DELT a bad hand?!....Delta just made a huge change.....

[NewtonMP2100]

.....in it's co-branded rewards Amex card.......raised the AmEx Diamond Medallion waiver from $25,000 to $250,000.....yes, $250,000....


Delta just raised its AmEx Diamond Medallion waiver from $25,000 to $250,000 — and customers are furious

....Starting January 1, you'll have to spend a whopping $250,000 a year on the Delta American Express credit card if you want to waive into the airline's prized Diamond Medallion frequent-flyer status.

It's a major change from the $25,000 in annual spending currently required to reach Diamond Medallion status.

The immediate reaction from the Delta AmEx cardholders was overwhelmingly negative. On Twitter, many pledged to end their relationship with the card.

In a statement to Business Insider, a Delta Air Lines spokesman said:

"Feedback from Diamond Medallion Members drove Delta's Diamond MQD Waiver adjustment. The goal is to enable those who fly and spend most with Delta to better enjoy their Diamond Status benefits including Complimentary Upgrades and the Delta Sky Club experience.

"The Medallion Qualification Miles, Segments, and Dollars required to reach Diamond Status aren't changing and the $25,000 MQD Waiver can still be used to achieve all of the best-in-class benefits of Platinum, Gold, and Silver Medallion Status."

To qualify for Delta's frequent-flyer perks, passengers have to achieve one of its four "medallions" by flying a certain number of flights or miles and spending a certain amount of money with the airline.

However, those who possess a Delta AmEx can waive the spending requirement with the airline if they use their card enough. That's the portion of the qualifying process that has changed.

With this move, Delta is aiming to give its coveted Diamond Medallion status to those who achieved it by flying on its planes and spending money with the airline.

Delta emphasized that no other card benefits or medallion qualifying requirements had been affected.

This means Delta AmEx cardholders will effectively be capped at Platinum Medallion status.

Since status for 2018 is determined by spending and travel in 2017, the new waiver requirement will take effect for those seeking Diamond Medallion status for 2019.

Here's how people are responding on Twitter:

Absolutely & utterly ridiculous increase for Amex spend! Maybe doubling or tripling the spend but $250k? Really?#notahappydiamond @Delta
— Rob Kreiling (@robkreiling) September 26, 2017

This'll be my final year with Delta and Amex. #deltadisappointment
— Jason O'Connor (@pittcanuck) September 26, 2017

Not even lunch time - yet it's already been announced #FixerUpper is ending & #Delta's raising the #Amex #MQD spend waiver to a quarter mil. pic.twitter.com/UBjyBi4XgP
— PointsLounge (@PointsLounge) September 26, 2017

Huh? @Delta told its #Diamond members that in '18, your #AmEx spend has to go from $25k...to $250k to earn status! How you doin' @JetBlue??? pic.twitter.com/NueMRMLKTd
— Addison Hoover (@addisonhoover) September 26, 2017

Prolly one of few who benefits from DM Amex waiver raise to $250K from @delta . Routinely lose 1st UG's to pax who spend far less annually.
— John B. (@montognese) September 26, 2017

That sound you heard? Just the sound of thousands of #Delta #Skymiles #Amex cards hitting the shredder.
— MartyPadgett (@MartyPadgett) September 26, 2017

@Delta is the new #Amex spend announcement a joke???? $25k increased to $250k???? That's beyond ridiculous! No reason to keep @AskAmex now
— Troy (@durbsbythesea76) September 26, 2017


that is a huge increase...........?!

[sekker]

I got that email - thought it was a joke.

3rd time in 3 years to tighten up frequent flyer rules.

[macphanatic]

Just another reason to avoid Delta.

[Paul F.]

Shouldn't be a surprise...
"Frequent Flyer" programs have always been a shell game to benefit the airline, not the passengers.

[Speedy]

Heck, nothing to it, charging the purchase of your next Rolls Royce will cover the entire requirement.

[tenders]

Just charge the replacement of your iPhone 8+ glass back to the card, you'll be sitting pretty on Delta in no time.

[Buzz]

It seems like all they're doing is tightening up a loophole on the least passenger-centric qualification criteria. No clue as to how many folks have been muscling in on Diamond status by simply spending $25K on the co-brand Amex and only flying once every year or so. If those peeps are at all infringing on the regulars that are flying twice a week, and Delta wants to be nicer to the real frequent fliers, the idea of raising the spending requirement makes sense. Also no clue on what the average Diamond Amex qualifiers have been spending, but it would make sense to double it and round up. I'm guessing bumping the spending to $75K or $100K wouldn't statistically dissuade enough people to allow Delta to concentrate on the real frequent fliers, so the "Amex spenders only" now get stuck mostly at Platinum rather than Diamond; still not too shabby for not being a real frequent flier.
==

[zeppo2]

It isn't currently like you describe Buzz. You have to spend 25K to meet the spend retirement, AND still fly 125k miles or fly 125 segments. Both must be satisfied. If you're a Diamond, your butt's been plenty numb, even in first (posted on Gogo in-air wifi, as I'm trying to make it once again to Platinum).

[max]

zeppo2 wrote:
It isn't currently like you describe Buzz. You have to spend 25K to meet the spend retirement, AND still fly 125k miles or fly 125 segments. Both must be satisfied. If you're a Diamond, your butt's been plenty numb, even in first (posted on Gogo in-air wifi, as I'm trying to make it once again to Platinum).

True dat,
the problem is with United being the worst of the worst (oh boy, do I miss Continental), there is no real alternative to Delta if you fly both, domestic and international....

[Racer X]

Alaska, who partners with British Airways?