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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Dec 10, 2019, 9:32 pm

#1246

chromedome00

Join Date: Feb 2018

Posts: 42

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuck_traveler

MQMs are awarded based on the class of fare purchased - there is no bonus for medallion status.

For RDMs, medallion status plays a part in how much you earn.

Sorry, I was incorrect on terms and awards.

But if book business class on a partner does Delta honor the fair class and award bonus MQM?

I may want to spend more and less time in the air if that is the case.

Dec 10, 2019, 9:51 pm

#1247

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by chromedome00

It will depend on the partner and the earnings they get for business/first class. Look at the Delta partner chart for the desired partner.

For your desired 21,000 MQMs, you will need to fly 14,000 miles at the usual 1.5x bonus for business class.

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Dec 10, 2019 at 10:07 pm

Dec 10, 2019, 10:47 pm

#1248

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoormatMike

Going to be in Atlanta for work and was thinking I'd try and do a quick RT somewhere from ATL to get enough MQMs to maintain my Platinum status on Delta

Departure Airport: ATL
Miles Needed: 7500
MQD Needed: 0
Budget: As cheap as possible
Available Travel Dates: Leave Fri 12/20 - Return 12/22 or 12/23

Thanks!

ATL-LIM, Dec 22 - 23, 15 hours travel

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Dec 10, 2019 at 10:54 pm

Dec 10, 2019, 10:57 pm

#1249

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoormatMike

A little cheaper but more time travelling: Dec 22 -23, ATL-OGG

Dec 11, 2019, 4:53 am

#1250

ezwjr

Join Date: Apr 2010

Posts: 3

Thank you so much! Will check it out.

Dec 11, 2019, 5:48 am

#1251

ezwjr

Join Date: Apr 2010

Posts: 3

Booked - thanks, Canuck_Traveler!!

Dec 11, 2019, 6:24 am

#1252

brotherwillie

Join Date: Dec 2018

Posts: 2

26K Needed for Delta Diamond

Hi all,

Way over on my MQDs but still about 26K short on MQMs for delta diamond status.

airports I can fly from: IAD, DCA or anything NY area. Only date restriction is I can’t go anywhere 12/13 - 12/17 or 12/24 - 12/26.

Can anyone help? Thanks!

Dec 11, 2019, 7:25 am

#1253

doubledown13

Join Date: Dec 2019

Programs: Skymiles

Posts: 1

Hi All, Trying to get to Diamond and my last work trip was cancelled. Any help would be appreciated.

Departure Airport: Orlando (MCO)
Miles Needed: 10,400
Required Spend or Budget: Min of $300 to qualify, up to whatever to make it
Available Travel Dates: Anytime in Dec, prefer not x-mas
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Any

Thanks all for the help

Dec 11, 2019, 7:28 am

#1254

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by brotherwillie

Some thoughts:

- several MR to HNL from WAS - about 10,000 MQMs; three trips will be about $2800 since you cannot do them back to back (each trip takes about 1.5 days of travel)

- do a run to MLE on China Eastern, from JFK on Dec 28 - 30, will get you about 25,500 MQMs for $1323 (booking classes: K-B-B-S); position flights to/from JFK will get you the remaining 1000 MQMs

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Dec 11, 2019 at 7:38 am Reason: give MLE option from JFK

Dec 11, 2019, 7:52 am

#1255

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubledown13

A run to LIH should get you the needed miles.

e.g. Dec 28, MCO-SEA-LIH-SEA-SLC-MCO, about 10,500 MQMs (use Delta flexible date search, trip duration 1 day)

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Dec 11, 2019 at 8:00 am

Dec 11, 2019, 8:22 am

#1256

DoormatMike

Join Date: Nov 2019

Location: Santa Fe, NM

Programs: Delta

Posts: 7

Thanks Canuck_Traveler!

Dec 11, 2019, 8:44 am

#1257

hjg

Join Date: Dec 2018

Programs: Delta

Posts: 6

Departure Airport: SEA
Miles Needed: 16,000 (to Diamond)
Required Spend or Budget: N/A - Spend met
Available Travel Dates: Dec 14 - 31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Yes

Thanks for any help to get me to Diamond!

Dec 11, 2019, 10:14 am

#1258

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by hjg

How about a run to JNB? Routing: SEA-PDX-AMS-JNB-AMS-JFK-SEA

Dec 11, 2019, 10:33 am

#1259

noname83

Join Date: Jul 2016

Posts: 152

Departure Airport: WAS area
MQS Needed: 1
Required Spend or Budget: N/A - Spend met
Available Travel Dates: Dec 20 - 31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Yes

Hi,

I need one more segment to be Gold again. Anyone has a recommendation how to do that?
Thank you

Dec 11, 2019, 12:19 pm

#1260

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by noname83

How about a quick trip to Charlotte? Prices start as low as $117. See calendar below of flights from WAS to CLT for December: (Delta flexible date search, trip duration 1 day)