Jan 2, 2021, 12:23 am

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: 2021 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed

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Nov 17, 2021, 8:19 pm

#226

MarkCron

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: DTW

Programs: DL DM, National EE, Hertz PC, IHG PL, Bonvoy Amb

Posts: 1,342

Quote:

Originally Posted by cirenodnarb

Hello all,

I am looking to hit the MQD requirement for Diamond by the end of the year. I have a boatload of MQM’s but need an additional ~ $3,500 MQDs to hit the next tier.

I also have ~320,000 redeemable miles available to spend if that would help me get there.

Departure Airport: AUS (Open to DFW/DAL/HOU/SAT)
Miles Needed: $3,500 MQD
Required Spend or Budget: As low as possible
Available Travel Dates: Weekends preferred, short trips midweek
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Fine so long as the MQDs clear

I am doing SAT-MEX-MAD-BCN RT in Business on AM in Jan to get Diamond next year. ~$1200
You could do it this this year and get ~$5400 MQDs

Nov 18, 2021, 5:51 pm

#227

Airborne Brat

Join Date: Oct 2015

Location: AUS

Programs: DL/HH/IHG/BW/Caesar's Diamond (Select), UA 1K, AA EXP, Marriott/MGM Gold, Hertz/Avis PC

Posts: 142

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkCron

I am doing SAT-MEX-MAD-BCN RT in Business on AM in Jan to get Diamond next year. ~$1200
You could do it this this year and get ~$5400 MQDs

When are you going? I'll be on the same route haha. Also you could add the BCN-AMS-MEX-GRU trip for about the same price and almost 9K MQD.

Nov 18, 2021, 6:01 pm

#228

hdanh00

Join Date: Nov 2017

Posts: 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airborne Brat

When are you going? I'll be on the same route haha. Also you could add the BCN-AMS-MEX-GRU trip for about the same price and almost 9K MQD.

Hi, Can you share? I need 8.3k MQDs

Nov 18, 2021, 9:19 pm

#229

Airborne Brat

Join Date: Oct 2015

Location: AUS

Programs: DL/HH/IHG/BW/Caesar's Diamond (Select), UA 1K, AA EXP, Marriott/MGM Gold, Hertz/Avis PC

Posts: 142

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdanh00

Hi, Can you share? I need 8.3k MQDs

Sure, this Google Flights link is one option. I booked mine through AMEX Travel since using the itinerary that Google Flights generates can't be booked on Aeromexico's site. Another option is going to the Aeromexico website and setting up the following multi city:

BCN-AMS Wed. Jan 26th
AMS-GRU Wed. Jan 26th

GRU-AMS Sun. Jan 30th
AMS-BCN Mon. Jan 31st

That particular date is showing as $1,370 for nonrefundable business class (I fare) which should net $8,890.40 MQD and 33,338 MQM. Shoutout to 747jetter for the multi city tip and for suggesting to pay in euros to save money.

hdanh00 likes this.

Nov 18, 2021, 9:24 pm

#230

hdanh00

Join Date: Nov 2017

Posts: 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airborne Brat

Thanks for that. I actually looked into this also for $1243.00:

I think you can book this off AA? I am not sure but it looks like the reservation is valid, but not sure if you can complete it?
You can't add your delta FF on there but I think you can once it shows up your aeromexico account?

AA LINK

Pocatello likes this.

Nov 18, 2021, 9:32 pm

#231

Airborne Brat

Join Date: Oct 2015

Location: AUS

Programs: DL/HH/IHG/BW/Caesar's Diamond (Select), UA 1K, AA EXP, Marriott/MGM Gold, Hertz/Avis PC

Posts: 142

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdanh00

Thanks for that. I actually looked into this also for $1243.00:

That's a really nice end of the year run. If I had realized that was an option I could hit Diamond this year instead of next haha. The AA fare is already gone and the cheapest is $3K which is a shame because I have a friend looking to do a run on AA before the end of the year for about 2K EQD.

Nov 19, 2021, 6:16 am

#232

MarkCron

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: DTW

Programs: DL DM, National EE, Hertz PC, IHG PL, Bonvoy Amb

Posts: 1,342

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airborne Brat

When are you going? I'll be on the same route haha. Also you could add the BCN-AMS-MEX-GRU trip for about the same price and almost 9K MQD.

I did

SAT-MEX-MAD-BCN is 1/24 to 1/31 and BCN-CDG-MEX-GRU is 1/26 to 1/29. I'll have a day in BCN twice, a day in Sao Paulo, and maybe a day in Mexico City.
These two trips get me ~$14.2 MQD (for ~$2400); combined with flights earlier in January I'll have over $15k MQD on Feb 1 and secure Diamond until 1/31/24.

Airborne Brat likes this.

Nov 19, 2021, 6:21 am

#233

MarkCron

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: DTW

Programs: DL DM, National EE, Hertz PC, IHG PL, Bonvoy Amb

Posts: 1,342

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airborne Brat

I actually purposely waited to do these MRs in Jan '22 so that my Diamond would be earned next year, and last until 2/24, not 2/23 (if earned this year).

Airborne Brat likes this.

Nov 19, 2021, 7:04 am

#234

flyerfirsts

Join Date: Jan 2020

Location: Virginia USA

Posts: 1,232

Man, you guys are making me wonder if there is a way I can get the 40k miles and $10k MQD I need to turn my Platinum I get next week into Diamond.

Nov 19, 2021, 7:18 am

#235

Airborne Brat

Join Date: Oct 2015

Location: AUS

Programs: DL/HH/IHG/BW/Caesar's Diamond (Select), UA 1K, AA EXP, Marriott/MGM Gold, Hertz/Avis PC

Posts: 142

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkCron

I did

I may see you on the MAD-MEX-SAT leg and possibly the MEX-GRU leg. I've heard really good things about the mini business cabin on Aeromexico fwiw.

DeltaGoldLass likes this.

Nov 19, 2021, 7:28 am

#236

flyerfirsts

Join Date: Jan 2020

Location: Virginia USA

Posts: 1,232

Wait, this is a neat trick I missed apparently - you can book AM metal through AA and still credit the trip to your Skymiles account??? I knew you could do AM to DL but AM through AA to DL???

Nov 19, 2021, 3:22 pm

#237

StealthEb

Join Date: Nov 2021

Posts: 1

Close to Diamond. Looking for ideas on how to get there in the next month. Thanks!

Departure Airport: MSP or DLH
Miles Needed: 9000 MQM and $650 MQD
Required Spend or Budget: As low as possible, could use miles
Available Travel Dates: Weekends preferred through end of year
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: OK

Nov 19, 2021, 4:19 pm

#238

DeltaGoldLass

Join Date: Oct 2012

Location: NY, or anywhere

Programs: Delta MM+ DM trusted traveler, goes, Marriott, IHG SPG. NH Hyatt, Hilton

Posts: 72

Any Am runs available in early January? Short stay please?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airborne Brat

I may see you on the MAD-MEX-SAT leg and possibly the MEX-GRU leg. I've heard really good things about the mini business cabin on Aeromexico fwiw.

love your itinerary! I’m looking for one under 1K

Nov 19, 2021, 5:28 pm

#239

Airborne Brat

Join Date: Oct 2015

Location: AUS

Programs: DL/HH/IHG/BW/Caesar's Diamond (Select), UA 1K, AA EXP, Marriott/MGM Gold, Hertz/Avis PC

Posts: 142

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltaGoldLass

love your itinerary! I’m looking for one under 1K

Thanks. You can play around with the dates to see if you can find something closer to $1.1K which is the lowest I've seen. I'd also recommend doing a BCN-GRU RT in that case because it is about 4K more MQD earned than the SAT-MAD route for about the same price. You should be able to find an economy ST flight to Madrid RT for around $500 or like $350 if you fly another alliance. That being said, earning maybe $500 MQD in economy for $500 instead of $1200 for business but earning $5000 MQD makes it easier to turn this into an all business class trip. Madrid and Barcelona are a $30 train trip apart too.