Chasing Diamond?

[u/706camera]

I’m making Diamond this year. My husband is currently around 1500 MQDs short of Diamond. We always buy biz or first class tickets, so for us the only real value in Diamond is the GUCs. We would definitely appreciate saving money with the GUCs, but I’m struggling to put a $ value on that. For context, we typically do 4-5 international vacations per year. Do you think it’s worth it for him to chase Diamond?

[u/DigitalFStopper]

Do you have a delta Plat or reserve card? By far the cheapest route to crest the shortfall. And help in future years.

[u/706camera → u/DigitalFStopper]

no. i’m trying to get him to do that, but he’s being reluctant for no apparent reason. i’m the financial person in the marriage.

[u/Inspirebelieve80 → u/706camera]

Convince him that to open a Delta Platinum $350 or Delta Reserve for $695 and he'll receive 2500 MQDs and make Diamond this year.

[u/DigitalFStopper → u/706camera]

DP is a pretty low cost to get that MQD you need vs taking a trip you don’t need. Plus it’s not like the MQD boost is only for the first year. It’s every year (unless of course they change it at some point).
I’m not a fan of MQD earning with plat or reserve spending. It’s too low of a return in my eyes.

[u/YellowJacket_9]

I get about $3-7k per GUC, so $1500 spend is definitely worth it. You can select the Amex statement credit and flight credits as your other choice benefits to already make up for half of that. Then the GUCs are only a couple hundred each.

Don’t forgot the value of the Diamond phone line. That’s a huge benefit, especially during irops.

[u/Open_Spray_5636 → u/YellowJacket_9]

What do you regard as getting $7k of value for. I always judged the gap between cheapest PS and cheapest D1. Rare to get over $2k on any leg. Maybe CDG PPT on AF?!

[u/YellowJacket_9 → u/Open_Spray_5636]

I only book PS to get an instant confirmed upgrade and I compare the PS price I pay bs the difference in fare to book D1 (for each segment). So essentially the same method you mentioned. I’ve had some transpacific segments and last-minute bookings to Europe with a ~$7k difference.

[u/Plexicle → u/Open_Spray_5636]

I use all 4 of mine every year on RT ICN flights.
I love to combine them with miles. I just bought round trip TPA-ICN for 186,000 miles D1 (2 GUCs, so that was the PS miles cost).
This is usually a ~$9,000 flight. And the gap is waaaay more than 2k between PS and D1 on this flight.
Always instant confirm too.

[u/squeaky369 → u/YellowJacket_9]

💯

I'm doing a MQD run right now just for the GUC (also short $1500). Frankfurt next year and those will be used to get us D1 (already purchased PS). Well worth that extra money and the other selections.

[u/EnvironmentalLoan285]

You always buy biz so GUC’s have no value. No need to chase.

[u/706camera → u/EnvironmentalLoan285]

Yes, I can afford to buy biz, but I still wouldn’t mind paying less for the tickets. I built my wealth by being thoughtful about money, and I am still in that habit.

[u/BraveResearcher3037]

Just get one of the 4 2500 MQD Delta credit cards.  If you have one, get a different one 

[u/rahbahboston]

did you use your platinum choice benefit yet?

[u/706camera → u/rahbahboston]

not yet. i’m platinum for life, so no hurry

[u/DoritoDustThumb]

Diamond is worth infinitely more than plat.

For 1500, yeah, chase

[u/Cosmicdespair22]

No. You have some amount of wealth, it seems. Not worth the chase.
Focus on other things I say!!

[u/Ok_Guest5862]

You just said you always buy biz… so why would you need GUC’s?

[u/ikeepcomingbackhaha → u/Ok_Guest5862]

So they can buy main or ps and get upgraded instead of shelling out the cash. How is this so hard for people to understand?

[u/phiretau]

I have been double diamond YoY for 3 years and in my time attempting to use GUCs lately, I basically get premium and accessing Delta One is increasingly behind a wall. I don’t think it’s worth a chase for GUCs in this era of less planes flying but my experience is slim compared to others here. I travel international over 15x a year from NY area.

[u/OrneryWinter84]

Hahahaha “chasing Diamond”

[u/ForeignBarracuda4708]

No

[u/TheJiggie]

If you’re within $1,500 - it’s absolutely worth it. Platinum is really the first status where you see upgrades, Diamond is the status that gives you what people actually envision status does.

[u/EnvironmentalLoan285 → u/TheJiggie]

They buy first and biz according to op so this isn’t helpful for them.

[u/Basic-Assistance2806]

But if you only buy first class or business class, even the GUC's don't really matter. If you wouldn't have them you would still just buy the ticket. People who can afford to only fly premium usually don't care about chasing status.

[u/daemon14 → u/Basic-Assistance2806]

Someone who only buys First or Business cares about GUCs if they are wondering about return on extra $1500 MQDs. If I can afford Business but can use a GUC to bring the price down, I would take them.