Last week, Delta announced a change in the way travelers qualify for Delta’s frequent flyer Medallion Program. The new program will require travelers to hit a minimum dollar spend IN ADDITION TO the Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) which are required to attain elite status. This new minimum dollar spend, will be referred to as “MQDs” or Medallion Qualification Dollars.
Why is Delta starting to reward big spenders? This change can be attributed to a new travel industry trend to reward travelers based on dollars spent versus miles flown. As a result, last minute and business travelers will have less to complain about when seated next to a traveler who purchased a deeply discounted ticket.
When does this change start? The new Medallion Program will be effective on January 1, 2014.
Here is a breakdown of the new Medallion Qualifications:
Nerd Verdict:
- Expect more airlines to follow this reward model – rewarding dollar spend versus miles flown
- The new Medallion qualifications will require travelers to spend more to achieve Medallion Status based on previous TravelNerd analysis of frequent flyer programs Frequent Flyer Infographic
- Changes start in 2014, so take advantage of the current MQM and MQS based Medallion program to attain status without being required to spend a minimum amount
{ 0 comments… add one now }