I need 11000 Delta MQM run by end of year. Suggestions
Oct 29, 2018, 6:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 4
I need 11000 Delta MQM run by end of year. Suggestions
Need 11000 Delta MQMs by end of year, departing ATL. I have two trips scheduled. Best is weekends in December. Ideas/ Thoughts?
Oct 30, 2018, 2:54 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Christmas in Rome in Delta One? ATL-FCO should earn 10000x1.5 that way.
Oct 30, 2018, 3:02 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
Oct 30, 2018, 3:10 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Delta makes D1 dirt cheap around the holidays. While you could have gotten them cheaper earlier in the year, a round trip Y ticket from ATL to FCO costs $2400. If you're willing to connect in JFK (+2 hours), D1 costs only $2940 (+$540) round trip.
Delta will do anything to avoid giving a seat away as a GUC or as a SkyMile redemption. Delta will try to charge you 470K miles for the same trip, giving you a great value of around .6 cents per mile.
Delta will do anything to avoid giving a seat away as a GUC or as a SkyMile redemption. Delta will try to charge you 470K miles for the same trip, giving you a great value of around .6 cents per mile.
Oct 30, 2018, 7:32 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
Delta makes D1 dirt cheap around the holidays. While you could have gotten them cheaper earlier in the year, a round trip Y ticket from ATL to FCO costs $2400. If you're willing to connect in JFK (+2 hours), D1 costs only $2940 (+$540) round trip.
Delta will do anything to avoid giving a seat away as a GUC or as a SkyMile redemption. Delta will try to charge you 470K miles for the same trip, giving you a great value of around .6 cents per mile.
Delta will do anything to avoid giving a seat away as a GUC or as a SkyMile redemption. Delta will try to charge you 470K miles for the same trip, giving you a great value of around .6 cents per mile.
Oct 30, 2018, 8:08 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,181
Get a Delta Reserve Business card before 11/7 and spend $3,000 on it to get 10,000 MQMs plus 70,000 Skymiles. Then take any 1-2 DL flights for 1,000 MQMs.
Oct 30, 2018, 9:18 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
But a roundtrip ticket from a non-DL hub, that isn't ATL and also isn't a nonstop, to FCO, is likely to be much less than $2400. Europe in November and December is selling as low as $450+ in main cabin to/from some cities. Comparing that to your $2940 example, it is significantly less while being a fairer comparison (as it adds in a connection).
See below for the lowest Y fares on a traditional (i.e., not LCC) for a Dec 22 - Jan 2 flight (these aren't specially selected, they're all about the same regardless of whether you fly out the 21st, 23rd, or return the 31st or 1st).
All of the below are the cheapest connecting flights with reasonable (i.e. no 10 hour layovers) in cities known for hyper-competitive fares:
NYC: $1.6K (SAS - flying an American carrier is $1.9K+)
ORD: $1.4K (SAS - flying an American carrier is $2.1K+)
LAX: $1.9K (or if you want to save $100 you can fly Norwegian non-stop for $1.8K)
For airports more like ATL (single dominant carrier) with up to 1 connection:
IAH: $2.2K
DTW: $1.9K
DFW: $2.1K
PHX: $2.2K
PHL: $1.9K
When your base price is $2K, $2.9K for business is an absolute steal. No other airline discounts its J product like Delta does in order to fill the seats (while charging the most expensive rates for award redemption - as I said, anything to stop a GUC or a SkyMile redemption from going through).
Last edited by ethernal; Oct 30, 2018 at 9:25 pm
Oct 31, 2018, 12:00 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,610
China?
Delta to China — either PVG or PEK — is probably cheaper in coach than Europe — even factoring in the cost of a China visa with rush processing. The visa is good for ten years if you request it.
If flying coach thru Seattle, then the Delta 767’s are nice over the ocean because of the 2-xxxx-2 seating. Pick a side bench.
Been to PEK mid-winter. It’s cold, but I personally think the mid-summer heat is worse.
If flying coach thru Seattle, then the Delta 767’s are nice over the ocean because of the 2-xxxx-2 seating. Pick a side bench.
Been to PEK mid-winter. It’s cold, but I personally think the mid-summer heat is worse.
Oct 31, 2018, 12:07 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2018
Location: HPN, PVG, HLD
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 79
Yep I was also thinking about that. Round trip from ATL to PVG in coach is already 14k MQM. The cheapest ticket I ever got was around $700 round trip.
Oct 31, 2018, 4:36 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: CVG
Programs: DL DM, 2MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 94
Try Lima, Peru
You can do what I am going to do. Look for D1 to Lima. You will need to connect into ATL. Look at Chattanooga, Huntsville, Birmingham, etc. Fly out early afternoon on a Saturday, return around noon Sunday. Typically less than 24 hours. I have CVG-LIM in Nov. Ticket was $2200, and I used Pay with Miles to reduce out of pocket. Will load up on Netflix and Amazon shows. Yield 11067 MQMs.
Oct 31, 2018, 7:54 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Delta to China — either PVG or PEK — is probably cheaper in coach than Europe — even factoring in the cost of a China visa with rush processing. The visa is good for ten years if you request it.
If flying coach thru Seattle, then the Delta 767’s are nice over the ocean because of the 2-xxxx-2 seating. Pick a side bench.
Been to PEK mid-winter. It’s cold, but I personally think the mid-summer heat is worse.
If flying coach thru Seattle, then the Delta 767’s are nice over the ocean because of the 2-xxxx-2 seating. Pick a side bench.
Been to PEK mid-winter. It’s cold, but I personally think the mid-summer heat is worse.
PVG is worse in the heat, and WUH even more so.
However, part of the problem is that historically at least China drew a line across the country and declared that most buildings north of the line would have (only) heat and most buildings south of the line (only) AC, with major international hotels and some newer buildings for foreigner housing, government offices, etc. being exceptions.
However, part of the problem is that historically at least China drew a line across the country and declared that most buildings north of the line would have (only) heat and most buildings south of the line (only) AC, with major international hotels and some newer buildings for foreigner housing, government offices, etc. being exceptions.
Oct 31, 2018, 8:06 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2018
Location: HPN, PVG, HLD
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 79
PVG is worse in the heat, and WUH even more so.
However, part of the problem is that historically at least China drew a line across the country and declared that most buildings north of the line would have (only) heat and most buildings south of the line (only) AC, with major international hotels and some newer buildings for foreigner housing, government offices, etc. being exceptions.
However, part of the problem is that historically at least China drew a line across the country and declared that most buildings north of the line would have (only) heat and most buildings south of the line (only) AC, with major international hotels and some newer buildings for foreigner housing, government offices, etc. being exceptions.
Oct 31, 2018, 8:49 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: Delta
Posts: 8
You might also be able to use Shanghai's visa-free policy for up to 144 hours -- just need to be able to show an onward ticket to a third country, so change through, say, Incheon on your way back.
Nov 1, 2018, 2:40 am
#14
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Posts: 100,399
This is the rule, but DL agents tend to have their own "beliefs" that everyone traveling to/through mainland China needs a visa, regardless of the TWOV rules and having a TWOV compliant itinerary. It's frustrating, but DL refuses to recognize when they're wrong on something like this, which is major. They claim to have "their own version of TIMATIC."
Nov 1, 2018, 11:23 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
I only need 23,245 more MQMs and $2,862 MQDs to make Silver Medallion so I can become Elite.
Any recommendations?
I’m thinking a few HSV>BHM mileage runs.
Any recommendations?
I’m thinking a few HSV>BHM mileage runs.