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 27, 2021, 2:13 pm

#271

pacumeni

Join Date: Feb 2021

Posts: 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyerfirsts

Scroll down a bit and expand aeromexico and there is a box you can click for the chart.
40% of miles flown is how many MQD you get in business. How many MQD do you need?

Since I'm starting new for 2022, I'm assuming all $15K for MQD spend. They don't rollover from 2021, correct?

Nov 27, 2021, 3:25 pm

#272

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mspicer

Either LAS, SLC or PHX are all very close and I can take a commuter flight to any of those. Those would be my preferred places to start from.

Great tip on the Aeromexico, I'll keep that in mind for next year for sure. I do appreciate your help!

If you can get over to SFO, then Virgin Atlantic, SFO-HKG is available. Dec 4 - 6, $1914 (Economy Delight), earns about $5600 MQDs, 28,000 MQMs. About 3 hours in HKG. Also available on Dec 25 - 27

If you don't want to fly on Christmas day, LAX-HKG is available on Dec 11-13, $2164 (economy delight), earns abour $5700 MQDs

You would be able to get your $10,446 MQDs in one week with the two trips to Hong Kong.

Nov 28, 2021, 3:19 am

#273

jimrpa

Join Date: Aug 2001

Location: Wayne, PA USA

Programs: DL MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, HHonors Gold

Posts: 7,242

Need <5,000 MQM, < $900 MQD for Platinum - PHL-based

Departure Airport: PHL (preferred, will consider ABE, NYC, WAS, if compelling)
Miles Needed: 5,000 MQM, $900 MQD (actually, slightly less of each)
Required Spend or Budget: $900 or less (whatever the minimum is to get the 5,000 MQM)
Available Travel Dates: Weekends in December, any time December 24-31 (preferably quick turns due to last minute hotel availability)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: whatever is the most cost-effective solution

Nov 28, 2021, 3:38 am

#274

flyerfirsts

Join Date: Jan 2020

Location: Virginia USA

Posts: 1,232

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimrpa

The MQM is easy. The MQD is hard. Leave Dec 4 return Dec 4, leave in C+ return in F (C+ both ways won't get you the MQD you need).for $812.80 you'll get 11,090 MQM and $1258 MQD.

You also have a lot of options going to MSP in first class both ways for $683 that get you just enough MQD and MQM, but then you have to spend the night (leave 12/4 return 12/5), the nice thing about the LAX trip is no hotel.

Nov 29, 2021, 5:05 pm

#275

Wonderringwiseman

Join Date: Oct 2021

Posts: 1

3k MQD’s needed for diamonds on delta

Departure Airport:LAX
Miles Needed:0
Required Spend or Budget:approx 3k MQD’s
Available Travel Dates:12/7-12/21
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: tBD

Nov 29, 2021, 6:24 pm

#276

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wonderringwiseman

Departure Airport:LAX
Miles Needed:0
Required Spend or Budget:approx 3k MQD’s
Available Travel Dates:12/7-12/21
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: tBD

An option is a MR in business class on AeroMexico to LIM. You will need to provide proof of vaccination.

e.g. Dec 8 - 10, LAX-MEX-LIM-MEX-LAX, $1454, about 12,500 MQMs, $3300 MQDs, will require overnighting in Lima (24 hours)

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Nov 29, 2021 at 6:30 pm

Dec 2, 2021, 6:01 am

#277

klg_flyer

Join Date: Aug 2018

Posts: 7

Trying to reach Diamond - 5.2 MQDs needed

Departure Airport: WAS (any airport), not preferred but could also do NYC (any airport)
Miles Needed: 5204 MQDs and 10, 764 MQMs
Required Spend or Budget: $2k
Available Travel Dates: any dates
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: No

I know not much time left but trying to hit Diamond.

Dec 2, 2021, 12:36 pm

#278

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by klg_flyer

how about?
Dec 11 - 12, Virgin Atlantic, JFK-HKG (via LHR), $1961 (Economy Delight), about 23,000 MQMs, about $4700 MQDs, 2.2 hour layover in LHR on outbound and 4.5 hour layover on inbound, 5 hours in Hong Kong, book on Virgin Atlantic website

You can pick up the remaining MQDs on the positioning flight between IAD and JFK (Dec 11 6am, Dec 13 2:55pm return in Comfort Plus)

klg_flyer likes this.

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Dec 2, 2021 at 1:28 pm Reason: add positioning flights

Dec 2, 2021, 12:48 pm

#279

flyerfirsts

Join Date: Jan 2020

Location: Virginia USA

Posts: 1,232

For 2022 calendar year
Departure Airport: whatever it takes
Miles Needed:: 13,000 MQD
Required Spend or Budget: $2k max
Available Travel Dates: any dates
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: whatever it takes

Dec 2, 2021, 8:07 pm

#280

trodrig24

Join Date: Dec 2021

Programs: Delta

Posts: 2

MQD Needed for qualification for 2022

Departure Airport: Atl
Miles Needed: 0 MQD needed $6800
Required Spend or Budget: little as possible
Available Travel Dates: open
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: open

Dec 2, 2021, 9:20 pm

#281

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by trodrig24

If you can make it over to LAX then a possibility is Virgin Atlantic, Dec 10 - 12, $2515 (Premium Economy), about $6850 MQDs, about 34,000 MQMs. If flying in Economy Delight fare class, then $2163, about $5700 MQDs, 28,000 MQDs

Dec 2, 2021, 10:54 pm

#282

LVObserver

Join Date: Dec 2021

Posts: 7

LAS based, confused, need $1617 in MQD & less than 5980 MQMs or MQS’s

Hello all I’m trying to attain silver status

Currently I need $1617 MQD, and 12 MQS or 5980 MQMs

I have a points flight booked December 10 to Boise, so that should give me some miles and I believe 4 segments. Not sure how to calculate that exactly. Does anyone have any suggestions for a efficient way to qualify for silver this year? I only have three day weekends over Christmas and New Year’s, otherwise I have to stay in town and work. Thanks in advance

Dec 3, 2021, 8:01 am

#283

xliioper

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 23,070

Quote:

Originally Posted by LVObserver

Any flights taken after 12/31 will not count towards 2021 totals. It would useful to know the base fare for Boise trip to know exactly how many MQD's you will need. If you are doing a round trip from LAS to BOI in coach, it should earn 6 segments in coach with accelerator promo.

Last edited by xliioper; Dec 3, 2021 at 8:09 am

Dec 3, 2021, 5:28 pm

#284

Mhyduchak

Join Date: Sep 2021

Location: IND PHL SLC

Programs: Delta Diamond, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC, CLEAR

Posts: 107

Diamond Run needed after a successful few months

Started a new job in Aug with travel every other week. Have managed to easily hit PM and am really regretting on not going harder for diamond with the accelerators. Need 35,000 MQMs & $4300 MQDs to hit it.

Departure Airport: IND (can hub to DTW, MSP, ATL, JFK, BOS, or LAX easily)
Miles Needed: 35,000 MQMs & 4,300 MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: $2k
Available Travel Dates: flexible after Dec 10th, looking for quick turns
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Yes

Dec 4, 2021, 8:48 am

#285

LVObserver

Join Date: Dec 2021

Posts: 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by xliioper

I don’t know how to determine that base fare. I have figured out that I will get about 2200 base miles, so 3300 after the 50% bonus for that LAS-BOI trip.