In 2006 when Continental introduced their new Presidential World MasterCard, it was unique for two reasons: it was the first contemporary card that included airport lounge access and it also, while not the first, included the ability to earn EQM’s toward elite status based on card spending. The unique angle there was the EQM’s were flexible and could last years, thuogh you only earned 2,000 of them per $25K spend.

Fast forward to 2008.

I’ve stumbled on something that I think answers many a question I get over the year: There will soon be a credit card in which you can actually earn your total elite status without flying. But not wanting to concentrate just on that fact, let’s take a look. Called, Delta Reserve, this new generation credit card has plenty of bells and whistles and just may replace the Platinum that has so long been a must-have for the road warrior. Essentially for $450 a year (hold the blood pressure, let me explain what I know of this cost) you get Delta Crown Room membership which for us regular folks starts at $400 a year anyways (OK, I really have the miles to prove some form of metal elite with Delta and can get my Crown Room membership at $375 a year (that’s Silver Medallion for you in the know)) and that’s a key. If you are going to spend that kind of money for a lounge membership this might be something you consider. OK, so you pony up $450 for a card that included airport lounge membership that has a nice unique name that no one - NO ONE - else has right now (I have 3 “Platinum” cards right now and none of them are THE Platinum Card (from American Express).

Back on topic, sorry. The key reason for this card is that for every $30K of credit card spend you will earn 15K of MQM’s (that’s Delta talk for elite qualifying miles). So, spend $60K a year and guess what … you’ve got enough MQM’s for Silver Medallion with Delta which is also respected over at Continental and Northwest. But what I like most of all with this new card is that you can actually gift the 15K MQM’s. Friend in trouble of not requalifying? Hello gift guy/gal. And don’t get me started on what may show up on eBay at the end of the year so that others don’t have to do the “mileage run blues” at years end to requalify.And of course this card will include the new Pay With Miles program which is a nice addition to getting the free seats you want if you know how to use the system.

Now, I don’t know all the details and there may be more but the card as  I understand it is to be announced later in April and there may be other fine print things that I haven’t been able to uncover yet, but I have no doubt this card is real and coming and for the right person may just be the ticket to getting into the lounges and into the elite programs with far less travel than ever imagined.

Now, as to the argument that this is bad news for those who actually earn elite by flying. Well, I’m one of those guys and will elbow my way to the upgrade list with the best of them. I don’t feel too threatened. Obviously this could only get someone to Silver just by spending. It could get the Golds to Platinum - which may be worth it’s cost anyway - but given there are hundreds of thousands of flyers I’m already fighting with daily, a few more doesn’t harm me especially if Delta feels this card can raise enough $$$ to keep them flying. Fact is, I can spot the guy with the spending card for elite and if anything, they are always good when I need someone to carry my bags around! Just a joke….. 

So, back to the top. This is certainly a new generation of what Continental started two years ago and as far as I can tell, is certainly worth a look over once it becomes real later in April. I like the name … Reserve. But I do know that this will never replace my love of mileage runs in December to requalify for elite!

P.S. I expect some new plastic fantastic from AAdvantage/Citibank if this keeps up.