No, Delta didn’t add limits to earning status through spend (myth busted)

Last week, Rene’s Points announced that Delta had implemented new restrictions to how many MQMs (elite qualifying miles) could be earned through credit card spend.  This was based on language in a cardmember agreement amendment that Amex sent out to Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve cardholders.  I disagreed with Rene’s interpretation.  I believed the new language to be a clarification rather than a change.  My interpretation was proven over the weekend when a new Miles Boost posted to my wife’s account.

Background

Currently, it is possible for one person to earn up to 100,000 MQMs (Medallion Qualifying Miles) per year through extreme credit card spend.  To do so, it is necessary to spend $60K on a Delta Reserve consumer card, $60K on a Delta Reserve Business card, $50K on a Delta Platinum consumer card, and $50K on a Delta Platinum business card. (Info about these cards have been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.)

The amendment that was sent out seemed to suggest that 100K MQM earning would no longer be possible. It said, in part:

Some Miles Boost award restrictions

You can only get two Miles Boost awards for each Card account. In addition, if you have more than one Platinum Card Account linked to the same SkyMiles account, you are eligible for only two Miles Boost awards each year.

The above language was for Platinum cards, but Reserve cardholders received almost the same language (change “Platinum” to “Reserve”).

In the post “Delta Platinum/Reserve Miles Boost: Negative Changes? Maybe, Maybe Not…” I wrote:

To me, the language simply reiterated what I already knew: If I had two of the exact same card, such as two Platinum business cards, I could only earn 20K MQMs via two 10K MQM Miles Boosts.  That was true before.  If my understanding of the wording is correct, the per person limit is still 100,000 MQMs per calendar year.

3rd Miles Boost Verified. Myth busted!

If the new language had indicated a change, then it most likely meant that with both a personal and business Platinum card you would be limited to two 10K Miles Boosts total (rather than 2 per card today).  And, similarly, if you had both the personal and business Reserve card you would be limited to two 15K Miles Boosts (rather than 2 per card today).

This year, my wife had already earned both Miles Boosts on her business Reserve card, and over the weekend she successfully earned her first Miles Boost of the year on her personal Reserve card.

Myth busted!

Update: Rene’ Agrees

As I was finishing up this post, Rene’s Points published a retraction of his original post.  Apparently he has now heard from Amex that nothing has changed.

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