Delta SkyMiles Choice Benefits: Diamond & Platinum Medallion Perks

$1,000 MQD = $1,000 spent on Delta flights or $10,000 on the Delta Reserve Card/$20,000 on the Delta Platinum Card. I wouldn't call that "of little value," necessarily, if one is looking at Platinum status and the year is winding down.

@ Ralph4878 -- If someone is really in a bind, I suppose so. But four upgrade certificates is quite a big opportunity cost, if you ask me.

The 4 Regional UGs were the logical choice when they could actually be used. The lack of success using them low Theo value significantly.

Since Delta started their scam of Premium Select seats on international flights, Global Certificates are almost useless. You have to pay a way overpriced Premium Select seats to be able to upgrade to Delta One. I actually just flew international Premium Select and it is absolutely horrible. It is basically a domestic first class with useless foot rest, limited recline and coach meal served on a tray. An absolute scam.

What plane were you on? Premium Select has been perfectly fine in my experience. Nothing amazing, but certainly not "horrible."

I have about 2.5 million “million miler” miles w DL. Was lifetime Gold until they changed program to make me lifetime Platinum. A few weeks later I go the email to select my 2024 and 2025 benefits. I took the 30,000 Skymiles each year (60,000 total) which was nice since I no longer fly DL much and that cover the majority of an 83,000 Skymiles Delta One ticket SEA-TPE next month. Don’t know if I willl keep getting them for not flying solely based on my lifetime status but I’ll take anything the airline gives me

It was a A330. My point is that it is not worth 3x the cost of economy. I used expiring Global Certificates to upgrade from economy to Premium Select.

"My point is that it is not worth 3x the cost of economy"

Oh 100% agree on that.

I disagree about the bonus MQDs being of minimal value, at least for the Diamond selections.

For 2025, I selected the 4 GUCs, $700 Amex credit and 2000 MQDs. This allows me to either fly less, or choose a different alliance closer to the end of the year in the event I do need to travel.

@Ben Schlampig: Agree but it became very hard to use them. To upgrade to Delta One you have to buy overpriced Premium Select seats and on most flights you won't be able to upgrade even with cabin showing all seats are empty due to "lack of availability" of upgradeable seats on that flights. Total BS.

Agree. Was going to select them for my platinum benefit, but searching flights from the Midwest to FL, TX, and CA showed that at least one leg, if not both, required a GUC vs. a RUC. To which I say, what's the point of a RUC? I went w/the $400 statement credit.

For Diamond I did the GUCs, $700 credit, and Gold status for P2, P3.