Shocked by low MQM with ST partners to Asia
Nov 30, 2015, 7:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York
Programs: SPG LT Gold, DL PM 1MM
Posts: 692
Shocked by low MQM with ST partners to Asia
Hi all,
Looking to book travel to Indonesia and was shocked to see how low MQMs are on partner airlines "after 1 January 2015".
Was it me who was stupid to think that MQMs were earned on partner airlines like KE, VN, GA, etc. like on AF/KL? Was this always that bad, even before 2015?
Any experience maximizing MQM/miles to Indonesia on partner airlines? I'm looking through the fine print and finding that apparently even VS doesn't offer MQM on non-VS operated but VS coded flights... Or any ways to get MQM on KE operated flights?
Looking to book travel to Indonesia and was shocked to see how low MQMs are on partner airlines "after 1 January 2015".
Was it me who was stupid to think that MQMs were earned on partner airlines like KE, VN, GA, etc. like on AF/KL? Was this always that bad, even before 2015?
Any experience maximizing MQM/miles to Indonesia on partner airlines? I'm looking through the fine print and finding that apparently even VS doesn't offer MQM on non-VS operated but VS coded flights... Or any ways to get MQM on KE operated flights?
Nov 30, 2015, 7:29 am
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,393
You get full MQM on KE operated flights booked with DL flight numbers.
DL still operates NRT-BKK and vv with the 767. In fact, it seems to be an easier upgrade that NRT-SIN and vv.
Unfortunately, for most of Asia DL seems to want you to take the DL SEA-Asia nonstops. Some people apparently just purchase separate intraAsia flights on LCCs.
IIRC there are still a few other Asian partner flights that earn full MQMs, such as SIN-DPS on KLM.
DL still operates NRT-BKK and vv with the 767. In fact, it seems to be an easier upgrade that NRT-SIN and vv.
Unfortunately, for most of Asia DL seems to want you to take the DL SEA-Asia nonstops. Some people apparently just purchase separate intraAsia flights on LCCs.
IIRC there are still a few other Asian partner flights that earn full MQMs, such as SIN-DPS on KLM.
Nov 30, 2015, 8:01 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,107
DL is generally terrible for TPAC (bad timings, terrible relationships with partners, limited award availability, limited upgrade availability, etc). One might consider the value of loyalty for such travel.
Nov 30, 2015, 8:39 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York
Programs: SPG LT Gold, DL PM 1MM
Posts: 692
This makes me greatly consider opening up to a different alliance (2x 20k miles in J definitely makes it worth considering...), not because I am displeased with DL, but simply because there is no alternative...
Nov 30, 2015, 10:48 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,481
My recent JFK-NRT flight was 100% full in D1. Using GUC, I was 1/4 on upgrade list and of course didn't clear (C was zeroed out a few days prior).
Last edited by TerryK; Nov 30, 2015 at 10:54 am
Nov 30, 2015, 10:52 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,481
Nov 30, 2015, 2:33 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
I flew LAX-SYD-DPS with the SYD-DPS on VA, this earns full MQM.
Dec 1, 2015, 8:49 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York
Programs: SPG LT Gold, DL PM 1MM
Posts: 692
Interesting, and it earns a LOT of MQM lol.
Need to depart from JFK and eventually booked to fly JFK-AMS-CGK-CDG-JFK. It's a tiny bit more time efficient and still pretty good on the MQM.
Agree with earlier posters that DL is packed. Couldn't find a seat on the NRT/SIN flights.
Need to depart from JFK and eventually booked to fly JFK-AMS-CGK-CDG-JFK. It's a tiny bit more time efficient and still pretty good on the MQM.
Agree with earlier posters that DL is packed. Couldn't find a seat on the NRT/SIN flights.
Dec 1, 2015, 11:10 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
Interesting, and it earns a LOT of MQM lol.
Need to depart from JFK and eventually booked to fly JFK-AMS-CGK-CDG-JFK. It's a tiny bit more time efficient and still pretty good on the MQM.
Agree with earlier posters that DL is packed. Couldn't find a seat on the NRT/SIN flights.
Need to depart from JFK and eventually booked to fly JFK-AMS-CGK-CDG-JFK. It's a tiny bit more time efficient and still pretty good on the MQM.
Agree with earlier posters that DL is packed. Couldn't find a seat on the NRT/SIN flights.
Dec 1, 2015, 4:03 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 385
Always DL
[QUOTE=mayhem;25790017]Hi all,
Looking to book travel to Indonesia and was shocked to see how low MQMs are on partner airlines "after 1 January 2015".
Was it me who was stupid to think that MQMs were earned on partner airlines like KE, VN, GA, etc. like on AF/KL? Was this always that bad, even before 2015?
Any experience maximizing MQM/miles to Indonesia on partner airlines? I'm looking through the fine print and finding that apparently even VS doesn't offer MQM on non-VS operated but VS coded flights... Or any ways to get MQM on KE operated flights?[/QUOT
Always book KE, et al., on a DL number and you will get full MQMs.
Looking to book travel to Indonesia and was shocked to see how low MQMs are on partner airlines "after 1 January 2015".
Was it me who was stupid to think that MQMs were earned on partner airlines like KE, VN, GA, etc. like on AF/KL? Was this always that bad, even before 2015?
Any experience maximizing MQM/miles to Indonesia on partner airlines? I'm looking through the fine print and finding that apparently even VS doesn't offer MQM on non-VS operated but VS coded flights... Or any ways to get MQM on KE operated flights?[/QUOT
Always book KE, et al., on a DL number and you will get full MQMs.
Dec 2, 2015, 1:32 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,107
Meanwhile I've discovered oneworld's superior TPAC coverage (at least for my travel pattern) and am moving pretty much all my TPAC travel there, unless I happen to be able to clear DL globals at upgrade (which seems next to impossible now).