As existing cardholders already know, MQMs, MQSs, and the MQD waiver no longer exist for Medallion status, being replaced solely with MQDs going forward. The MQD waiver ($25k for FO/GM/PM and $250k for DM) and MQM Boost (10k per $25k on Platinum, 15k per $30k on Reserve) have been replaced with MQD Boost, which is $1 MQD per $20 spent on Platinum and $1 MQD per $10 spent on Reserve. While I'm not thrilled with the changes (and I think Delta is going to end up with a massive amount of new FO and GM flyers as a result of the MQD Headstart adding lots of new people and the steep requirements dropping PMs and DMs down), I was pleasantly surprised to see that the new MQD Boost actually posts very quickly, the day after statement closing to be precise. I made a charge just over $2k on my SkyMiles Platinum card on the 1st, my statement closed the 2nd, and the Boost posted today on the 3rd. (I downgraded my personal Reserve card to Blue when it renewed due to the loss of MQMs and MQD Waiver, but then almost immediately upgraded it to Platinum after Delta made some changes and Amex gave me an upgrade offer. This spend is for the upgrade bonus, and will be the end of spending on this card since it earns half as much as the Reserve.)
The tracker is supposed to change on the 5th of January to only show MQDs, but hopefully this data point shows that they really will post the day after statement closing.
Probably offtopic somewhat - I wasn't around here if it was discussed when first announced but the new Delta program is laughable even after they walked back some of the changes and this is coming from someone who's wife loves their airline. Come renewal time I dunno what we'll do honestly. Wife wants to continue using Delta so that will be probably be deciding factor but at the very least the Delta biz cards have got to go unless AMEX counters with an offer we can't refuse and see how the year shakes out
That Delta tax 
SO if I read this right, because of the $2,500 MQD head start on the Reserve and Platinum Amex's, if you have both cards you are automatically silver status and if you had Reserve, Platinum and each of those with the business versions (4 cards) you are gold......so for $1,600 in AF you are gold status with 4 companion certs......is that correct or am I reading this wrong?
@simplynoir wrote:Probably offtopic somewhat - I wasn't around here if it was discussed when first announced but the new Delta program is laughable even after they walked back some of the changes and this is coming from someone who's wife loves their airline. Come renewal time I dunno what we'll do honestly. Wife wants to continue using Delta so that will be probably be deciding factor but at the very least the Delta biz cards have got to go unless AMEX counters with an offer we can't refuse and see how the year shakes out
That Delta tax
Opposite for me, throwing my rent on my delta reserve gets me diamond with zero effort, so I prefer the new model personally
@simplynoir wrote:Come renewal time I dunno what we'll do honestly...
That Delta tax
As Ed stated, they are a premium airline. 
Yeah, when my renewal hit, I did the math and with the original announcement I was looking at dropping to Gold and maybe even all the way to Silver. I've been able to justify spending on Delta Reserve because of the MQM Boost and MQD Waiver, and Platinum Medallion has had very good value for me (not least of which is that I would typically pay for Comfort+ but get to choose that at ticketing when buying a Main Cabin fare, and with the often huge price jumps between those the past few years that adds up). So I actually downgraded my personal Deltra Reserve all the way down to Blue and decided I'd hold out on my business version for the year for SkyClub; then the revision came along with an upgrade offer right after, so it's upgraded to Platinum. At least for 2025 status, it makes sense for me to keep the cards. After that, I may jump ship to Star Alliance. The award fares are certainly better on some of that team's non-US partners and if I can fly Business class for the same number of MR/UR/TYP as Main Cabin on Delta, status wouldn't really matter as much.
@odd_dog wrote:SO if I read this right, because of the $2,500 MQD head start on the Reserve and Platinum Amex's, if you have both cards you are automatically silver status and if you had Reserve, Platinum and each of those with the business versions (4 cards) you are gold......so for $1,600 in AF you are gold status with 4 companion certs......is that correct or am I reading this wrong?
You read that right. What would have required earning 50k MQMs or 60 MQSs PLUS $8k MQDs or Amex waiver ($25k+ spend) is now available for $1600 in annual fees, no flying required. Meanwhile, the road warrior who is doing the cheap commuter flight twice a week all year long will no longer make Gold without at least one Amex Delta Platinum or Reserve card. Status is no longer based on flying whatsoever, but merely on how much you spend on flights and/or 4 particular credit cards.
@ShreksBFF wrote:throwing my rent on my delta reserve gets me diamond with zero effort
Shrek and Fiona are charging you more than $250k a year in rent to live in the castle?
@K-in-Boston wrote:
@simplynoir wrote:Come renewal time I dunno what we'll do honestly...
That Delta tax
As Ed stated, they are a premium airline.
Yeah, when my renewal hit, I did the math and with the original announcement I was looking at dropping to Gold and maybe even all the way to Silver. I've been able to justify spending on Delta Reserve because of the MQM Boost and MQD Waiver, and Platinum Medallion has had very good value for me (not least of which is that I would typically pay for Comfort+ but get to choose that at ticketing when buying a Main Cabin fare, and with the often huge price jumps between those the past few years that adds up). So I actually downgraded my personal Deltra Reserve all the way down to Blue and decided I'd hold out on my business version for the year for SkyClub; then the revision came along with an upgrade offer right after, so it's upgraded to Platinum. At least for 2025 status, it makes sense for me to keep the cards. After that, I may jump ship to Star Alliance. The award fares are certainly better on some of that team's non-US partners and if I can fly Business class for the same number of MR/UR/TYP as Main Cabin on Delta, status wouldn't really matter as much.
Italicized portion IMO that's the best Platinum Perk
The premium is subjective but I don't know how people who fly from Delta hubs justify the price increase of $100-$500 over other carriers when a slightly worse service can be had for cheaper. Direct flights and ignoring certain airports like EWR are in play I would imagine. I know it's part of the appeal/attractiveness of flying Delta but that was before the changes, makes it harder to justify now especially if you're not a business traveler or just spend a lot of money on first class with the MQD waiver gone
For the bolded part I just find the international flights in the past with Skyteam to be harder to book than One Alliance overall and part of the math that has me wanting to - not stop flying them - stop put all our flying spend on Delta cards like we had been the past few years. Wife is attached to Delta so we'll probably keep spending but I don't want to make connecting flights anymore to maximize it. Non-stop is pretty much my hard rule flying nowadays
With that said the MQDs you earn with the four cards makes it more palatable to earn Diamond and wife loves Delta, I just pay the bills 🤷😂
Tracker has changed over and they actually made some welcome additions. The earning summary will actually show individual entries for each Platinum or Reserve card after the statement closes. The account activity redesign is fantastic, and the Pending section is a very welcome addition. They added Pending numbers on the tracker for MQMs, MQSs, and MQDs last year but it was a bit hit and miss and was a combined total. It's nice to take the guesswork out of what future flights will earn for MQDs and SkyMiles. Apparently the 1st of February is when the MQD Headstart will hit from credit cards.
So interestingly, I assumed above that the MQDs from card spend were posting immediately after statement closing but in reality MQDs are posting right after charges are settled. It's great that they are posting so quickly and you don't have to wait until after statement closing (which was always fun waiting for the MQD waiver or MQM boost to post in years past), but it does make for a fairly busy Account Activity page on Delta's site if you use the card(s) regularly.