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 30, 2019, 8:46 am
#1051
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
I have been on google flights search all morning racking my brain and going nuts trying to figure out the best Mileage run. I understand that I may need to do this in two separate trips.
I found SJU-PDX via JFK Dec 7 return Dec 10 for $436.00 that earns 8267MQMs but when I look for the same flight later in the month the prices are crazy. Please help me design the best trips for month of Dec, I am ok with overnights in cities if needs be, what is more important for me is making sure I retain Diamond for 2020.
Departure Airport: SJU (can relocate if necessary)
Miles Needed: 14,000 MQM (no MQDs necessary)
Required Spend or Budget: $1200 or less total (prefer Delta or Delta Marketed flights)
Available Travel Dates: all of December is wide open.
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Codeshare ok
I found SJU-PDX via JFK Dec 7 return Dec 10 for $436.00 that earns 8267MQMs but when I look for the same flight later in the month the prices are crazy. Please help me design the best trips for month of Dec, I am ok with overnights in cities if needs be, what is more important for me is making sure I retain Diamond for 2020.
Departure Airport: SJU (can relocate if necessary)
Miles Needed: 14,000 MQM (no MQDs necessary)
Required Spend or Budget: $1200 or less total (prefer Delta or Delta Marketed flights)
Available Travel Dates: all of December is wide open.
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Codeshare ok
Nov 30, 2019, 10:34 am
#1052
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 36
Wow, I need to start using Expedia more, I dont believe I would be able to handle the long connections and overnights in economy, I am 6'4" and mostly legs, I think I would end up sick by the time I got back. Thank you for this though, let me cross reference some deals with Expedia.
I think I am going to try a multi city approach within the US so I have good possibilities of upgrades to first as well as I will even do overnights in cheap hotels to get some sleep, I am cursed with the inability to sleep sitting up on a plane.
I think I am going to try a multi city approach within the US so I have good possibilities of upgrades to first as well as I will even do overnights in cheap hotels to get some sleep, I am cursed with the inability to sleep sitting up on a plane.
Nov 30, 2019, 11:21 am
#1053
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Wow, I need to start using Expedia more, I dont believe I would be able to handle the long connections and overnights in economy, I am 6'4" and mostly legs, I think I would end up sick by the time I got back. Thank you for this though, let me cross reference some deals with Expedia.
I think I am going to try a multi city approach within the US so I have good possibilities of upgrades to first as well as I will even do overnights in cheap hotels to get some sleep, I am cursed with the inability to sleep sitting up on a plane.
I think I am going to try a multi city approach within the US so I have good possibilities of upgrades to first as well as I will even do overnights in cheap hotels to get some sleep, I am cursed with the inability to sleep sitting up on a plane.
Dec 12 - 13, SJU-JFK-LAX-HNL-LAX-JFK-SJU, $883, about 13,300 MQMs, overnight in HNL (a little over 14 hours in HNL), book on Delta
If you want more breaks:
Dec 10 - 14, SJU-SEA, $677, about 8500 MQMs (routing: SJU-JFK-SLC-SEA-SLC-JFK-SJU), overnight in SEA on Dec 10
Dec 11 - 12, SEA-HNL, $553, about 7100 MQMs (routing: SEA-SLC-HNL-LAX-SEA), overnight in HNL (about 16 hours in HNL)
Dec 12 - 14, Hangout in Seattle departing on 14th (about 35 hours)
you could do two night in HNL instead of SEA but hotels will be cheaper in SEA
Last edited by canuck_traveler; Nov 30, 2019 at 11:57 am Reason: added SJU-HNL with overnights
Nov 30, 2019, 2:42 pm
#1054
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 1
Departure Airport: DTW
Miles Needed: 7,000
Required Spend or Budget: No required spend
Available Travel Dates: December sporadically - primarily December 15-22
Required Metal or Codeshares okay: Yes? Need MQMs only for Silver
Miles Needed: 7,000
Required Spend or Budget: No required spend
Available Travel Dates: December sporadically - primarily December 15-22
Required Metal or Codeshares okay: Yes? Need MQMs only for Silver
Nov 30, 2019, 3:26 pm
#1055
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
You can get about 9000 MQMs with a trip to OGG (Dec 16, $1015)
Nov 30, 2019, 7:40 pm
#1056
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Boston MA
Posts: 127
Departure Airport: BOS (until Dec 19), JFK/LGA (Dec 19 onwards)
Miles Needed: 11,270 MQM and $2693 MQD to reach Gold Medallion
Required Spend or Budget: Ideally under $1k
Available Travel Dates: Dec 12-16, Dec 19-31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Codeshares are okay
My final exams are both on Dec 17 and my final assignment for this semester is due December 18; I also have a bus ticket from Boston --> NYC on Dec 19. I can travel from Boston the week before finals (Dec 12-16) or the weeks after from New York (Dec 19-31). Ideally, I can go to a city, stay for a few days & explore so I think somewhere in South America would help me get the MQMs and MQDs I need (possibly with AeroMexico?). Thanks!
Miles Needed: 11,270 MQM and $2693 MQD to reach Gold Medallion
Required Spend or Budget: Ideally under $1k
Available Travel Dates: Dec 12-16, Dec 19-31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Codeshares are okay
My final exams are both on Dec 17 and my final assignment for this semester is due December 18; I also have a bus ticket from Boston --> NYC on Dec 19. I can travel from Boston the week before finals (Dec 12-16) or the weeks after from New York (Dec 19-31). Ideally, I can go to a city, stay for a few days & explore so I think somewhere in South America would help me get the MQMs and MQDs I need (possibly with AeroMexico?). Thanks!
https://www.kenya-airways.com/en-us/black-friday
This might work for you. Look at the Blackout dates. You'll probably need to leave on 12/25 or 12/26.
Nov 30, 2019, 10:12 pm
#1057
Join Date: Nov 2019
Programs: SkyMiles
Posts: 1
Departure Airport: MSP
Miles Needed: ~10,000 for Platinum
Required Spend or Budget: as low as possible as I have MQDs
Available Travel Dates: after Dec 2
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: yes
Any suggestions?
Miles Needed: ~10,000 for Platinum
Required Spend or Budget: as low as possible as I have MQDs
Available Travel Dates: after Dec 2
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: yes
Any suggestions?
Dec 1, 2019, 1:17 am
#1058
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Dec 10, MSP-KOA, $920 (BE), about 9900 MQMs (routing: msp-lax-sea-koa-sea-sfo-msp), flight gets back to MSP the afternoon of Dec 10, about 1.5 hours in KOA
Dec 3 - 6, MSP-TPE, $869 (MC), about 15,000 MQMs (routing: msp-icn-tpe-ngo-dtw-msp), two nights in TPE
Dec 1, 2019, 4:35 am
#1059
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3
Need 24K Miles on a single run to bump to status
Departure Airport: SFO/OAK/SJC
Miles Needed: 24,000 for Diamond
Required Spend or Budget: as low as possible as I have MQDs
Available Travel Dates: December is open except for 12th - 22nd (will be on a cruise)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: yes
I moved my home out of country, so I think I'm exempt from the dollar requirements..
But still need some miles.. I'm covered for Platinum.. but need to hit diamond.
Best I'm seeing is SFO-LHR-JNB-ATL-SFO for about 21.5K.. but need 23870 (or 24K).. Wife has cleared me for a reasonable budget (sub 1200 dollars).
Miles Needed: 24,000 for Diamond
Required Spend or Budget: as low as possible as I have MQDs
Available Travel Dates: December is open except for 12th - 22nd (will be on a cruise)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: yes
I moved my home out of country, so I think I'm exempt from the dollar requirements..
But still need some miles.. I'm covered for Platinum.. but need to hit diamond.
Best I'm seeing is SFO-LHR-JNB-ATL-SFO for about 21.5K.. but need 23870 (or 24K).. Wife has cleared me for a reasonable budget (sub 1200 dollars).
Dec 1, 2019, 5:52 am
#1060
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Departure Airport: SFO/OAK/SJC
Miles Needed: 24,000 for Diamond
Required Spend or Budget: as low as possible as I have MQDs
Available Travel Dates: December is open except for 12th - 22nd (will be on a cruise)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: yes
I moved my home out of country, so I think I'm exempt from the dollar requirements..
But still need some miles.. I'm covered for Platinum.. but need to hit diamond.
Best I'm seeing is SFO-LHR-JNB-ATL-SFO for about 21.5K.. but need 23870 (or 24K).. Wife has cleared me for a reasonable budget (sub 1200 dollars).
Miles Needed: 24,000 for Diamond
Required Spend or Budget: as low as possible as I have MQDs
Available Travel Dates: December is open except for 12th - 22nd (will be on a cruise)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: yes
I moved my home out of country, so I think I'm exempt from the dollar requirements..
But still need some miles.. I'm covered for Platinum.. but need to hit diamond.
Best I'm seeing is SFO-LHR-JNB-ATL-SFO for about 21.5K.. but need 23870 (or 24K).. Wife has cleared me for a reasonable budget (sub 1200 dollars).
You can squeeze in another 1000 MQMs for about 22,600 MQMs with the routing: sfo-lax-ams-jnb-cdg-sea-sfo for $1132 on Dec 6 - 8. I think you may have to take a short trip somewhere to pick up the remaining miles. Normally, I would say take a look at Virgin Atlantic SFO-JNB in Economy Delight (Economy Delight earning 1.25x) but the cheaper fares seem to be all gone.
SFO-PVG-AKL-PVG-SFO is about 23,900 MQMs but I don't see any China Eastern flights in your price range ($1320 on Dec 2 - 4 on Expedia)
Dec 1, 2019, 5:58 am
#1061
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 6
Departure Airport: ATL or nearby
Miles Needed: 7200
Required Spend or Budget: $760 MQD
Available Travel Dates: January, starting or ending on weekend
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: yes
Miles Needed: 7200
Required Spend or Budget: $760 MQD
Available Travel Dates: January, starting or ending on weekend
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: yes
Dec 1, 2019, 6:11 am
#1062
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
A trip out to Hawaii will get you the needed MQMs. Just pick a fare price that will meet your MQD requirement. Some tickets to HNL are available for $659 (Jan 18, 25). Jan 11 ($883 - Main Cabin will earn $792 MQD)
Last edited by canuck_traveler; Dec 1, 2019 at 6:16 am
Dec 1, 2019, 8:04 am
#1063
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 6
Status match, flying to different cities next year that makes Delta a better choice.
Dec 1, 2019, 11:12 am
#1064
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Programs: Delta
Posts: 7
Departure Airport: ABQ
Miles Needed: 9,900 to maintain Platinum on DL
Required Spend or Budget:cheapest preferred - trying to stay under $1,000
Available Travel Dates: Dec 16 - Dec 31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: anything yielding high MQM for DL SM
Thanks!
Miles Needed: 9,900 to maintain Platinum on DL
Required Spend or Budget:cheapest preferred - trying to stay under $1,000
Available Travel Dates: Dec 16 - Dec 31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: anything yielding high MQM for DL SM
Thanks!
Dec 1, 2019, 11:26 am
#1065
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3
I'll check that out..
And yes, I confirmed that the dollars section is gone.. but I do have a question..
Since I'm not just based on miles.. does that mean MQM's are based on actual miles flown.. (before the miles were based on actuals + class of service + amount paid)? ie: beyond comfort and amenities, there is no benefit to booking upper tier service for a flight?
And yes, I confirmed that the dollars section is gone.. but I do have a question..
Since I'm not just based on miles.. does that mean MQM's are based on actual miles flown.. (before the miles were based on actuals + class of service + amount paid)? ie: beyond comfort and amenities, there is no benefit to booking upper tier service for a flight?