I've been plinking around with amex travel, delta and others scoping out flights for an upcoming trip. The offer below seems pretty nice (previously was a $200 stmt credit, and before that on a delta gold for biz) -- this pops up on my checkout at delta.
Delta checkout states this flight would be worth 6,665Miles 7,530MQMs $1,333MQDs fwiw. I've no experience with what that amounts to in the grand scheme of things but suppose it'd be of some value eventually.
I've been refraining from getting into lodging and airline specific cards, but have been pondering an amex delta offering companion tickets.
I'm mainly taking occasional jaunts for pleasure so can't really see the status directly with any airline or hotel going far, fast enough to be of much consideration.
I'm inclined to think confining myself to the MR system, FHR and Amex Platinum benefits make for a logical, flexible foundation.. yet I can see the opportunity here and somewhat more-so with a delta platinum.
I welcome any insights and would like to know if anyone has ever seen the delta site offer up offers for the amex delta platinum or reserve?
Thanks!
That's a good offer for the Delta Gold. The 50k miles are worth 1.2c with no effort, $600 in flight value. The $400 cash rounds it out to a nice $1k SUB.
That SUB compensates for not getting on the companion pass cycle sooner. The Delta Gold has been somewhat nerfed recently because it only really gets the free bag, doesn't get discounted entry to the Delta Lounges.
If you want to get companion passes in the future you may want to app the Delta Platinum now. That may have a good SUB somewhere but may not be the best offers currently. The companion pass is earned after you complete the first card member year, then on the card anniversary each year. If you go the Delta Gold route first, then upgrade to the Delta Platinum after a year, it's another year before the first companion pass is granted.
The MQM's count toward the 25,000 MQM required to get Silver Medallion status in 2022 flights. The MQD's go toward the Silver threshold which I think is $3,000 or $3,500. So you have to hit both of those to get Silver status for 2023.
@NRB525, thanks for the info.
I read a little on the MQ[x]s and it appears to be kind of funky.
The fares I ended up with are roughly $1,300 x 2 but it appear I can only earn MQDs on my seat.
If a family of 6 were to fly, is it really only going to earn full MQ[x] potential if each family member has their own skymiles account?
..particularly in relation to MQD earnings, the program seems to penalize earnings for multiple seats.
I guess the program is geared towards business travel.
I'm a purely leisure traveler with a fairly high status. Business travel isn't necessarily required, just frequent travel and/or lots of credit card spend. When flying Delta, MQMs are based on miles flown (with a multiplier for paying for riding in the front of the plane) and MQDs are based on pre-tax and pre-fee fares paid. When flying most partners, both are based on a percentage of miles flown and cabin and fare code purchased.
Each flyer earns their own status based upon these numbers each year (with MQSs, number of segments flown, being another option instead of MQMs which is helpful for those with frequent short travel distances, and an MQD waiver being had at $25k annual card spend for Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve cardholders up to Platinum Medallion, or $250,000 for Diamond Medallion), regardless of who paid for the ticket. Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve cards also offer MQM bonuses at $25k and $30k spend thresholds respectively, up to 4x a year.
And yes, Silver Medallion is 25k MQMs or 30 MQSs and $3k spend or waiver. 50k or 60/$6k or waiver for Gold, 75k or 100/$9k or waiver for Platinum, and 125k or 140/$15k or crazy CC spend waiver for Diamond.
@K-in-Boston, thanks for the explanation.
I can follow the logic for distributing rewards among seats regardless of fare payment source.. Part balancing act to limit purchaser from accelerating status buy buying rounds for the gang (or biz paid fares to employees), and part cultivating status among the gang as sort of a fairness approach for groups pitching in on costs yet simplifying matters with a single transaction.
My wishful thinking about jump starting delta rewards by just being the financier.. 
With further examination of my situation and reading more about airline and lodging specific cards I've opted to remain more streamlined for the time being.
The 5x MR I'll get along with the loyalty rewards I'll get with delta will get the ball rolling.
FYI: via FHR it appears that I will get loyalty with a Conrad (Hilton) booking, will find out later for certain I guess. The amex travel portal offers a loyalty number input field for Conrad. AFAIK this isn't a normal FHR thing, but more like a desync on amex travel between Conrad and Hilton Honors... typically the portal seems to cull out that option with Hilton and Marriott properties.