Triangle Trip

It took about a week … but Delta finally responded with their own Elite Qualifying Miles offer (actually it’s Medallion Qualifying Miles aka: MQM). Delta has up the ante by offering TRIPLE MQM miles for flights between March 23, 2009 to June 15, 2009. Here’s the link for you to register if you’re interested.

HOWEVER, we believe this is a huge ghetto Delta scam. The Triple MQM announcement is a pubic relations play in response to UA, AA and Continental’s offers. Upon reviewing Delta’s ticket prices and fare class restrictions (see below), you will not qualify for double MQM unless you are willing to pay for an above average priced ticket. To get the triple MQM, you will need to pay an arm and a leg.

As a frequently flier between JFK/LAX myself, Delta’s round trip JFK/LAX flights are usually $280 which are L, U, and T classes. For the H, Q, K class bookings, you are looking at $400 to $500 for the round trip JFK/LAX ticket. I did not even bother looking at the other classes as they are last minute purchases or same day prices which can run $800+.

Furthermore, the fine print on the Delta offer states that you will not get your triple MQM bonus miles until 8 weeks after the promotion ends – so roughly mid-August.

In summary, Delta is making you pay for the MQM/Elite status. I am sure Delta will see a backlash from the public after this promotion ends. There will be many people out there who hasn’t read the fine print or the chart and believe they have earned status come August only to find they are only 1/3 of the way there.

Guess this offer is Delta’s way of saying: “caveat emptor” or “we found another way to scam you.”

Check out my previous posts for links to UA, AA and Continental’s offers. Continental by far is the most transparent and generous offer.

Everyone’s offering Elite Qualifying Miles… (Part 1)

Everyone’s offering Elite Qualifying Miles… (Part 2)

A follow up to my earlier post, Continental Airlines has succumbed to the pressure from United and American by offering double Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) today. Here’s the link to register if you’re interested. Continental is upping the ante by not requiring a ticket be booked during the promotion period. You just need to be onboard during the promotional period which is now until June 30, 2009.

Since all these EQM promotions wont’ take affect (credited into your frequent flyer account) until after the promotion, we will have a bunch of fliers with “cheater” status come July 1, 2009. For the record, it was USAir (US-Scare) that started all this… For those of you who hasn’t registered for US Air’s double EQM promotion, here’s the link. You’ll have until the end of March to get your double EQM offer.

So … will ghetto Delta be next to join this pack?  I am hoping for a better offer than what I have seen so far. The Sky Team needs to step it.

If you ever travel in the Northeast Corridor for work, the best way to travel hands down is via Amtrak.  There are no security lines, no need to get to the train station way in advance, no need to turn off your cellphones or laptops, and plenty of legroom.  Maybe the most negative aspect is trying to find an empty seat on a crowded train especially if you are not boarding at Boston, New York, or Washington D.C.  The best feature of traveling frequently on Amtrak though is possibly their partnership with Continental Airlines.  You can transfer Amtrak miles for Continental miles 1 to 1 (but only in 5,000 point increments) and you get access to the Continental lounge if you flash your Amtrak Select Plus (Amtrak’s top tier status) card.  So remember to carry around your Amtrak Select Plus card even if you are traveling via air.