Delta has officially announced changes to the SkyMiles program.
- Starting January 1, 2024 all members will earn status through MQDs only. There will no longer be Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) or Medallion Qualifying Segments (MQSs). Rollovers won’t be lost but can be converted to MQDs or miles.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Delta Reserve Business American Express Card Members will receive 10 Club visits per Medallion Year starting Feb. 1, 2025. Unlimited access after spending $75,000 in a calendar year for that calendar year and the following calendar year.
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Delta Platinum Business American Express Cards will no longer provide Club Access
- Effective January 1, 2024, eligible Card Members with Basic Economy (E) fare tickets (or similar “Light” or “basic” tickets issued by a Delta partner) will not have access to the Delta Sky Club.
We don’t have full details regarding the changes to how MQDs are earned or how rollovers will convert but I’d expect that soon. Not sure how much these changes will actually help with overcrowding but not surprised to see limits on lounge visits.
if i have two amex platinums, do i get 20 visits
Updated: https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/medallion-program/2024-program-updates
Delta Amex Plat=shanked. No waiver and no fee-for-lounge-access…remaining benefits for the $250 are what, exactly? An economy domestic cert that you may or may not even be able to use?
Premium leisure travel on Delta just took a hit. Hope the business travelers are enough to keep them going. Seems strange to be hitching your wagon to that star at this point in history, but I’m sure they modeled it all out.
Delta Amex Plat def changes the value proposition a little for some. Still get that domestic cert, first free checked bag, and that sweet priority boarding, lol. I’ve got Amex Plat and Delta Amex Plat, and they complimented each other with lounge access, free checked bag, free domestic ticket etc., but economy tickets excluded from lounge access next year means less value, and max 6 visits for lounge is less value (we travel a bit). Still, our main airport and most international routes are supported well with Delta, so it’s not a complete wash, just a bummer for those who travel frequently. Hopefully revenge travel will subside over the next couple of years and and they’ll relax them like they did when they walked back lounge access after flights when consumers complained. Heck, there might be just enough backlash with this announcement that perhaps they’ll walk some of these restrictions back to resemble something more generous, but it’ll likely never return to how it was.
Amex Delta Gold gives the free checked bag, I believe, and that’s $95.
It’s a bit of a bummer for me, as a transcon with some complicated logistics I take a few times every year on Delta was relatively tolerable with lounge access. Now I’m going to have to research the alternatives and do the value calculations. Without at least the option of lounge access and with the crap MQD earning ratio on the card/no waiver meaning that even Silver would be a bit of stretch (*), it’s pretty much just going to be on price now.
OK, Delta, I’m your marginal customer and you’re moving me on. Got it.
(*) Right now, for instance, $3K in MQDs (plus MQMs of course) gets you Silver. In 2025, you’d need that same $3K in MQDs from flying will need to be accompanied by another $3K from card spend…on a Plat, that’s $60,000! That’s $900 cash back on the simplest cash-back card; more than enough to buy a SkyClub membership. And we all know Silver gets you near-nothing.
The trick is you need to be a medallion in order to purchase a Skyclub membership…
Right, recent change I keep forgetting about.
So you spend the $900 *plus* $695 to get something they were selling for $695 last year, plus scrubby Silver benefits.
Most customers are locked to a single tranditional airline due to hubs (are you going to fly another 3 hour leg and “enjoy” an addtional 2 hour layover in order to switch to another airline for a transcon flight that might take less than 5 hours itself?).
The airlines also knew this, and that they are free to make these negative changes =(
You get the free bag and the priority boarding with the Gold card too, for less than half the annual fee.
Final Rollover MQM balance will be able to be converted at 2 MQM : 1 redeemable mile or 20 MQM : 1 MQD. You have until 12/31/24 to decide or they all become MQDs. You can also exchange them in 25% differentials (ie, 25% miles 75% MQDs, 50/50, etc.). More details here https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/medallion-program/2024-program-updates
So a $600 annual fee Amex will now only get you 10 visits unless you post $75k of spending. Not too much difference from the old days when you could pay $50 to get inside. I guess then, the only value for the card comes from the companion pass / economy ticket.
Would really like some clarity on Plat AUs….do they get their own 6 visit allotment if spend is under $75,000 a year?
Amex Plat AUs get their own 6.
What about for Amex SkyMiles Reserve AUs?
To me, this is the worst:
BASIC ECONOMY ACCESS
All American Express Card Members traveling on a Basic Economy ticket or an equivalent ticket with a partner airline will not receive Delta Sky Club Access effective January 1, 2024.
Which means no point in keeping AMEX Platinum anymore since it won’t give me access to Delta lounge anymore. I only book Basic Economy. Actually, no reason even to book Delta anymore (I booked Delta so I could go to the lounge). Shifting to other airlines.
> no point in keeping AMEX Platinum anymore
This is a feature, not a bug. Less plats = less crowded centurion and delta lounges.
and less revenue for both? you missed that I will no longer be spending thousands on this AMEX card, and Delta will not be a priority anymore since I won’t have access to Delta lounge. They can keep their lounges less crowded, while I use a card with more points per dollar return, and a different airline.
To be honest if you’re buying basic economy, they know that you will still be traveling delta if the ticket price is cheap. You know you will be still buying Delta basic economy if the ticket price is cheap. They just don’t want you crowding up the lounge which makes sense.
Basic economy does not earn SkyMiles either. Only Main Cabin and higher.
Effective February 1, 2025, Platinum Card Members will receive 6 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on February 1, 2025, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024 and each calendar year thereafter.
What about Platinum authorized users?
AUs get 6 as well.
This is regular old Amex Plat, right? If so, this is only for primary or AU’s can use or any guests? This whole thing is getting wicked confusing. I gather regular Amex BIZ Plat is losing all access?
I believe biz plat gets 6 visits a year.
Dead link
Well the good news is some of these shameless bloggers who pimp AmEx cards nonstop will soon be out of business