Dec 31, 2018, 10:40 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: 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: 2019 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed

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Oct 4, 2019, 4:54 pm

#406

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by brunkconley

Need 1500 MQD's to maintain Diamond by the end of the year

Airport: In Order, PDX, SEA, SFO, YVR
Miles Needed: no miles, 1500 MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: 1500, but would prefer business class if possible, I know it's a stretch
Available Travel Dates: 17-23NOV, or 15-20DEC
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:

PDX-LIH, several dates available week of Nov 18th, immediate turn, just over $1500, First Class, Delta flexible date search - trip duration 1 day

Oct 5, 2019, 4:39 pm

#407

tymiler

Join Date: Nov 2015

Posts: 5

Departure Airport: NYC
Miles Needed: 11,333 MQM
Required Spend or Budget: Need $2700 MQD
Available Travel Dates: Any weekends
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Codeshares okay

Oct 5, 2019, 4:52 pm

#408

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by tymiler

Departure Airport: NYC
Miles Needed: 11,333 MQM
Required Spend or Budget: Need $2700 MQD
Available Travel Dates: Any weekends
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Codeshares okay

Nov 9-10, JFK-SCL, Aeromexico, $1052 (T booking class), 12,200 MQMs, $2400 MQDs, immediate turn in SCL (depart Saturday, return to JFK mid afternoon Sunday

pick up remaining MQDs with a short flight to Boston, Washington, etc.

Oct 5, 2019, 5:52 pm

#409

eneq

Join Date: Apr 2019

Location: DEN

Programs: DL DM

Posts: 583

For anyone looking for a potential mileage run from the NE or eastern Canada, I just booked a Fri-Sun trip YUL-JNB in Premium Select for only $1345 through Amex IAP. Roughly $1500 through Delta. 27k MQMs.
Fare is available intermittently now through the second week of December.

bonoman likes this.

Oct 5, 2019, 7:36 pm

#410

Diztravel

Join Date: Dec 2018

Posts: 23

Thanks! Decided to do the longer SIN trip for rollover miles. New at the game and made some mistakes earlier this year like booking KLM flight only to realize too late that it was DL flight number so minimal MQD but excited to have silver within reach. You all are the best!

Oct 5, 2019, 7:41 pm

#411

Diztravel

Join Date: Dec 2018

Posts: 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuck_traveler

Why not a quick trip to Boston or Washington to get the required MQDs?

Thanks for taking the time to respond to so many of us looking for help. I decided to do a longer trip to SIN to get rollover miles. I have learned so much from you all..thanks!!

Oct 6, 2019, 11:55 am

#412

MissEBK

Join Date: Oct 2019

Posts: 6

Helping Keeping Platinum Status

Good Afternoon Everyone! This is my first time posting so please forgive if this may have already been answered. Here’s what I’m looking for:

Departure Airport: WAS
Miles Needed: 20,000 MQMs
Required Spend or Budget: up to $1500
Available Travel Dates: Long weekends preferably but as long as I have WiFi and can work on the plane
Required Metal or Codeshares okay 👌🏾

I’ve hit the dollars via my credit card spend but I had to. Take a few trips on American that messed me up! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!
MissEBK

Oct 6, 2019, 12:56 pm

#413

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissEBK

An option would be Virgin Atlantic, IAD-JNB, $906 for Economic Delight on November weekends (various Friday and Saturday departures) with immediate turn in JNB, about 23,000 MQMs,

Oct 6, 2019, 3:50 pm

#414

JCM 1420

Join Date: Oct 2019

Programs: Delta Diamond

Posts: 2

Departure Airport: ATL - but could shuttle to pretty much anywhere
Miles Needed: ~ 20,000
Required Spend or Budget: Cheap as possible, already hit MQD
Available Travel Dates: Weekends between now and Christmas
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: codeshares okay

Oct 6, 2019, 4:09 pm

#415

highroller4321

Join Date: Nov 2017

Location: PDX

Programs: Delta

Posts: 26

Departure Airport: PDX but could shuttle to SEA or LAX
Miles Needed: NA
Required Spend or Budget: Need 4K+ MQD
Available Travel Dates: November. I’m open to a 3 day or so trip over Thanksgiving as well.
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: codeshares okay

Oct 6, 2019, 5:45 pm

#416

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by highroller4321

Reposition to LAX then Virgin Atlantic, LAX-JNB, (e.g. Nov 8 - 10, $1064 Economy Delight) 27,000 MQMs, $5500 MQDs (similar prices from SFO)

MSPeconomist likes this.

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Oct 6, 2019 at 6:10 pm Reason: add SFO option

Oct 6, 2019, 5:49 pm

#417

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCM 1420

When you say weekends - does that mean only Saturday and Sunday?

Oct 6, 2019, 6:22 pm

#418

JCM 1420

Join Date: Oct 2019

Programs: Delta Diamond

Posts: 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuck_traveler

When you say weekends - does that mean only Saturday and Sunday?

Friday departure is fine. Trying to find a reasonable business class Asia option, or a super cheap Europe economy for the week of Thanksgiving and take the wife.

Mid year job change really messed me up this year.

Oct 6, 2019, 7:16 pm

#419

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCM 1420

Europe will only get you about 9,000 miles (economy)

You could do IAD-JNB for a little over 23,000 MQMs but that requires four days due to the long layovers in London and Johannesburg (e.g. Nov 8 - 11, $906, Economy Delight)

Repositioning to JFK, you could do JFK-SIN on China Eastern, (e.g. Nov 8 - 10), $507 (economy), earning just under 22,000 MQMs - other dates available

Thanksgiving week you could do either Auckland (AKL), Virgin Australia or DPS (Denpasar Bali) for about $1400 (economy), Delta

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Oct 6, 2019 at 7:29 pm Reason: add Thanksgiving week options

Oct 6, 2019, 8:44 pm

#420

breyerpatch

Join Date: Jan 2014

Posts: 18

Departure: DFW
Miles needed: 14k
Budget: Cheapest but prefer premium economy... need MQM to keep plat
Availability: Short weekend flight preferable, pretty flexible through end of year