How worthy is chasing status?
May 24, 2019, 5:40 am
#18
Join Date: May 2004
Location: formerly Gold now Diamond, formerly MSY, now LAX, formerly NW, now DL
Programs: Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Delta Diamond/1MM
Posts: 4,635
PM is my minimum since you get free redeposot awards and a chance at upgrades. For transcontinental flights, you’re not likely to get it much less a travel passenger. Best bet is apply your RUC at the time of booking (need to call). Good luck getting the spend!
May 24, 2019, 6:18 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,021
AF and KL don't share all fare classes. P/F are first class fares on AF, for example. A discount Premium Economy fare on AF will probably be the most reasonable option and will often be cheaper than the higher fare class coach fares. All AF Premium Economy (W/S/A) fares earn at the same rate (30% MQD's), so you don't have have to worry about the booking class. KL does not have Premium Economy. Canadian airports will generally be cheaper than US (YVR/YYZ to JNB/CPT, for example).
Last edited by xliioper; May 24, 2019 at 6:37 am
May 24, 2019, 6:42 am
#20
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
AF and KL don't share all fare classes. P/F are first class fares on AF, for example. A discount Premium Economy fare on AF will probably be the most reasonable option and will often be cheaper than the higher fare class coach fares. All AF Premium Economy (W/S/A) fares earn at the same rate (30% MQD's), so you don't have have to worry about the booking class. KL does not have Premium Economy. Canadian airports will generally be cheaper than US (YVR/YYZ to JNB/CPT, for example).
We don't know where the OP is located, but if we estimate that a TATL AF flight is about 4,000 miles (good estimate for MSP and ORD, for instance), 30% MQD earnings would be 2400 MQDs for the RT (0.30 X 8000 miles RT), which is a pretty reasonable PE fare. It doesn't look like a good way to get MQDs for little money in this example.
May 24, 2019, 10:38 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC, MSY
Programs: DL DM, 1.5MM, NEXUS, Sky Club Lifetime, Admirals Club Lifetime, LowValueCustomer everywhere
Posts: 6,447
MQMs, MQSs and MQDs earned on Delta- and Delta Connection-operated flights will count towards this challenge. MQMs, MQSs and MQDs may also be earned on partner airline flights that are eligible to earn MQMs, MQSs and MQDs. Visit Airline Partners to learn more about what flights qualify.
May 24, 2019, 11:12 am
#24
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Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 159
May 24, 2019, 11:16 am
#25
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
But PM status requires $9000 spend and you only get four RUCs, which are still based on availability of upgrade inventory.
May 24, 2019, 11:18 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 159
We don't know where the OP is located, but if we estimate that a TATL AF flight is about 4,000 miles (good estimate for MSP and ORD, for instance), 30% MQD earnings would be 2400 MQDs for the RT (0.30 X 8000 miles RT), which is a pretty reasonable PE fare. It doesn't look like a good way to get MQDs for little money in this example.
I am planning to travel to Italy during those dates. I searched around in expertflyer and nothing looks promising yet.
May 24, 2019, 11:56 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,021
Im in SFO. But I would like to find a cheap fare from east coast (say BOS or JFK) to anywhere in Europe that can earn me 1800 MQDs so that just a single RT (Aug 22-Sept 3) can get me PM status.
I am planning to travel to Italy during those dates. I searched around in expertflyer and nothing looks promising yet.
I am planning to travel to Italy during those dates. I searched around in expertflyer and nothing looks promising yet.
May 24, 2019, 12:02 pm
#28
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Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 159
May 24, 2019, 12:03 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
If you barely fly (more for leisure) and can barely get to the thresholds, it would seem more worthwhile to pay as needed, then to go out of your way to pay more for additional mileage runs just to potentially get the benefits of status. Flying upfront on paid fares will net you roughly the same benefits as status, with less time and money spent.
May 24, 2019, 12:07 pm
#30
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Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 159