It’s time (actually well past time) to think about next year. I’ve already made my bed for elite status next year, but there’s one last-minute question that I thought was worth discussing. That question you ask? What to do about Delta Medallion status? I’m going to end 2011 just shy of maintaining Silver Medallion. A little background: I’ve been Silver for a few years, and a very nice friend who happens to be Diamond Medallion gifted me Gold last year. My experience as a Gold Medallion has been light years beyond that of Silver, even though I’d speculate my upgrade rate as Silver was better than most just because of my penchant for choosing flights wisely. Seriously, I’m going to miss Gold Medallion!!!
Now I’m at a crossroads. It’s December, and I only have one more business trip this year, DCA to SEA on Alaska Airlines. I need 7,464 MQMs to maintain Silver Medallion. I’m figuring roughly 4,600 MQMs from that trip as I will be crediting my Alaska Air flights to SkyMiles. Through December 15th, I can buy MQMs from Delta in 2,500 mile increments (up to 10,000 MQMs). So…. 7,464-4,600 = 2,864 MQMs to go. Unfortunately, I can only buy 2,500 MQMs or 5,000 MQMs. $295 and $495 dollars respectively. In other words, I can hand Delta $495 dollars to settle this or buy 2,500 MQMs and hope for a low fare short-haul roundtrip from DCA (not likely around the holidays). Or I suppose there’s another answer, a coast to coast mileage run.
There’s a growing chorus of folks out there that will tell you that basement elite status is hardly worth having anymore since you can get a lot of what it offers by carrying the right credit card nowadays. I think they have a point worth considering, but I’m not quite ready to embrace that opinion just yet. I will continue to fly Delta just enough to make Silver Medallion almost worthwhile. The question for me, is it worthwhile enough to go out of my way to keep it right now? December 15 is coming soon, so I’d better get it together. What would you do?
Use the 495 for a Delta Reserve Card. Apply now and the first use will get you 10k MQMs.
It will get you most of the benefits and you can get 10 MQms extra for applying for it and 15-30 MQMs a year if you channel your spend.
No way. If you aren’t flying enough on Delta to even get Silver in a year, it just doesn’t make any financial sense to drop $500 to get a benefit that you aren’t going to use that much. Put that $500 in your investment portfolio and don’t look back.
I’d agree with you except that I’m not quite convinced that I won’t be flying Delta more over the next year. At this point, I think I’m resigned to just suck it up and see what happens over the next year as a dirt status person. I do have Sky Club access via my Amex if I get into a bind while at the airport, and most of my flights on Delta are short hops where upgrades, while appreciated, just aren’t a make or break deal for me.
http://dmn.delta.com/ace_offers/earlyplatinum/
đŸ˜‰
Rene
If you can afford it, then go for it. You know you want to!
If your flying patterns are such that you get upgraded as FO then definitely get it.
As others have already noted, there is no rollover on MQMs unless you hit at least 25,000. As for next year, the truth is that I will probably fly just enough to be having this same conversation with myself next December. IF I could completely control all of my travel, and I flew Delta exclusively, I’d probably be a Platinum Medallion. As it is, I fly just enough on 3 different airlines to have just a tiny bit (or almost) of status in too many places. I actually considered moving to Delta exclusively, but the slot swap with US really… Read more »
You must have seen this:
http://boardingarea.com/livefromalounge/2011/12/09/deltaamex-offer-status-match-and-200-gift-card-for-us-readers-till-january-31-2012/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LiveFromALounge+%28Live+From+A+Lounge%29
If you happen to be targeted it’s a great deal. Status match and they pay you!
I would do a west coast MR if I were you since that will not only yield the EQMs you need, but you will also earn award miles.
I see a same day turn IAD-OAK on Dec 18 via SLC for $340. I am also seeing a couple same day BWI-SAN turns for $338 via SLC/ATL. Also on the 18th, IAD-LGB via SLC for $300. Nothing from DCA really… All of those are better deal than paying $495 and you will have some overflow EQMs that can be rolled over to 2012 đŸ™‚
Best of luck!
If you feel you can get a reasonable amount of upgrades + benefit from preferred seating (and domestic EC at checkin as that rolls out) and slightly better IROPS treatment then by all means go for it. If free bags and priority boarding are your thing, just get an amex.
Tiffani: MQMs only roll over if you earn some sort of medallion status. Anything short of 25k goes away.
Third option: bribe your very nice friend into giving you Gold again.
MQM will not roll over unless you attain at least Silver Status. I always maintain Silver and it is way better than no status. You get Sky Priority in some cases (even though it is not mentioned), priority check in.. decent shot at upgrades. Question is, is it worth $500? I don’t think so.
Do Delta MQMs roll over? I thought they only rolled over after you had achieved status. For instance, if you have 35,000 MQMs, 10,000 will roll over. But if you have 24,000, none of them will roll over. Is this correct or would 24,000 roll over if you don’t make silver?
I think it’s worthless unless you think you’re going to travel a ton next year. Your MQMs do not roll over unless you have status. Personally, I paid for a few miles to get to Gold b/c priority security, priority baggage handling, and 100% bonus RDMs made it worth it – I think the 100% bonus should net me an extra 40k-70k Skypesos next year.
Silver is nice for getting exit rows, a free bag or two, and the occasional upgrade, but that’s really about all it gets you….
Will you have any other airline status?
Rick,
I have AAdvantage Gold, and US Airways Silver. Not great, but better than nothing. AA Gold is lifetime by virtue of million-miler status.
Well, you really just need to do a midcon (especially if you can route one way as 3 segments instead of 2) and that is not too hard.
I’m in the same boat, also need 7,500 mqms. Think I might just mileage run for the hell of it
I believe the MQM will roll over, so you will be very close to getting status early in 2012. I’m doing something similar this year. I am about 3,000 miles from qualifying for Gold Medallion this year. I’m guessing 2012 will be a lighter travel year for me, so I am letting my miles roll over and I will stay silver and re-qualify for silver for 2013 pretty early in the year. I’d rather stay silver than be gold for a year and then possibly nothing.
Just my thoughts. Good luck!