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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Aug 9, 2021, 4:38 pm

#106

JFKEWR

Join Date: Aug 2021

Location: SLC, PHX

Programs: DL DM, BA Gold

Posts: 64

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuck_traveler

Just to clarify, you are only looking for travel within the US? Does that include Hawaii and Alaska?

Hawaii, Alaska will be OK. Mexico and Canada will also be fine. Thanks!

Aug 9, 2021, 5:51 pm

#107

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFKEWR

Hawaii, Alaska will be OK. Mexico and Canada will also be fine. Thanks!

You could take a trip to Hawaii via New York that would get you the 15K miles (includes 1.5x Skymiles accelerator)

e.g. SLC-MSP-JFK-ATL-HNL-SLC, $861 (Main Cabin). Delta multi-city flight. Play with the dates, you can get lower prices

Pocatello and JFKEWR like this.

Last edited by canuck_traveler; Aug 9, 2021 at 6:04 pm

Aug 9, 2021, 6:10 pm

#108

JFKEWR

Join Date: Aug 2021

Location: SLC, PHX

Programs: DL DM, BA Gold

Posts: 64

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuck_traveler

Thank you! This sounds like a great deal!

Aug 9, 2021, 6:30 pm

#109

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFKEWR

Thank you! This sounds like a great deal!

Another option for a little cheaper and a few more miles is Alaska via Orlando. Booked as two trips. $817 (MC), 17,800 MQMs. I don't think there is a Covid test to go to Anchorage.

e.g.

DiverDave and Pocatello like this.

Aug 9, 2021, 6:45 pm

#110

JFKEWR

Join Date: Aug 2021

Location: SLC, PHX

Programs: DL DM, BA Gold

Posts: 64

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuck_traveler

Another option for a little cheaper and a few more miles is Alaska via Orlando. Booked as two trips. $817 (MC), 17,800 MQMs. I don't think there is a Covid test to go to Anchorage.

e.g.

I have also found that SLC-MCO is relatively cheap. Will consider this route too. Thanks a lot!
Covid test is extremely annoying and that's why I want to avoid intercontinental travel... Was just back from a trip to Tokyo days ago. Waiting hours to get tested was a huge pain.

Aug 10, 2021, 1:46 am

#111

hdanh00

Join Date: Nov 2017

Posts: 32

Hi Guys, long time lurker, need help reaching DM, especially with MQDs. I'm guessing will be on a marketed partner flight.
Current stats at 30,026MQMs, $2,774MQDs
Have a flight to Bogota first week of Nov giving me an additional 37,380MQMs, $1,921MQDs (67,406MQMs, $4,695 total).

Departure Airport: TPA
Miles Needed: 57,594MQMs
Dollars Needed: $10,305MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: ~$3K - 4K
Available Travel Dates: Flexible 2021, except beginning of Nov.
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Core partner with lots of miles to reach the required MQDs, can be international, just no restricted travel places.

Can just focus on the MQDs, I can get the MQMs if that's an issue.

Thanks!

Aug 10, 2021, 9:48 am

#112

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdanh00

An option to consider would be Miami - JNB on Virgin Atlantic in Economy Delight. Earns about $5000 MQD and 24,900 MQMs.

e.g. Sept 10 - 13, MIA-LHR-JNB-LHR-MIA, $1117, 14 hours in LHR on outbound and 10 hours in JNB, price available on Friday, Saturday departures available through December

Pocatello and hdanh00 like this.

Aug 10, 2021, 9:57 pm

#113

hdanh00

Join Date: Nov 2017

Posts: 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuck_traveler

Thanks! I will look into this. I'm gonna see if I can stop somewhere for a few days to relax too.

Aug 11, 2021, 9:42 am

#114

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdanh00

Thanks! I will look into this. I'm gonna see if I can stop somewhere for a few days to relax too.

If you want to take the flight from Los Angeles instead of Miami for about $100 more, then you earn about $5500 MQDs and 27,000 MQMs.

Aug 11, 2021, 2:15 pm

#115

tyro16jeff

Join Date: Aug 2019

Programs: Sky miles

Posts: 9

Departure Airport: ATL
Miles Needed: 2500
MQD needed: 1700
Required Spend or Budget: < $1000, could be more for premium cabin
Available Travel Dates: fairly wide open as self employed. (Open to international but domestic preferred)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL,

*** I have a trip on December 30 that should get me an additional 510 MQDs and 1747 MQMs, and I did not ad those into the equation since they fall at the end of the year. Unless Delta counts those miles until January 31 and not January 1.

Aug 11, 2021, 9:53 pm

#116

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyro16jeff

With the preference for domestic travel, probably the best bet is to take advantage of the Delta Skymiles Accelerator program. Distance wise, a flight to JFK should be enough. A ticket around $1100 should do it.

e.g.

Aug 16, 2021, 7:47 am

#117

Greedyfit

Join Date: Aug 2021

Posts: 14

I’m located in Atl and can hop a cheap flight to some of the major Delta hubs so I’m open to traveling from wherever.

Departure Airport: ATL/JFK/
Miles Needed: 33,781 for Platinum
Required Spend or Budget: $4,105 is my MQDs so that’s my budget but I would like to break it up over 2-3 trips.
Available Travel Dates: completely flexible
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: YES

Thank you all so much for your assistance.

Aug 17, 2021, 6:11 am

#118

canuck_traveler

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,895

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greedyfit

I’m located in Atl and can hop a cheap flight to some of the major Delta hubs so I’m open to traveling from wherever.

Departure Airport: ATL/JFK/
Miles Needed: 33,781 for Platinum
Required Spend or Budget: $4,105 is my MQDs so that’s my budget but I would like to break it up over 2-3 trips.
Available Travel Dates: completely flexible+
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: YES

Thank you all so much for your assistance.

If you are looking at domestic flights then a run to Anchorage from Atlanta can get you about 12,000 MQMs. e.g ATL-SEA-ANC-SEA-ATL (a little bit over an hour in Anchorage) for $879 on Sept.11 in Comfort+. Earns 12702 MQMs and $1363 MQDs.

similar earnings for flights to Hawaii.

Greedyfit likes this.

Aug 17, 2021, 6:20 am

#119

Greedyfit

Join Date: Aug 2021

Posts: 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuck_traveler

ok thanks I’ll look at that option.
I’m also looking at a nonstop from ATL to Johannesburg for $899 economy/ $1149 comfort + that will get me 25,320

Aug 17, 2021, 10:19 am

#120

Nupey10

Join Date: Oct 2019

Location: ATL

Programs: DL DM

Posts: 30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greedyfit

ok thanks I’ll look at that option.
I’m also looking at a nonstop from ATL to Johannesburg for $899 economy/ $1149 comfort + that will get me 25,320

Hey Greedy. Where did you see this? I'm very interested in ATL to JNB. Or I may just take a MIA to JNB. Thanks