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 15, 2019, 5:24 pm
#798
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 6
I wo would be flying from MSP, but willing to do ORD as well. Thanks! I am available the Tuesday, November 26th to Monday, December 2nd. I could also do most Wednesday to Thursday as well for a quick turnaround. THANKS!
Nov 15, 2019, 5:35 pm
#800
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Ok. Some considerations:
Delta, MSP - JNB, Nov 27 - Dec 1, $1701, 18,500 MQMs
Delta/Korean, MSP-BKK, Nov 29 - Dec 2, $1015, about 16,900 MQMs
Delta, MSP-KOA, Nov. 28, $889 (BE), about 8000 MQMs (Hawaiian Islands are all the $1000 price range over these dates), immediate turn
Delta/Korean, Nov 26 - 29, MSP-HKG, $881, about 16,000 MQMs (Manila, Taipei also available at slightly higher prices)
Use Delta flexible date search.
Delta, MSP - JNB, Nov 27 - Dec 1, $1701, 18,500 MQMs
Delta/Korean, MSP-BKK, Nov 29 - Dec 2, $1015, about 16,900 MQMs
Delta, MSP-KOA, Nov. 28, $889 (BE), about 8000 MQMs (Hawaiian Islands are all the $1000 price range over these dates), immediate turn
Delta/Korean, Nov 26 - 29, MSP-HKG, $881, about 16,000 MQMs (Manila, Taipei also available at slightly higher prices)
Use Delta flexible date search.
Last edited by canuck_traveler; Nov 15, 2019 at 5:44 pm
Nov 15, 2019, 11:27 pm
#801
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 2
2K MQMs to Silver
Hi. This is the first time I'm close to reaching status with Delta. Only need 1851 MQMs to reach Silver. Any suggestions on how to best achieve this? Appreciate the help!
Departure Airport: JFK/LGA
Miles Needed: 1851 MQMs
Available Travel Dates: 12/6-12/8, 12/21-12/23
Departure Airport: JFK/LGA
Miles Needed: 1851 MQMs
Available Travel Dates: 12/6-12/8, 12/21-12/23
Nov 16, 2019, 12:17 am
#802
Join Date: May 2002
Location: DTW
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 1,934
I am pretty rusty looking for MRs as I have been out of the flying game for several years. But I am back in it a little bit and would like to make it to Silver.
Departure Airport: DTW (or FNT/LAN/TOL)
Miles Needed: 6,172 MQMs
Required Spend or Budget: MQDs: $1,304 (Budget: as cheaply as possible)
Available Travel Dates: Nov 21 after 6pm - Nov 24 need to be back by 6pm, Dec 2-7, Dec 16-21, Dec 29-31.
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: prefer DL but codeshares ok, just as long as I can be sure to not miss a requirement by a few hundred MQM or MQDs.
I would prefer to do a quick turnaround but can stay 1-2 days if that helps. Thank you for any help.
Departure Airport: DTW (or FNT/LAN/TOL)
Miles Needed: 6,172 MQMs
Required Spend or Budget: MQDs: $1,304 (Budget: as cheaply as possible)
Available Travel Dates: Nov 21 after 6pm - Nov 24 need to be back by 6pm, Dec 2-7, Dec 16-21, Dec 29-31.
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: prefer DL but codeshares ok, just as long as I can be sure to not miss a requirement by a few hundred MQM or MQDs.
I would prefer to do a quick turnaround but can stay 1-2 days if that helps. Thank you for any help.
Nov 16, 2019, 1:09 am
#803
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 8
Departure Airport: SFO/SMF
Miles Needed: 0 MQM / $4.5K MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: Lowest you can find, not sure how much money I need to spend to get 4.5 MQDs (Trying to get Diamond!)
Available Travel Dates: Now until December 31st (Avoiding Thanksgiving/Christmas)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Any SkyTeam
Thanks!
Miles Needed: 0 MQM / $4.5K MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: Lowest you can find, not sure how much money I need to spend to get 4.5 MQDs (Trying to get Diamond!)
Available Travel Dates: Now until December 31st (Avoiding Thanksgiving/Christmas)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Any SkyTeam
Thanks!
Nov 16, 2019, 1:29 am
#804
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 60
So, the problem with the linked deal is that no one can get it price out correctly. I looked into it, and I can't find anything under $2k. Also, the reason the earnings are so high is because China Eastern changed their fare classes around. P used to be first class, but now its premium economy. Delta just hasn't updated their earning charts yet. Its up to you if you want to risk it.
Now, back to the MR request. Those MQD and MQM numbers are going to be really hard to hit in just one trip without spending over $5k. You can do two IAD-LHR-JNB roundtrips on Virgin in Premium (11/29-12/2, 12/5-12/8) for roughly $3.5k, and it will net you roughly $11,100 MQDs and a whopping 55k MQMs.
Are you familiar with Google Flights "Explore Destinations" tool?
Now, back to the MR request. Those MQD and MQM numbers are going to be really hard to hit in just one trip without spending over $5k. You can do two IAD-LHR-JNB roundtrips on Virgin in Premium (11/29-12/2, 12/5-12/8) for roughly $3.5k, and it will net you roughly $11,100 MQDs and a whopping 55k MQMs.
Are you familiar with Google Flights "Explore Destinations" tool?
sorry for late reply...didn’t get notification. Is it possible to contact anyone for the earning chart update...like you mentioned it’s a risk. And not a good time to gamble with it, since time of the essence.
But since I’ve seen that, I’ve been even trying to do the Rom-SYD....only problem I’m was/am having is finding a cheap ticket to there. Now that you mentioned no updates, it makes me even more nervous.
I’m not too familiar with google explore destinations unfortunately. I’m with basics as far as google flights....
In reference to that...is that something specific I should do? Thank you so much!!!
Nov 16, 2019, 6:42 am
#805
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 4
Departure Airport: DTW
Miles Needed: ~9000
Required Spend or Budget: $1200 (13cpm?) -- I guess I can just buy the 10K MQM package for $3300 (barf)
Available Travel Dates: Best is Dec 27-31, but will happily look at any
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: If it earns MQM
Miles Needed: ~9000
Required Spend or Budget: $1200 (13cpm?) -- I guess I can just buy the 10K MQM package for $3300 (barf)
Available Travel Dates: Best is Dec 27-31, but will happily look at any
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: If it earns MQM
Nov 16, 2019, 6:45 am
#806
Join Date: Nov 2019
Programs: Skyteam
Posts: 6
Ok. Some considerations:
Delta, MSP - JNB, Nov 27 - Dec 1, $1701, 18,500 MQMs
Delta/Korean, MSP-BKK, Nov 29 - Dec 2, $1015, about 16,900 MQMs
Delta, MSP-KOA, Nov. 28, $889 (BE), about 8000 MQMs (Hawaiian Islands are all the $1000 price range over these dates), immediate turn
Delta/Korean, Nov 26 - 29, MSP-HKG, $881, about 16,000 MQMs (Manila, Taipei also available at slightly higher prices)
Use Delta flexible date search.
Delta, MSP - JNB, Nov 27 - Dec 1, $1701, 18,500 MQMs
Delta/Korean, MSP-BKK, Nov 29 - Dec 2, $1015, about 16,900 MQMs
Delta, MSP-KOA, Nov. 28, $889 (BE), about 8000 MQMs (Hawaiian Islands are all the $1000 price range over these dates), immediate turn
Delta/Korean, Nov 26 - 29, MSP-HKG, $881, about 16,000 MQMs (Manila, Taipei also available at slightly higher prices)
Use Delta flexible date search.
Nov 16, 2019, 6:48 am
#807
Join Date: Nov 2019
Programs: Skyteam
Posts: 6
MQDs on partner airlines are calculated based on distance flown. JNB from the East coast is about 18,000 miles and 22,000 from the West Coast on Virgin Atlantic routings (they go through LHR). Economy Delight fares earn 25% of distance flown for the MQD calculation ( Delta partner earning chart.) If you want to earn a few more MQMs then you would probably fly from the West Coast.
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.
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.
Crazy enough I am now in Singapore and need about 4k in MQDs. How do I check/look for options... looking to fly anywhere lowest cost possible. Thanks
Nov 16, 2019, 9:37 am
#808
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
e.g. LGA-BNA, Dec 7, $188 (BE) / $258 (MC), about 2400 MQMs
Nov 16, 2019, 9:44 am
#809
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Departure Airport: SFO/SMF
Miles Needed: 0 MQM / $4.5K MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: Lowest you can find, not sure how much money I need to spend to get 4.5 MQDs (Trying to get Diamond!)
Available Travel Dates: Now until December 31st (Avoiding Thanksgiving/Christmas)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Any SkyTeam
Thanks!
Miles Needed: 0 MQM / $4.5K MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: Lowest you can find, not sure how much money I need to spend to get 4.5 MQDs (Trying to get Diamond!)
Available Travel Dates: Now until December 31st (Avoiding Thanksgiving/Christmas)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Any SkyTeam
Thanks!
Nov 16, 2019, 9:49 am
#810
Join Date: Nov 2019
Programs: Skyteam
Posts: 6
Departure Airport: ORF/RIC/IAD/JFK
Miles Needed: 0 MQM / $4.5K MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: Lowest you can find (Trying to get Diamond!)
Available Travel Dates: Now until December 31st . prefer flying to Europe
Required Metal or Codeshares okay* Any SkyTeam
Thank you so much!
Miles Needed: 0 MQM / $4.5K MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: Lowest you can find (Trying to get Diamond!)
Available Travel Dates: Now until December 31st . prefer flying to Europe
Required Metal or Codeshares okay* Any SkyTeam
Thank you so much!