MQD Optimization ideas? (Codeshare Partner Strategy)

Appreciation in advance to the incredibly knowledgeable fellow travel nerd Flyertalkers. I’ll be hitting my 25th Flyertalk anniversary next year!

Mulitcity needs & Available Travel Dates

Departure Airport(s) CDG. I am currently in Strasbourg and can access airports within approximately four hours by train, though I’m unsure whether other airports would allow permutations that would outperform CDG for MQD optimization.

Arrival: DTW (or FWA) preferably Dec 19 or 20…could push to 21 especially with FWA arrival but getting into xmas territory after that.

LAX. 12/31 (or 30th even 29th though prices appear sig higher on routes I checked prior to 31st) Anything I could add on between xmas in Detroit and return to lax end of year?

[Plan on booking this ticket with a 2026 Return to Europe as it usually doesn’t add cost to return and I can just move it if I need. ideally to CDG; (AMS or FRA are also possible but may raise prices unnecessarily and reduce flexibility unless something changes with creative MQD RUN ticket?)

[b]MQDs Needed
BASICALLY 8,200,000 MQDs remaining after applying the 1,000 Platinum and 2,000 Diamond MQD benefits. and awaiting reversal on 821 MQDs that were applied to KLM though Im not sure Id bank on that. I Can spend 10k on my delta reserve in next two weeks especially considering these tickets.

For Context Im sure many have opinions on this. My "WHY" for considering more spend just to reach diamond especially given lack of upgrades in the last couple of years. I reached Platinum Medallion for 2026 but struggling with the idea of losing Diamond, especially having never truly used Global Upgrade Certificates. Long-haul coach travel is becoming tiring, and I frequently book late and miss Comfort+ opportunities, including recent AF/KLM system glitches during my recent month long travel despite long failed customer service attempts to handle issues from India. At the same time I am not in a position to just carelessly toss away cash at year end but do like a challenge or to visually see why its not possible/unreasonable.

Required Spend / Budget
Not unlimited. Considering what any possibilities look like to optimize MQDs versus careless end-of-year spending spree. I would be buying tickets for me and daughter on this flight so that increases my spending for the “ticket” however I approach this. Right now the minimal in coach to get us to Detroit and LA appears to be around 2k p/pax. Wondering what it would take to add this many MQDs. (yes I have the buisines reserve and personal Platinum and those boosts)

Routing Type
Europe departure: December 19 (flexible to December 20). U.S. presence through approximately December 31, with 1–2 days flexibility.

Multi-city itineraries welcome. Creative routing strongly encouraged.

Metal or Codeshares
AF/KLM or other Codeshares are absolutely acceptable if they provide MQD advantages.

Routing parameters Outbound multi-city from CDG to DTW or FWA, continuing to LAX. U.S. stay through late December. (Return to Europe will be 2026 preferably to CDG, with openness to creative other airports if pricing and MQDs justify it. I’ve hit a mental Rubik’s cube and would welcome fresh perspectives.

Delta Vacations? I am open to considering Delta Vacations if MQDs make sense. I need to finalize a couple additional hotel nights in France or could add a DTW hotel night on arrival with a rental car, but I’m unsure whether the MQD return is meaningful enough to justify the added complexity as Ive not dealt with them. Wasn’t sure of return on investment


I get is a long shot given I reached Platinum late this year, but I would like to hear if anyone has any compelling options

Regardless of my outcome, my teen will earn Silver Medallion for the first time with approximately 1,552 MQDs remaining The idea of "status" brings genuine joy. I better be sure I can calculate the appropriate MQD from whatever flight I book.

I would greatly appreciate insights from the skilled calculators here regarding partner sweet spots, AF/KLM versus DL ticket stock considerations, multi-city strategies, or anything I may be overlooking with the Europe-originating itinerary this late in the year.

ANYBODY? Holding off on booking tonight unless someone has a whopper. Im too jet lagged to keep figuring this out.
but either way I look forwared to getting my flight booked with maximum MQDs and celebrating or crying over some mulled wine at the christmas markets all the festive people seem to be carrying around.

Feel free to Hit me up for xmas market questions