Short some miles need website help

[Frank Connell]

Is there a website that you can search last minute deals to get miles? I will be 10,000 short for Diamond and want to achieve this. I can't find any deals without paying like $2,000. I could just buy MQM's but I would rather fly and get the miles plus bonus and we all know that flying is the only way to get away from work and life and cellphone and emails. I am looking to fly somewhere after Christmas out of MCO or DAB if anyone has any ideas. Thanks in advance for helping out a rookie on this site.

[HongKonger]

Any web site for finding mileage run deals? I can't think of one off the top of my head...

[HongKonger]

In all seriousness though OP 10k is a lot so you need to be looking at trips to HNL, South America, Europe with some extra legs or even a TPAC. And it sounds like you want them cheaply so something like an M or discounted BE to Europe won't work (and would still leave you short depending on your starting point). So just look at far away places and pick the cheapest one you find.

[nystateofmind]

Yes it is Coach but if my math is correct with the 500 mile minimum you can do MCO-ATL-DUS R/T December 24-30 for $1176.50

WARNING: Do not do the one that is $7 cheaper because it is a "direct" flight (DL24) so you will not get the extra miles of MCO-ATL-DUS vs. MCO-DUS

[mAAine_flyer]

Way too many variables here to provide much help (how much to you really want to spend, do you actually want to go somewhere to visit or just do a same-day turn, are you interested in sun/warm/snow/cold...), but as a start:

Go to ITA Matrix, use calendar search starting on 12/26/12 and a stay of 1-4 nights, then select origin/destination and max out the "nearby" options.

A random search yielded MCO-ATL-MUC with a 1-night stay leaving on 12/27/12 for $1,058 and 10,600 miles. Only you can decide if this is a good deal.

[Frank Connell]

That's great but I just want to do a turn around. In and Out and don't want to stay the night if I don't have to.

[Frank Connell]

Originally Posted by mAAine_flyer

Way too many variables here to provide much help (how much to you really want to spend, do you actually want to go somewhere to visit or just do a same-day turn, are you interested in sun/warm/snow/cold...), but as a start:

Go to ITA Matrix, use calendar search starting on 12/26/12 and a stay of 1-4 nights, then select origin/destination and max out the "nearby" options.

A random search yielded MCO-ATL-MUC with a 1-night stay leaving on 12/27/12 for $1,058 and 10,600 miles. Only you can decide if this is a good deal.

Thanks this is what I was looking for.

[Carl Johnson]

Originally Posted by Frank Connell

That's great but I just want to do a turn around. In and Out and don't want to stay the night if I don't have to.

Just buy the miles? DL is selling MQMs until the end of the year.

[nystateofmind]

Originally Posted by Frank Connell

Thanks this is what I was looking for.

The problem with most destinations is that you really cannot clear immigration and get back through security in the requisite time especially if there are any delays. Be careful that you do not book "direct" flights as many of the cheapest options cut it very close and that is only if you have different flight numbers for each leg

[rwoman]

As stated, HNL or Europe are probably your best bets for 10k MQM.

Possible sites:
http://www.skyscanner.com/ - use ANY as your destination
http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/
http://www.kayak.co.uk/?ispredir=true
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/

Also, I recommend booking via dl.com not 3rd party sites, which can sell fares that do not earn full MQM. Related threads:
Delta slashes mileage earning on unpublished and group fares: 01 September 2012
Cheaper to buy DL tickets on Travelocity

[nystateofmind]

If you want to spend a night in Zurich you can do MCO-RDU-ATL-ZRH; ZRH-ATL-MCO for $1149.20 and that should get you about 10,900 miles (Leave MCO on 12/29 return on 12/31). If you want to return the same day so you have 2 hours 5 minutes in Zurich Airport it is $1015.20

[Frank Connell]

Thanks guys this is awesome. Only problem is I want to be home on Sunday to watch my NFL ticket. I guess I might just pay a little more and fly out on Friday to get back Sat night.

[HongKonger]

Originally Posted by Frank Connell

Thanks guys this is awesome. Only problem is I want to be home on Sunday to watch my NFL ticket. I guess I might just pay a little more and fly out on Friday to get back Sat night.

Well dude you have to decide what's important to you, the 10K miles or your Sunday ticket. Why not fly another day that's not Sunday?

Where do you think you can fly for 10K miles that you aren't going to be spending the night somewhere (at least in the air)? The answer is, "nowhere." 10K miles is a long way.

[nystateofmind]

Originally Posted by Frank Connell

Thanks guys this is awesome. Only problem is I want to be home on Sunday to watch my NFL ticket. I guess I might just pay a little more and fly out on Friday to get back Sat night.

Initial research shows that leaving Friday more than doubles the price to nearly $2500 per ticket. Is NFL worth $1500?

[LBJ]

Originally Posted by Frank Connell

Thanks guys this is awesome. Only problem is I want to be home on Sunday to watch my NFL ticket. I guess I might just pay a little more and fly out on Friday to get back Sat night.

MCO-LIH - depart and return on Dec 28th - $1226 (get home on the 29th). Route through MSP for max miles.

If you want to get really crazy you can do MCO-TPE for $1574. Depart the 27th and return the 29th (spend the night of the 28th at TPE). Will have you home the night of the 29th.