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Author
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Topic: Delta Airlines Question re: Medallion and Bonus Miles
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Dani
Moderator
TUG VolunteerPosts: 5023
From: New York
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 04-19-2005 12:09
    
Hi, I have a question that I can't seem to figure out even after trying to look on Flyertalk. What exactly are Medallion Qualifying Miles? Can Medallion Qualifying Miles be used to book award travel? For instance, can the bonus miles that you receive for your first purchase with Amex Delta be used for award travel? Also, I have read that with $25,000 in spending per year on your Amex Delta card, they give you 10,000 MQM miles. Can these miles be used for award travel? Thanks. ------------------
Danielle IP: Logged |
Dave M
Administrator
TUG MemberPosts: 6430
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 04-19-2005 12:54
MQMs are used for determining whether (and at what level) you qualify for elite status in the SkyMiles Medallion program. SkyMiles are the FF miles that you can redeem for awards. The two systems are mutually exclusive. Think of it as two separate accounts, although with MQMs, what you earn normally goes into both accounts.Examples:
- Miles flown on Delta - You earn SkyMiles at the rate of one FF mile for each mile you fly, with a minimum of 500 miles per flight. Certain classes of service earn FF miles at a higher rate. You normally earn MQMs at approximately the same rate as you fly.
- Bonus flight miles - The bonus earned for each flight mile as an elite (Medallion) member of SkyMiles counts as a FF mile that can be used for awards, but does not count for MQM purposes.
- Delta holds frequent promotions offering the opportunity to earn double or triple bonus miles. These additional SkyMiles rarely qualify as MQMs.
- AMEX - I believe the 10,000 additional Skymiles (also counted as MQMs) for spending $25,000 only applies to the Platinum card. Additionally, you get 15,000 SkyMiles with your first purchase, of which 5,000 are MQMs. (Click on the "Learn More" link at this Delta AMEX page and see footnote 1).
IP: Logged |
xzhan02
TUG MemberPosts: 26
From: atlanta ga us
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 04-19-2005 13:02
quote:
Originally posted by Dani:
Hi, I have a question that I can't seem to figure out even after trying to look on Flyertalk. What exactly are Medallion Qualifying Miles? Can Medallion Qualifying Miles be used to book award travel? For instance, can the bonus miles that you receive for your first purchase with Amex Delta be used for award travel? Also, I have read that with $25,000 in spending per year on your Amex Delta card, they give you 10,000 MQM miles. Can these miles be used for award travel? Thanks.
MQM are used to earn medallion status. All MQM also counts as regular miles for award travel. Usually only the actually flown miles counts as MQM, not the bonus miles (e.g. online booking) or Skymile card spending. One exception is the case you mentioned: for platinum Skymile card holders that spend 25,000/yr, 10,000 MQM per year is awarded. When you upgrade from Gold to Platinum card, you also get a one time MQM of 5000 miles. This means you only need to fly 15000 mile to be silver Medallion. I think Platinum card is a good deal (you also get a free companion US ticket each year you renew) for $50 over the regular Gold card. IP: Logged |
Dani
Moderator
TUG VolunteerPosts: 5023
From: New York
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 04-19-2005 13:36
OMG!!! Thank you both very much!!! I've been trying to figure this out for some time. I didn't know that the 10,000 mile bonus applied to the Platinum card only. The platinum card sounds like a good deal. I have another question if you don't mind. How come when I look up my Delta account, I don't see any miles that qualify as MQM's? ------------------
Danielle IP: Logged |
Dave M
Administrator
TUG MemberPosts: 6430
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 04-19-2005 13:45
Look at your online Sky Miles account. The top section starts with your name. The third line under that has your YTD MQMs. Also, the far right column of the detail of your account activity lists your "MQM Earned" for individual flights or other earnings.IP: Logged |
Dani
Moderator
TUG VolunteerPosts: 5023
From: New York
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 04-19-2005 13:54
Thanks Dave...I just checked and I have none!!! I guess MQM miles expire. ------------------
Danielle IP: Logged |
Dave M
Administrator
TUG MemberPosts: 6430
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 04-19-2005 14:00
Yes, MQMs are only pertinent for the year earned. If you earn 25K or more MQMs this year, you join the ranks of Delta's Medallion SkyMiles members for the remainder of the year and for 2006. On January 1 of 2006, your MQM blance again starts at zero.
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Carolinian
TUG MemberPosts: 5763
From: North Carolina
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 04-19-2005 14:51
If you fly enough, or can take a cheap milage run to get over a treshold, elite status on any airline is a nice perk. Pre-boarding, checking in the the first class line, free upgrades, and bonus miles are the best benefits. For lowest level elite, however, the best program is NW, as they give lowest level elites 150% of actual miles flown, compared to 125% with other airlines. IP: Logged |
Dani
Moderator
TUG VolunteerPosts: 5023
From: New York
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 04-19-2005 23:14
Thanks again for the information. ------------------
Danielle IP: Logged |
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