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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Jan 7, 2018, 10:46 am

#1111

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fahnstock

Departure Airport - JFK
NEED 10,500 miles needed on Delta to Gold status challenge
Budget cheap as possible
Dates to travel: Jan 21-23

Jan 22 - 23, 10,500 miles, JFK-ATL-HNL-ATL-JFK, $645(E), $719 (MC)

If you want to pad your mileage, flights to ICN, SIN, HKG on China Eastern (bookable on Expedia) will get you 15,000+ miles and are in the $750 range

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Jan 7, 2018 at 10:57 am Reason: added China Eastern option

Jan 7, 2018, 11:27 am

#1112

Fahnstock

Join Date: Jan 2018

Posts: 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuck_traveler

Thanks! You think I could get a better price if I wait till Tue to book? Tuesday's lately have been full of deals.

Jan 7, 2018, 11:48 am

#1113

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fahnstock

Thanks! You think I could get a better price if I wait till Tue to book? Tuesday's lately have been full of deals.

I really don't know.

Jan 8, 2018, 8:28 am

#1114

xliioper

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 23,021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fahnstock

Thanks! You think I could get a better price if I wait till Tue to book? Tuesday's lately have been full of deals.

Tuesday's are typically when WN loads their fare sales (which the legacies may or may not match). Given that WN doesn't even fly to Hawaii yet, I would not expect any new offers on Tuesday on DL. Also, they have an existing one that runs 1/2 - 1/25, so they probably won't launch a new on until this one is done.

You can do JFK-ATL-HNL-LIH-SEA-JFK on 1/22 for $595 BE and $645 main cabin by the way. 10,844 MQM's.

Last edited by xliioper; Jan 8, 2018 at 8:41 am

Jan 8, 2018, 9:46 am

#1115

Fahnstock

Join Date: Jan 2018

Posts: 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBJ

thank you! Ok stupid question now, how do I book this?

Jan 8, 2018, 10:02 am

#1116

xliioper

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 23,021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fahnstock

thank you! Ok stupid question now, how do I book this?

Do a roundtrip flight search for JFK-LIH with departure and return dates of 1/22. The routing option I listed above will show up. There's a few other return routing options that will generate more MQM's if you don't mind adding another hop (such as LIH-HNL-SEA-JFK).

Jan 10, 2018, 5:32 am

#1117

Flyer1981

Join Date: Jul 2007

Location: AMS

Programs: Flying Blue Platiunum, Ba Executive Silver, Hilton Gold, Hertz Gold Plus 5 Star

Posts: 53

One Way to ATL

Departure Airport: any LA airport or LAS
Arrival Airport: ATL region.
Segments Needed: as much as possible for qualifying FB Gold (no min or max)
Required Spend or Budget: $500
Available Travel Dates: Departure from 15 March 2018, latest arrival date 18 March or 19 March early in the morning. Have a flight to Europe at 1pm on the 19th from ATL.

Thanks!

Jan 10, 2018, 7:51 am

#1118

asian_crossfitter

Join Date: Oct 2017

Location: Amsterdam

Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, Oneworld pleb, Accors Hotel Gold

Posts: 163

Hi First time posting here. I've just switched from One World to Sky Team so looking into making two flights and get as many qualifying flights as possible...

Departure Airport: AMS (could also be BRU, OSL, CPH, or ARN)
Arrival Airport: Asia
Miles Needed: As many qualifying segments as possible
Required Spend or Budget: up to EUR 800
Available Travel Dates: July-August, and December 2018
Required Metal or Codeshares okay: Not sure what this is for...

any suggestions much appreciated!

Jan 14, 2018, 8:10 pm

#1119

asian_crossfitter

Join Date: Oct 2017

Location: Amsterdam

Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, Oneworld pleb, Accors Hotel Gold

Posts: 163

Jan 17, 2018, 9:34 am

#1120

token385

Join Date: Nov 2011

Location: The Frozen Tundra

Programs: Former AA EXP, DL PM, BAEC Bronze, SPG GOLD, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum

Posts: 159

Quote:

Originally Posted by asian_crossfitter

You could try this - ST - WAW-China $1080 RT biz

Jan 22, 2018, 12:36 am

#1121

choklit

Join Date: Sep 2011

Location: Los Angeles

Programs: AA Platinum, HH Diamond, Delta Platinum

Posts: 130

Greetings, all. Hope everyone is having a good new year. I just did the following run on China Eastern:

LAX-PVG, T
PVG-SIN, B
SIN-PVG, B
PVG-LAX, S

The flight came out to: 17,688 MQMs. I thought it would be 20k+ because of the fare classes... Anyhow, I might need to fly 1062 miles to complete my Platinum challenge, by 2 Feb.

Departure Airport: LAX and surrounding areas
Arrival Airport: Preferably a quick turn
Miles Needed: 1,062.
Required Spend or Budget: Cheap as possible
Available Travel Dates: 27, 28 Jan or 30 redeye 31 Jan, 1 Feb

As always, any assistance will be greatly appreciated!

Jan 22, 2018, 1:24 am

#1122

Cheynewalk

Join Date: May 2015

Programs: AA EXP, Bonvoy Gold

Posts: 111

Quote:

Originally Posted by choklit

Some $103 LAX-DFW same day turns on those dates such as Jan. 27 for 2460 miles:

https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...TEAM;so=p;eo=e

Jan 22, 2018, 1:38 am

#1123

choklit

Join Date: Sep 2011

Location: Los Angeles

Programs: AA Platinum, HH Diamond, Delta Platinum

Posts: 130

Cheynewalk, much appreciated! That's perfect!

Jan 22, 2018, 5:06 am

#1124

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by choklit

That's strange ... I flew that routing in October and received just over 20,000 miles

LAX - PVG: 6485 miles
PVG - SIN: 3549 miles

It almost seems as though they didn't credit you for the B fare extra 50%.

Jan 22, 2018, 5:07 am

#1125

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by choklit