Dec 27, 2016, 5:58 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: Pat89339

For each request, please include the following information:

Departure Airport:
Miles Needed:
Required Spend or Budget:
Available Travel Dates:
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:

For each response. Please quote the original request. DO NOT START A SEPARATE THREAD.

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NOTE: there is not much time left in 2017, given that travel tends to be expensive around holidays. You will have greater chances of success if you have greater flexibility on travel dates and cost. If you need a lot of MQMs on weekends only for < 5 cpm it probably won't happen.

Other creative possibilities depending how many MQMs you need:

signup bonuses for various DL-branded AMEX cards (usually have a spend requirement)
if you already have planned travel, consider buying up (in advance, not at check in) for 50% MQM bonus and more flexible same-day-confirmed options which are another way to increase MQMs
Hilton 250 MQMs per stay of 2 nights or more
if you are close to a threshold Delta often will offer a buy-up (at exorbitant prices). 2016 thread, and speculation/anticipation thread for 2017

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*"Required Metal or Codeshares" is, approximately, asking whether you need a flight operated specifically by Delta or if partner flights are ok. If you are just looking for MQMs to hit a Medallion tier the normal way, then the answer is yes. If you are doing a status challenge, the answer is also probably yes, but read the T&C of your challenge carefully to be sure (for the regular status challenge the answer is also "yes")

NOTE: some partner flights earn MQMs at reduced rates. See this chart for more info.

Newcomers may also be interested in the FlyerTalk Glossary

DL/Sky Team: 2017-2018 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed

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Dec 20, 2017, 1:57 am

#1021

Missouriflyer23

Join Date: Dec 2017

Posts: 1

Mileage run

Departure Airport: SGF (could also do XNA or MCI if worst case scenario)
Segments Needed: 20,000
Required Spend or Budget: 2-3K
Available Travel Dates: any dates other than 12/25 & 12/28-31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: yep

Dec 20, 2017, 7:42 am

#1022

xliioper

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 23,063

Quote:

Originally Posted by Missouriflyer23

SGF-SIN 12/29 - 12/31, $1446.56, 21,482 MQM's

Dec 20, 2017, 8:01 am

#1023

markr33

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: South Florida, USA

Posts: 184

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuck_traveler

Boston is $236 for those dates.

You may also want to check Hilton branded hotels, a 2 night stay will earn you 250 MQM. It may be cheaper than a flight.

https://www.hiltonhonors.com/en_US/H...a-mqm/landing/

Will the Hilton 250 MQMs post in time for 2017? My last hotel stay on 4-Dec just posted last night!

I need 584 MQMs for Diamond! (flying out of South Florida - FLL, PBI, MIA)

Dec 20, 2017, 8:32 am

#1024

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by markr33

Will the Hilton 250 MQMs post in time for 2017? My last hotel stay on 4-Dec just posted last night!

I need 584 MQMs for Diamond! (flying out of South Florida - FLL, PBI, MIA)

Dec 30, FLL-ATL, $243

As for posting in time, I don't know. There is a very short discussion on that at Delta MQM promo is up for 2017

Dec 20, 2017, 9:56 am

#1025

xliioper

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 23,063

Quote:

Originally Posted by markr33

Will the Hilton 250 MQMs post in time for 2017? My last hotel stay on 4-Dec just posted last night!

I need 584 MQMs for Diamond! (flying out of South Florida - FLL, PBI, MIA)

What is the activity date on the left side of the posting on your account activity? This is the year the MQM's count towards and if it matches the date of your check-out (or prior), you should not have any problems. The "Posted On" date in the upper right-hand corner does not determine the year the MQM's count towards. If the MQM's post in the next year, DL will retroactively change your status and adjust your rollover MQM's (if your MQM's have already rolled over prior to the posting).

Dec 20, 2017, 3:36 pm

#1026

FlyerJudd

Join Date: May 2017

Posts: 60

Departure: NYC
mqm needed: 1130

Ugh. My family wants to cancel our trip over New Years and stay home. There goes my platinum medallion.

I’m short 1130 MQM, flying out of Nyc or similar (isp, hpn, bdl). Maybe a quick 4 segment rt to nowhere?

Last edited by FlyerJudd; Dec 20, 2017 at 3:41 pm

Dec 20, 2017, 3:54 pm

#1027

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyerJudd

How about JFK-BOS-IND-JFK? Dec. 30, $315

Another option is: JFK-ATL-CLT-LGA, Dec. 31, $276; JFK-ATL-CLT-ATL-EWR, Dec. 31, $265

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Dec 20, 2017 at 4:03 pm Reason: added CLT option

Dec 20, 2017, 7:50 pm

#1028

balatn

Join Date: Dec 2017

Posts: 15

So first of all thank you everyone for taking the time to assist other frequent flyers, you rock! Here's my situation:
MQMs: 62,369
MQDs: 5,945
I am not sure if is makes sense to push it right now for Platinum but I do want to keep my Gold and also roll over a healthy amount of MQMs.

Departure Airport: NYC ( JFK/LGA/EWR )
Miles Needed: probably none
Required Spend or Budget: $55
Available Travel Dates: thinking1-2 days this weekend or the next one
Required Metal or Codeshares okay* OK

Let me know what you think..

Dec 20, 2017, 8:20 pm

#1029

xliioper

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 23,063

Quote:

Originally Posted by balatn

You should just focus on the 55 MQD's. It's way too late in the year to expect to find any good runs on a CPM basis and I can't see how Plat status is worth spending an extra $3K.. You can do JFK-BWI for $197 on 12/29. JFK-IAD is $230 on 12/30 and JFK-BOS is $227.

balatn likes this.

Last edited by xliioper; Dec 20, 2017 at 8:27 pm

Dec 20, 2017, 8:24 pm

#1030

balatn

Join Date: Dec 2017

Posts: 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBJ

You should just focus on the 55 MQD's. It's way too late in the year to expect to find any good runs on a CPM basis. You can do JFK-BWI for $197 on 12/29. JFK-IAD is $230 on 12/30 and JFK-BOS is $227.

Thank you!

Dec 21, 2017, 7:26 am

#1031

essjayjay

Join Date: Sep 2014

Posts: 1

Need 800 MQMs to Retain Gold!

Departure Airport: DCA, BWI, IAD
Miles Needed: 800
Required Spend or Budget: Under $250, if possible
Available Travel Dates: December 21 or 22
Required Metal or Codeshares okay: anything that works

OR

Departure Airport: CVG
Miles Needed: 800
Required Spend or Budget: Under $250, if possible
Available Travel Dates: December 27-30
Required Metal or Codeshares okay: anything that works

Thanks!!!

Dec 21, 2017, 12:28 pm

#1032

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by essjayjay

Dec 28, CVG-ORD, $225

Dec 21, 2017, 4:32 pm

#1033

akamauu

Join Date: Dec 2017

Programs: Delta

Posts: 3

Currently Platinum and trying to earn Diamond. Thank you in advance for any help ... I really appreciate it!

Departure Airport: SLC
Miles Needed: 10,400 (or as many as possible)
Required Spend or Budget: I already hit spend requirement; would like to stay within $1k
Available Travel Dates: 12/21-12/24 or 12/26-12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay: yes (need MQMs)

Dec 21, 2017, 4:46 pm

#1034

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by akamauu

Dec 29-30, SLC-MSP-HNL-OGG-SLC, 8400 miles, $692
Dec 28, SLC-BOS-SLC, 4200 miles, $311

LBJ's SIN suggestion is a better CPM

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Dec 21, 2017 at 4:59 pm Reason: add comment about LBJ SIN run

Dec 21, 2017, 4:48 pm

#1035

Nungathewarriorprincess

Join Date: Dec 2017

Posts: 2

Need 2100 MQMs to Gold

Departure Airport - ATL Dec 22 -31st
2100 miles needed on Delta to Gold.
RS- Already met
Budget $200-$300
Required metal or codeshare okay: Yes, as long as I hit the 2100 mqms.