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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Mar 10, 2017, 4:02 pm

#61

imaginaryhomeland

Join Date: Feb 2016

Location: NYC

Programs: Skymiles Platinum / Alaska MVP Gold 75K

Posts: 90

there is/was a Virgin Atlantic / Jet Airways from NYC to BOM which credits 100% MQM to Delta for $519 with March availability. It's around 15,000 MQMs. Not sure if it's still around though.

Mar 10, 2017, 4:26 pm

#62

platbrownguy

Join Date: Jul 2004

Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE

Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold

Posts: 6,656

Quote:

Originally Posted by imaginaryhomeland

there is/was a Virgin Atlantic / Jet Airways from NYC to BOM which credits 100% MQM to Delta for $519 with March availability. It's around 15,000 MQMs. Not sure if it's still around though.

I see $794 in May
https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...K0VS25;a=9W,VS

Mar 14, 2017, 9:00 am

#63

Pascal Ter

Join Date: Jan 2017

Programs: KLM Flying blue

Posts: 4

Max qualifying flights

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pascal Ter

Departure city: AMS
Destination city: HAV
Departure date: 23 aug
Return date: 1 sept
Dates are rather flexible
Maximizing the # of connections/qualifying flights on Skyteam
I need 6 qualifying flights
Budget 800

Is there someone that can help me find such a flight? Thanks a bunch

Mar 15, 2017, 8:43 am

#64

drminn

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: LAS, MPL

Programs: DL Platinum, 1 MM

Posts: 1,320

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pascal Ter

Is there someone that can help me find such a flight? Thanks a bunch

Flight 1 — Wed, Aug 23
13h 55m
10:55a — 1:35p
Economy 2h 40m
Amsterdam (AMS) — Madrid (MAD)
Air Europa 1098 · Narrow-body jet · Boeing 737-800 (winglets)
Change planes in Madrid (MAD)
1h 50m
3:25p — 6:50p
Economy 9h 25m
Madrid (MAD) — Miami (MIA)
Air Europa 97 · Wide-body jet · Boeing 787-8

Flight 2 — Wed, Aug 23
15h 35m
8:20p — 9:20p
Economy 1h 00m
Miami (MIA) — Orlando (MCO)
Delta 197 · Narrow-body jet · McDonnell Douglas MD88
Change planes in Orlando (MCO) Long layover
8h 00m
5:20a — 6:44a
Takes off Thu, Aug 24
Economy 1h 24m
Orlando (MCO) — Atlanta (ATL)
Delta 2200 · Narrow-body jet · Airbus A321-100/200
Change planes in Atlanta (ATL) Long layover
3h 11m
9:55a — 11:55a
Economy 2h 00m
Atlanta (ATL) — Havana (HAV)
Delta 639 · Narrow-body jet · Airbus A319

Flight 3 — Fri, Sep 1
1h 04m
11:20a — 12:24p
Economy 1h 04m
Havana (HAV) — Miami (MIA)
Delta 650 · Narrow-body jet · Airbus A320-100/200

Flight 4 — Fri, Sep 1
14h 05m
9:30p — 12:05p
Lands Sat, Sep 2
Economy 8h 35m
Miami (MIA) — Madrid (MAD)
Air Europa 98 · Wide-body jet · Boeing 787-8
Change planes in Madrid (MAD)
2h 55m
3:00p — 5:35p
Economy 2h 35m
Madrid (MAD) — Amsterdam (AMS)
Air Europa 1093 · Narrow-body jet · Boeing 737-800 (winglets)

Hacker Fare1 Air Europa + Delta
UKWSX1YS, VNNF0SMZ, NKXPROUS, XNNL0SMZ $955

Mar 16, 2017, 4:20 pm

#65

dinanm3atl

Join Date: Mar 2014

Location: ATL

Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold

Posts: 2,038

Departure Airport: ATL
Miles Needed: As many MQMs as possible
Required Spend or Budget: < $500 if possible
Available Travel Dates: March 27-31 - Prefer Same Day Turn but single overnight OK
Required Metal or Codeshares okay: Delta or 100% MQM

Need to harvest some MQMs and need to do a test flight after an injury before work trips start up with high frequency.

Mar 19, 2017, 11:34 am

#66

CrazyEddie

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: ATL

Programs: Delta Skymiles

Posts: 355

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinanm3atl

ATL-DFW-SLC-BOS-ATL on 3/31 for $476 is 4771 MQMs but you are going to be on a redeye return to BOS. I've also recently had problems booking these sorts of flights found via Google flights.
https://www.google.com/flights/?gl=u...ATL1DL900;a=DL

Mar 20, 2017, 3:07 am

#67

conflict

Join Date: Mar 2017

Programs: DL, AA, UA, SPG, Marriott, Hertz

Posts: 7

Delta Status Challenge

Departure Airport: LAX/BUR/LGB
Miles Needed: 14021 MQM
Required Spend or Budget: Less is better, but getting MQM is priority
Available Travel Dates: 3/21-4/3 4/21-6/18
Required Metal or Codeshares okay: Codeshares ok

Thanks

Mar 20, 2017, 1:45 pm

#68

jbeckett

Join Date: Mar 2009

Programs: Hilton credit card Diamond, Hyatt Globalist

Posts: 2,651

Quote:

Originally Posted by conflict

LAX-PDX-NRT-SIN-NRT-PDX-LAX out 6/4 return 6/6 is $736, 17948 miles.

Mar 20, 2017, 2:05 pm

#69

conflict

Join Date: Mar 2017

Programs: DL, AA, UA, SPG, Marriott, Hertz

Posts: 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbeckett

LAX-PDX-NRT-SIN-NRT-PDX-LAX out 6/4 return 6/6 is $736, 17948 miles.

Nice. How were you able to find that and plot it out so I can find these more efficiently/help others?

Thanks

Mar 20, 2017, 3:53 pm

#70

jbeckett

Join Date: Mar 2009

Programs: Hilton credit card Diamond, Hyatt Globalist

Posts: 2,651

Quote:

Originally Posted by conflict

Nice. How were you able to find that and plot it out so I can find these more efficiently/help others?

Thanks

Use google.com/flights. Put in LAX (or LAX,BUR,LGB if you like) as the origin, put HKG,SIN,BKK,KUL for the destination. I pick these cities because they will provide enough miles.

Pick a departure date, let's say 5/15. Pick a return date, let's say 5/17. Click on the airline dropdown box and pick Delta. Now click on the departure date and a drop down calendar appears showing the price of the two day trips starting on each date in the calendar. Pick a departure date that is attractive to you, and pick the return date (two or three days later). Go to the bottom of the screen and click on "Show 23 longer or more expensive flights."

If you don't see anything you like on that day, try another day. If you want to look for one destination at a time, just put the one you want in the destination.

Once you find something attractive, you most likely will need to go to delta.com to find it again and purchase it.

Mar 20, 2017, 7:37 pm

#71

dinanm3atl

Join Date: Mar 2014

Location: ATL

Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold

Posts: 2,038

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyEddie

Agreed. It seems maybe it is pulling stuff that exist but it's 'old' and the fares are updated or something. Not sure.

Mar 20, 2017, 7:39 pm

#72

dinanm3atl

Join Date: Mar 2014

Location: ATL

Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold

Posts: 2,038

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbeckett

Use google.com/flights. Put in LAX (or LAX,BUR,LGB if you like) as the origin, put HKG,SIN,BKK,KUL for the destination. I pick these cities because they will provide enough miles.

Pick a departure date, let's say 5/15. Pick a return date, let's say 5/17. Click on the airline dropdown box and pick Delta. Now click on the departure date and a drop down calendar appears showing the price of the two day trips starting on each date in the calendar. Pick a departure date that is attractive to you, and pick the return date (two or three days later). Go to the bottom of the screen and click on "Show 23 longer or more expensive flights."

If you don't see anything you like on that day, try another day. If you want to look for one destination at a time, just put the one you want in the destination.

Once you find something attractive, you most likely will need to go to delta.com to find it again and purchase it.

Sometimes might need ITA Matrix and then Book With matrix as Google Flights won't always provide a direct link and delta.com might not find it directly(It doesn't like a lot of connections it seems).

IE it will pull LAX-SEA-SIN and say it's 2200 dollars. But ITA to Book to Delta will find LAX-PDX-NRT-SIN and return and it's 700.

Mar 22, 2017, 12:13 pm

#73

chaos17

Join Date: Mar 2017

Location: SHV

Programs: DL - GM, KE - Morning Calm, SPG - Gold, Marriott - Gold, HH - Gold

Posts: 4

Departure Airport: SHV
Miles Needed: any, maximize CPM
Required Spend or Budget: any
Available Travel Dates: 04/16-04/17 (same day or overnight stay okay)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay: codeshares okay, just need to maximize MQM

Any help is appreciated - having trouble finding good prices based in SHV.

Thanks!

Mar 22, 2017, 12:49 pm

#74

Winkjd

Join Date: Dec 2007

Location: FL

Programs: DL PM MM

Posts: 34

Departure Airport: TLH or ECP or JAX (going to TLV)
Miles Needed: Maximum MQMs
Required Spend or Budget: under $2K, but flexible (using some Delta Dollars)
Available Travel Dates: 10/12/17 (-2 days) return 10/20/17 (+2 days)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay: Codeshare ok with full MQMs

Traveling to Israel, trying to maximize MQMs. Slightly flexible on dates. Have searched the usual sites, but wondering if the FT community might have some great suggestions. Thank you in advance.

Mar 22, 2017, 1:56 pm

#75

PV_Premier

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.

Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion

Posts: 20,619

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos17

SHV-NRT...google flights says $1540, but also tells you to book with a TA...SGN $1721

it might be bookable but could take some effort

all DL metal to NRT, DL/KE to SGN

everything to Europe is >$3000 for same day turn on those dates

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