Delta AMEX Strategy

[parzivalmx]

I have the Delta Amex Gold, with the new changes they getting rid of the Medallion waiver. I was planing to actually use that benefit. What should I do to minimize AFs?  My plan was applying to the Plat and before the first AF kicks in for the Gold downgraded for the Blue. I have less then a year with the Gold so I can't upgrade. Is this something possible?

[Anonymous]

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@parzivalmx wrote:

I have the Delta Amex Gold, with the new changes they getting rid of the Medallion waiver. I was planing to actually use that benefit. What should I do to minimize AFs?  My plan was applying to the Plat and before the first AF kicks in for the Gold downgraded for the Blue. I have less then a year with the Gold so I can't upgrade. Is this something possible?

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You can downgrade gold to blue after first AF hits, it will be refunded after PC.

You may want to wait until a better offer before applying for delta plat.

[parzivalmx]

Good info, Thanks. 

Yeah, but want to apply before the AF goes up to $250. Guess I can wait until 1/30/2020

[Anonymous]

You can app now, but make sure you find a link with 75k skypesos SUB (The offical sub is only 35k).

btw, I think UScreditcardguide has a running list of good SUBs and some referal links with elevated SUBs.

[NRB525]

With the Delta Gold you still get the checked bag fee waiver, so as long as you fly regularly with Delta, that is where your AF benefit comes in. Since you want the MQD waiver, that implies you want Medallion status.

The Gold also introduces a $100 Delta credit when you spend $10,000 on that card in a year.

The Delta Platinum adds more earning categories, and after the first year has the companion pass in the 48 states. Applying for the Delta Plat sets you up for a better Delta experience than Delta Gold, and when the Delta Gold AF posts, you could ask yo PC that to Delta Blue.

[mikesonthemend]

One round trip flight on Delta washes the AF if checking bags. If you are in search of priveledged flying, the Gold is not the card. You will need to fly far more frequently to make the platinum work for you, but that is where the benefits get real.

[Jccflat]

Side question
Besides using the sky miles for booking from the delta Acct is there and other value way to use this points for Someone who opened the delta sky miles and has 70k miles ?
Can it be used for diff airline?

[Anonymous]

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@Jccflat wrote:
Side question
Besides using the sky miles for booking from the delta Acct is there and other value way to use this points for Someone who opened the delta sky miles and has 70k miles ?
Can it be used for diff airline?

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You can book skyteam airlines, but you have to do it through delta.com.

[parzivalmx]

Thanks all for the advice. I do fly delta quite frequently I’ll be over 30k MQMs by February, that’s why I want the MQD waiver.

[iced]

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@parzivalmx wrote:
Thanks all for the advice. I do fly delta quite frequently I’ll be over 30k MQMs by February, that’s why I want the MQD waiver.

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I find it difficult with that frequency of travel that you won't hit $15,000 MQD by year's end; unless you're trying to do some trick to accelerate Diamond status by a few months or you're taking a lot of ridiculously cheap flights, I'm not sure you're really gaining anything here.

Edit: I may be reading too much into this...but when you say 30k MQM by February, are you saying you have 30K MQM worth of travel in January booked or that you will have a total of 30K MQM between now and February? I ask because the latter doesn't happen - your MQMs reset on Dec 31, exempting any rollover miles for same-tier exceeding you may have done. If the former, my original statement stands - 30K a month puts you on track for over 300k MQM for the year, and NOT hitting $15,000 MQD on that many miles takes a lot of effort and deep, deep discounts.