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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Nov 25, 2019, 11:02 pm

#991

nirave

Join Date: Jun 2016

Programs: BAEC

Posts: 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuck_traveler

Dec 6 - 7, Delta, OGG-JFK (routing: OGG-LAX-JFK-SFO-SEA-OGG), $1053, 10,600 MQMs, $956 MQD

Dec 11 - 13, China Eastern, LAX-KUL, $1292 (booking classes: N-B-B-S), about 19,900 MQMs, $2200 MQDs, 12 hours in KUL, bookable on Expedia

Thanks so much for this, travel plans changed slightly so now looking at December 20 onwards when I have more time.

Out of interest, I found the following itinerary for ~$1800 and was wondering what MQM/MQDs it would offer me?

Dec 23 - 27, Singapore airlines, JFK-FRA-SIN-BKK-SIN-FRA-JFK. Booking is through flyfar or travel2be so don't know exact classes but economy all the way.
My calculations suggest it'll earn me ~22k MQMs and ~6k MQDs?

Alternatively, what would an upper class RT from JFK to LHR on VS get me? Flights are about $2800 through delta direct.

Thanks!

Nov 25, 2019, 11:24 pm

#992

c5ruzr

Join Date: Feb 2016

Location: Boston MA

Posts: 127

Quote:

Originally Posted by nirave

As far as I know, Singapore Airlines is Star Alliance and won't credit anything to DL. For other *A carriers, you would really need to know the fare basis.

MSPeconomist likes this.

Nov 26, 2019, 7:33 am

#993

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by nirave

Alternatively, what would an upper class RT from JFK to LHR on VS get me? Flights are about $2800 through delta direct.

Thanks!

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class maps to Delta Fare Class D which earns 1.5x MQMs and 40% MQD. JFK-LHR return would earn about 10,400 MQMs and $2700 MQDs

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Nov 26, 2019 at 8:17 am

Nov 26, 2019, 8:03 am

#994

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by nirave

Thanks so much for this, travel plans changed slightly so now looking at December 20 onwards when I have more time.

Thanks!

Ok. similar to the previous suggestion but now all from JFK and at the end of the year:

Delta, Dec 26, JFK-HNL-JFK, $896, about 9900 MQMs, $821 MQDs, flight gets back to JFK morning of Dec 27, just over 1 hour in HNL

China Eastern, Dec 28 - 30, JFK-SIN, $1743 (booking classes: H-B-B-L), about 21,500 MQMs, about $3100 MQDs, 5 hours in SIN, Bookable on Expedia

Nov 26, 2019, 8:16 am

#995

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by c5ruzr

Hello, I'm looking for more of a vacation/destination to enjoy some time away while still meeting my status needs moreso than a pure MR so maximizing time away is best.

Departure Airport: BOS - I could also depart from WAS (I finish a business trip on 12/13 in DC); Would prefer to end up in Boston, but not opposed to repositioning especially if it's nearby (NYC/PHL/WAS)
Miles Needed: 9477 - I will also do a BOS-IAH/AUS trip from Christmas-NY. It hasn't been booked yet and right now DL fares are high. But conceivably I could get 1600-1800 each way on those legs, which would bring the MQM down to around 7800 or 6200.
Required Spend or Budget: $305 but okay with a $500-1000 budget for Y or $1000-1800 in long haul J; if I do the AUS trip on DL that will cover the required spend anyway
Available Travel Dates: Ideally leaving 12/13; could also make late evening 12/12 work or 12/14; Need to be back on 12/21 (or a day or so sooner)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: All okay; if it's not Domestic flights where upgrades will clear, probably prefer the partner metal for the higher MQD (rollover to 2020)

I'm thinking Hawaii is probably the easiest. I've looked at the PE to SHA or PEK, but I don't have a Chinese Visa nor a ton of interest in doing China right now. It doesn't look like the Virgin Atlantic deals (to JNB?) in PE (or even Y) are really available that close to Christmas either. Any other thoughts?

You could do BWI-ATL-HNL-LAX-BOS and get about 10,000 MQMs. From $940 (MC) departing on Dec 13 and getting back to BOS on the 14th (about 5 hours in HNL)

Nov 26, 2019, 11:29 am

#996

dannys00

Join Date: Dec 2016

Posts: 6

Delta 2k MQM from Boston

Departure Airport: Boston
Miles Needed: 1,950
Available Travel Dates: any
Cheapest available

Thank you!

Nov 26, 2019, 11:54 am

#997

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannys00

Departure Airport: Boston
Miles Needed: 1,950
Available Travel Dates: any
Cheapest available

Thank you!

Dec 17, BOS-SYR, $148 (BE), 2000 MQMs

Nov 26, 2019, 12:02 pm

#998

dannys00

Join Date: Dec 2016

Posts: 6

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuck_traveler

Dec 17, BOS-SYR, $148 (BE), 2000 MQMs

thank you. Were there any other dates, even if with one overnight? Just realized I forgot i have jury duty that week. (!)
thanks again!

Nov 26, 2019, 12:09 pm

#999

jonathanveldhorst

Join Date: Dec 2018

Posts: 3

Trying to get platinum!!!

Hey everyone, I am 5 MQS’s short right now, trying to get platinum status. Any help would be greatly appreciated
Departure Airport:JAN
Miles Needed: 5 MQS’s
Required Spend or Budget: Cheapest possible
Available Travel Dates: December 7,8 or December 13,14,15
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Yes

thanks!!!

Nov 26, 2019, 12:21 pm

#1000

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannys00

thank you. Were there any other dates, even if with one overnight? Just realized I forgot i have jury duty that week. (!)
thanks again!

Dec 10, BOS-ROC, $198, 2000 MQMs (4 segments)

You can also look at my original suggestions about Nashville, Charlotte, Orlando. Delta flexible date search. 1 or 2 day trip duration.

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Nov 26, 2019 at 12:23 pm Reason: fix typo for Rochester, NY

Nov 26, 2019, 1:06 pm

#1001

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonathanveldhorst

Dec 14, JAN-LAN (via ATL, DTW), $570 (MC), 6 segments ($385 on Dec 10, 11, 17 or 18)

You can get 4 segments from JAN-MCO on Dec. 14 for $222 but finding a cheap RT to somewhere to get the remaining segment is proving difficult

Nov 26, 2019, 1:15 pm

#1002

parzivalmx

Join Date: Sep 2019

Location: SAN, LAX, TIJ

Programs: SkyMiles, United

Posts: 78

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonathanveldhorst

Can you do weekday night? Dec 17 - 18 JAN - CHA $172
Sorry I read wrong you need MQS my bad

Last edited by parzivalmx; Nov 26, 2019 at 1:17 pm Reason: wrong answer

Nov 26, 2019, 2:11 pm

#1003

jonathanveldhorst

Join Date: Dec 2018

Posts: 3

Thank you so much! If I can get off I am going to try one of the midweek dates. Appreciate it

Nov 26, 2019, 9:08 pm

#1004

mplsmark

Join Date: Nov 2018

Programs: Delta Skymiles

Posts: 2

Departing MSP to ??? for 5,111 miles

Departure Airport: MSP
Miles Needed for Gold: 5,111 short or at least 2,611 so I can buy Elevate Your Status at the 2,500 tier ($799) instead of the 7,500 tier ($1,299)
Required Spend or Budget: Budget $400 if getting to 2,611 miles or I guess $1,000 if all 5,111 but the cheaper the better obviously
Available Travel Dates: flexible but not wanting to stay over if I can avoid it and the shorter the time commitment the better
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Yes

I have the Gold Amex and Platinum Amex already... not sure another one is worth it given the larger annual fees.
Currently Gold status and don't want to lose it!

I'm a newbie so can someone brief me on how you can get bonus MQMs on a purchase of a ticket? Is that with First Class tickets you get some bonus MQMs instead of straight distance?

Nov 26, 2019, 9:40 pm

#1005

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by mplsmark

Several options for about the same price:

Dec 29, MSP-ANC, $691 (BE) / $719 (MC), about 5300 MQMs (routing: MSP-SEA-ANC-MSP), 9 hours in ANC, get back to MSP early morning Dec. 30

Dec 10, MSP-HNL, $695 (BE) / $855 (MC), about 9300 MQMs (routing: MSO-SFO-LAX-HNL-LAX-SFO-MSP), about 1 hour in HNL, get back to MSP late afternoon on Dec 11

Dec 10, MSP-KOA, $695 (BE) / $789 (MC), about 9400 MQMs (routing: MSO-SFO-LAX-KOA-LAX-PDX-MSP), about 1.5 hour in KOA, get back to MSP late afternoon on Dec 11

You could do two runs to MCO for 2600 MQMs each:

Dec 18 and 19, $241, MSP-MCO-MSP

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Nov 27, 2019 at 6:22 am Reason: add MCO option