Dollars} (MQDs) as an elite requirement, I believed it was ridiculous that they saved round MQMs and MQSs as extra necessities. Why not merely transfer completely to MQDs? That’s my guess as to what’s going to occur.
Elevated MQD necessities
I believe they’ll improve the MQD necessities for every elite tier:
MQMs will nonetheless exist as a strategy to get to Million Miler standing
Delta provides perks and elite standing with every million MQMs earned. I predict that this may keep as it’s at the moment.
Bank cards will earn MQDs with excessive spend
Whereas I’d desire Delta to maneuver to a scheme like AA’s the place each greenback earns a loyalty level (or a fraction of an MQD, on this case), I don’t count on that to occur. My guess is that they’ll hold the spending tiers that the bank cards have at the moment, however they’ll supply MQDs along with MQMs. At this time, the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve playing cards (each shopper and enterprise variations) supply MQM boosts with large spend, as follows:
- Delta Platinum: 10K MQMs with $25K calendar yr spend and once more at $50K
- Delta Reserve: 15K MQMs with $30K calendar yr spend and once more at $60K, $90K, and $120K
I count on that Delta will proceed to supply the above MQM earnings (in the direction of Million Miler standing) however may even supply MQD boosts, maybe as follows:
- Delta Platinum: $2,500 MQDs with $25K calendar yr spend and once more at every $25K increment above.
- Delta Reserve: $3,500 MQDs with $30K calendar yr spend and once more at every $30K increment above.
If the above predictions are true, then it might be attainable to earn elite standing completely by means of spend as follows:
- Silver Medallion Standing (requires $5K MQDs in my predicted state of affairs):
- Delta Platinum Card: $50,000 calendar yr spend (earns $5K MQDs)
- Delta Reserve Card: $60,000 calendar yr spend (earns $7K MQDs)
- Gold Medallion Standing (requires $10K MQDs in my predicted state of affairs):
- Delta Platinum Card: $100,000 calendar yr spend (earns $10K MQDs)
- Delta Reserve Card: $90,000 calendar yr spend (earns $10,500K MQDs)
- Platinum Medallion Standing (requires $15K MQDs in my predicted state of affairs):
- Delta Platinum Card: $150,000 calendar yr spend (earns $15K MQDs)
- Delta Reserve Card: $150,000 calendar yr spend (earns $17,500K MQDs)
- Diamond Medallion Standing (requires $25K MQDs in my predicted state of affairs):
- Delta Platinum Card: $250,000 calendar yr spend (earns $25K MQDs)
- Delta Reserve Card: $240,000 calendar yr spend (earns $28K MQDs)
(alternatively: spend $210K to earn $24,500 MQDs after which earn a further $500 MQDs by means of journey)
The eventualities laid out above assume that Delta will supply MQDs with each bucket of huge spend as an alternative of slicing it off after $50K spend with the Platinum card and after $120K spend with the Reserve card as they do at the moment with MQMs. In the event that they do proceed to have the identical limits as at the moment, then the above eventualities are nonetheless attainable however would require a number of Delta playing cards since every card has its personal limits. For instance, it’s attainable to have 4 related playing cards: Delta Platinum shopper, Delta Platinum enterprise, Delta Reserve shopper, and Delta Reserve enterprise. I’m not saying that’s a good suggestion, simply that it’s attainable at the moment and I don’t see why that wouldn’t proceed to be the case.
Say goodbye to rollovers
At this time, any extra MQMs that you’ve earned above these wanted to earn elite standing, get rolled over to the subsequent yr. For instance, when you have 35,000 MQMs (which is 10K greater than wanted for Silver standing) and sufficient MQDs or a MQD waiver for Silver standing, Delta will will rollover the additional 10K MQMs into the subsequent yr.
Whereas I really hope that Delta will someway hold rollovers, I don’t count on that to occur with MQDs. Show me improper Delta!
Changing our current MQMs to MQDs
Thanks largely to the pandemic the place Delta rolled over MQMs for a few years in a row with out even lowering our MQMs for elite standing achieved, many frequent Delta flyers have massive balances of MQMs at the moment. Personally, I’ve over 400,000 MQMs!
If Delta stops utilizing MQMs as a standards for elite standing, this might make their most loyal clients very upset except they do one thing to transform these MQMs to MQDs or present another means within the subsequent a number of years to proceed to let clients use MQMs to earn elite standing.
My guess is that they’ll convert rolled-over MQMs to MQDs at a fee of one thing like 15%. E.g. 100,000 MQMs will turn out to be 15,000 MQDs. If Delta doesn’t supply MQD rollovers on this new world, although, that will be an issue for folks like me who would have excess of the required $25K MQDs to succeed in top-tier Diamond standing in 2024 for the 2025 elite yr. So, the answer is new Alternative Advantages…
New Alternative Profit tiers
If Delta does away with rollovers, they’ll should do one thing new to entice folks to maintain spending with Delta as soon as they attain Diamond standing. One easy resolution is so as to add new tiers for incomes Alternative Advantages. At this time, Delta flyers earn one Alternative Profit choice after they attain Platinum standing and three picks after they attain Diamond standing. On this made-up new state of affairs of mine, Delta will supply extra Alternative Advantages as folks earn larger and better numbers of MQDs. Maybe they’ll supply extra picks when folks attain $30K MQDs, $35K MQDs, and many others.
Bonus guess: 25% SkyMiles low cost for elite members
Delta just lately added a pleasant perk for many Delta credit score cardholders: 15% off award flights when flying Delta (i.e. it doesn’t apply when utilizing miles to e book companion flights). I believe it might be simple for Delta to extend the low cost to 25% for sure members. For instance, the 25% low cost could also be restricted to these with Gold standing and above, or perhaps it might be a Alternative Profit choice.
Backside Line
As mentioned above, I’m predicting that Delta will simplify their necessities for incomes elite standing to a single metric: Medallion Qualifying {Dollars} (MQDs). The remainder of the submit particulars my guesses as to how that can work.
The rationale behind my guess is that I imagine that Delta desires to reward their finest clients, and that the easiest way to determine their finest clients shouldn’t be by miles flown however by the quantity spent with Delta and with Delta bank cards.
In the event that they do as I predicted, is that good or dangerous for Delta loyalists? That may rely upon the specifics. Probably, the modifications can be dangerous for individuals who earn elite standing completely by flying, however that it is going to be good for individuals who earn standing by means of a mix of flying and massive bank card spend.
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