Need to earn 3300 MQMs before the end of the year
Oct 31, 2018, 1:31 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Delta Tupperware Medallion, National EE
Posts: 158
Need to earn 3300 MQMs before the end of the year
Is there any way to do this besides buying a ticket? Can I earn MQMs for paying to upgrade to First, etc.? If I end up buying a ticket, do I actually have to fly?
Oct 31, 2018, 2:08 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,884
Delta usually sells MQMs at the end of the year. That is not a good deal. Yes, you can earn MQM bonus miles by upgrading to F. You would get 50% of distance flown. So you would need to upgrade 6,600 miles worth of flights. Your cheapest option, and what many of us do, is a mileage run. Look at google flights and find the cheapest spot to fly to and back. Yes you have to fly it. Basically, you need to fly halfway across the country and back which you can do in a day. Should be able to accomplish that for $200 or less.
Oct 31, 2018, 2:21 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
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Posts: 1,728
The best way (imo) right now is to signup for the Reserve Card. You'll get 70k miles and 10k MQMs after spending $5k in the first 3 months. Just make sure you hit the minimum spend before 12/31 or else they won't count for this year.
Oct 31, 2018, 2:21 pm
#4
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Delta usually sells MQMs at the end of the year. That is not a good deal. Yes, you can earn MQM bonus miles by upgrading to F. You would get 50% of distance flown. So you would need to upgrade 6,600 miles worth of flights. Your cheapest option, and what many of us do, is a mileage run. Look at google flights and find the cheapest spot to fly to and back. Yes you have to fly it. Basically, you need to fly halfway across the country and back which you can do in a day. Should be able to accomplish that for $200 or less.
Oct 31, 2018, 3:10 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: PIT/WAS
Programs: Delta GM
Posts: 256
You got the math backwards here I think. If OP needs 3300 MQMs, one could fly in FC on a route that is 2200 MQMs base, round trip (2200 MQMs base + 1100 MQMs as the 50% Class of Service bonus). Otherwise spot on. OP should easily be able to get 3300 MQMs in one day and quite possibly being able to do it for $200 (well in economy - I doubt OP would find a FC ticket for $200 that gets 3300 MQMs).
But OP could also purchase a new ticket covering 2200 miles in first class and get the 3300 MQMs required.
Oct 31, 2018, 3:16 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
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My understanding was that The Situation was correct in that OP needs to upgrade 6600 miles worth of flights. Although that's based on the assumption that OP needs 3300 MQMs after all their scheduled flights for the remainder of the year. Then would need to upgrade 6600 miles worth of existing booked/planned reservations.
But OP could also purchase a new ticket covering 2200 miles in first class and get the 3300 MQMs required.
But OP could also purchase a new ticket covering 2200 miles in first class and get the 3300 MQMs required.
Oct 31, 2018, 4:45 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,884
Yes, you would hit the mark with those assumptions.
Oct 31, 2018, 4:48 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
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Posts: 1,509
You didn't mention whether or not you have a DLAX Reserve card. That's the quickest / easiest / cheapest way to get MQMs without actually flying.
Oct 31, 2018, 5:53 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2013
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Posts: 4,422
Yes. You can also fly to Phoenix in economy for a squeaker of 3342 miles r/t in economy (I earned 1671 to DTW recently) and that might be cheaper than two upgrades -- except obviously the upgrades are more comfortable and less of a time waster. Las Vegas is also possibly a cheap route at 1749 each way if there's a nonstop flight.
Oct 31, 2018, 5:56 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 3
My understanding was that The Situation was correct in that OP needs to upgrade 6600 miles worth of flights. Although that's based on the assumption that OP needs 3300 MQMs after all their scheduled flights for the remainder of the year. Then would need to upgrade 6600 miles worth of existing booked/planned reservations.
But OP could also purchase a new ticket covering 2200 miles in first class and get the 3300 MQMs required.
But OP could also purchase a new ticket covering 2200 miles in first class and get the 3300 MQMs required.
Oct 31, 2018, 6:21 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, AA, WP
Posts: 840
Hey fellow FTers, if I buy the upgrade online before OLCI using cash on an award ticket, does it become an "A" ticket giving me 50% of the miles flown, or is it 50% more MQMs of zero, equaling zero? Thanks!
EDIT: I think the answer is yes to MQDs and no to MQMs, ya? I got this from the consolidated thread for cash upgrades on award tickets.
EDIT: I think the answer is yes to MQDs and no to MQMs, ya? I got this from the consolidated thread for cash upgrades on award tickets.
Last edited by daloosh; Oct 31, 2018 at 6:34 pm
Oct 31, 2018, 6:41 pm
#13
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Do a weekend trip to someplace fun, either in coach or in discounted FC to get the MQMs. OP didn't say where he/she is based, but from just about anyplace there are attractive long weekend trips that will yield the required 3300 MQMs.
BTW, we seem to be assuming that OP has satisfied the MQD requirement and isn't close on MQSs.
BTW, we seem to be assuming that OP has satisfied the MQD requirement and isn't close on MQSs.
Oct 31, 2018, 7:38 pm
#14
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Join Date: Jul 2018
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Posts: 158
I am good with the MQDs and nowhere near MQS, and my home airport is DTW.
After doing a little research, it looks like the DL Amex Reserve would probably be the most cost effective option, but if I can find a cheap flight to PHX or LAS, that would probably be more fun ;-)
Thanks for all the ideas everyone!
After doing a little research, it looks like the DL Amex Reserve would probably be the most cost effective option, but if I can find a cheap flight to PHX or LAS, that would probably be more fun ;-)
Thanks for all the ideas everyone!
Oct 31, 2018, 8:03 pm
#15
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,051
Hey fellow FTers, if I buy the upgrade online before OLCI using cash on an award ticket, does it become an "A" ticket giving me 50% of the miles flown, or is it 50% more MQMs of zero, equaling zero? Thanks!
EDIT: I think the answer is yes to MQDs and no to MQMs, ya? I got this from the consolidated thread for cash upgrades on award tickets.
EDIT: I think the answer is yes to MQDs and no to MQMs, ya? I got this from the consolidated thread for cash upgrades on award tickets.