Dec 31, 2018, 10:40 pm
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:
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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
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.
----
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
----
*"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
Nov 13, 2019, 4:03 pm
#781
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Just got back from the JFK > JNB run via VS this past weekend that canuck_traveler suggested. Itching for another run to give me a fair amount of padding for next year (or get Platinum), though preferably somewhere in Asia or South America this time. Theoretically could just do another JNB run but I'm not too keen on repeating the same route.
Did a bit of light research and found one from my home (ORF) to BKK for $1330 in PE, but that's contingent on me taking the 24th of November through the 28th off. I'd much rather burn vacation time for a Friday or Monday and do a long weekend run instead of a weekday run.
Departure Airport: ORF, can reposition to JFK, IAD, or ATL
Miles Needed: 24,000 MQM to Platinum
Required Spend or Budget: up to $2000
Available Travel Dates: Any weekend plus Friday or Monday
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Yes
Did a bit of light research and found one from my home (ORF) to BKK for $1330 in PE, but that's contingent on me taking the 24th of November through the 28th off. I'd much rather burn vacation time for a Friday or Monday and do a long weekend run instead of a weekday run.
Departure Airport: ORF, can reposition to JFK, IAD, or ATL
Miles Needed: 24,000 MQM to Platinum
Required Spend or Budget: up to $2000
Available Travel Dates: Any weekend plus Friday or Monday
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Yes
Virgin Atlantic, IAD-JNB, Dec 6 -8, $1743 (Premium), 27,000 MQMs, 12 hours in LHR on outbound, 12 hours in JNB, flight gets back to IAD Dec. 9
China Eastern, JFK-AKL, Dec 6 - Dec 8, $1587, about 26,000 MQMs, 5.5 hours in AKL, flight gets back to JFK the afternoon of Dec. 9
China Eastern, JFK-MLE, Dec 7 - Dec 9, $1297, about 25,000 MQMs, 25 hours in MLE, flights arrives back on Dec. 10
Nov 13, 2019, 4:13 pm
#782
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Flying from the West Coast to TLV on Virgin Atlantic in Economy Delight class will also get you the required MQMs and MQDs for a slightly lower price (around $1817)
Last edited by canuck_traveler; Nov 13, 2019 at 4:25 pm Reason: add TLV option
Nov 13, 2019, 4:44 pm
#783
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 5
Nov 13, 2019, 4:52 pm
#784
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 5
With the MQD need of $3500, you are probably looking at a partner airline (assuming that you don't really want to spend $3500.) The really good Virgin Atlantic fares end before your travel availability but there are flights to JNB from LAX, IAD, JFK, SFO, BOS on the Dec 13th weekend for about $2000 (Economy Delight) that will earn you the required mileage and mqd
Flying from the West Coast to TLV on Virgin Atlantic in Economy Delight class will also get you the required MQMs and MQDs for a slightly lower price (around $1817)
Flying from the West Coast to TLV on Virgin Atlantic in Economy Delight class will also get you the required MQMs and MQDs for a slightly lower price (around $1817)
Nov 13, 2019, 5:06 pm
#785
Join Date: Nov 2019
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 1
End of year run
Looking for a run around Christmas. Don't mind flying on Christmas for a better fare.
Departure airport: LGA, JFK, EWR
Miles Needed: 7300
Thanks!
Departure airport: LGA, JFK, EWR
Miles Needed: 7300
Thanks!
Nov 13, 2019, 5:14 pm
#786
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 5
With the MQD need of $3500, you are probably looking at a partner airline (assuming that you don't really want to spend $3500.) The really good Virgin Atlantic fares end before your travel availability but there are flights to JNB from LAX, IAD, JFK, SFO, BOS on the Dec 13th weekend for about $2000 (Economy Delight) that will earn you the required mileage and mqd
Flying from the West Coast to TLV on Virgin Atlantic in Economy Delight class will also get you the required MQMs and MQDs for a slightly lower price (around $1817)
Flying from the West Coast to TLV on Virgin Atlantic in Economy Delight class will also get you the required MQMs and MQDs for a slightly lower price (around $1817)
Nov 13, 2019, 5:25 pm
#787
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
A trip to Anchorage or the Hawaiian islands will get you the needed mileage. Prices around Christmas are in the $1000+ range though may be a bit cheaper after Christmas.
e.g. Dec. 29, JFK-HNL, $714 (BE) / $804 (MC), 9900 MQMs, immediate turn in HNL arriving back in JFK on Dec. 30, similar prices from all New York area airports
Nov 13, 2019, 5:35 pm
#788
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
The China Eastern flights, while less expensive, also don't earn as much MQD as the cheaper fares usually earn only 5% or 10% of distance flown.
Singapore and Johannesburg are the standard places to look for good fare prices / mileage earned and MQDs (at the present time.) If one doesn't care about MQDs then I would usually say that the best deals would be those cheap China Eastern flights to Asia.
Similarly, the longest domestic US flights are to the Hawaiian islands (roughly 10,000 MQMs) from the East Coast followed by a trip to Alaska (roughly 7500 MQMs). Once you know the basic distances between places, you can figure out the options pretty quickly. Flexible date search is your friend.
I should add that this is for Economy class fares. I don't have a clue about business/first class deals.
Last edited by canuck_traveler; Nov 13, 2019 at 5:45 pm
Nov 13, 2019, 8:25 pm
#789
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 5
If I book a flight on KLM, but it is on DL metal, do I earn MQDs as a percentage of miles flown, or $ spent on DL?
Nov 13, 2019, 9:29 pm
#790
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Take a look at this recent discussion: KLM or Delta reservation for KLM flights?
Nov 15, 2019, 4:35 pm
#791
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 6
Need 15K MQMS on DELTA to keep Diamond Status for next year
Good Afternoon!
Anyone know of any good Mileage Run Deals out of MSP over the Thanksgiving Holiday. I only need 5500 MQMS, but want to carry over some as well so that next year is a tad easier. Thanks for your help!
Anyone know of any good Mileage Run Deals out of MSP over the Thanksgiving Holiday. I only need 5500 MQMS, but want to carry over some as well so that next year is a tad easier. Thanks for your help!
Nov 15, 2019, 4:40 pm
#792
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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: 100,417
How much money are you willing to spend? Do you want coach, PS, or business class?
Nov 15, 2019, 4:44 pm
#793
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 6
Hi! I do not need MQDs as I believe that I will make the 15K needed for that. I am willing to fly whatever is most economical, gets me the MQMS and fits the dates of November 27th to December 2nd.
Nov 15, 2019, 4:46 pm
#794
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 6
Probably no more than 2K, but hoping to spend less.