Jan 2, 2021, 12:23 am
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: 2021 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed
Jan 2, 2021, 12:22 am
#1
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,473
DL/Sky Team: 2021 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed
On behalf to the Mileage Run Moderator team, I would like to express our thanks to the many FlyerTalkers who have risen to the challenge and helped so many members with their helpful suggestions.
These consolidates threads made managing the year end traffic much smoother.
Hopefully, all were successful with their runs.
Follow the instructions in the wiki and post your answers to this thread.
Pat89339 on behalf of the Mileage Run Moderator team
These consolidates threads made managing the year end traffic much smoother.
Hopefully, all were successful with their runs.
Follow the instructions in the wiki and post your answers to this thread.
Pat89339 on behalf of the Mileage Run Moderator team
Jan 5, 2021, 4:00 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Independent
Posts: 470
I have the elevate challenge and am considering doing a mileage run to keep Diamond status. I think I'll need at least 9 one-way flights, but could do them over a few different days. I also don't want to be out-of-state for more than 24 hours.
Departure Airport: NYC (any)
Miles Needed: 9 one-way flights (not segments)
Required Spend or Budget: < $1000 I suppose
Available Travel Dates: All Fridays except 1/15, 2/12, 3/19, 3/26
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL
Any ideas? Back and forth to Boston would be simple but the flight schedule isn't so full as it once was.
Departure Airport: NYC (any)
Miles Needed: 9 one-way flights (not segments)
Required Spend or Budget: < $1000 I suppose
Available Travel Dates: All Fridays except 1/15, 2/12, 3/19, 3/26
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL
Any ideas? Back and forth to Boston would be simple but the flight schedule isn't so full as it once was.
Jan 5, 2021, 5:45 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 195
Has anyone done an Virgin Atlantic Economy Delight run (e.g., NYC-JNB) recently? I'll have time on my hands mid-February and would love to do a run, but given covid-related travel restrictions I don't even know if these are possible any more. If anyone has done a VS run from any US city to any international destination recently, I'd appreciate your thoughts/advice.
Jan 5, 2021, 6:10 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
I have the elevate challenge and am considering doing a mileage run to keep Diamond status. I think I'll need at least 9 one-way flights, but could do them over a few different days. I also don't want to be out-of-state for more than 24 hours.
Departure Airport: NYC (any)
Miles Needed: 9 one-way flights (not segments)
Required Spend or Budget: < $1000 I suppose
Available Travel Dates: All Fridays except 1/15, 2/12, 3/19, 3/26
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL
Any ideas? Back and forth to Boston would be simple but the flight schedule isn't so full as it once was.
Departure Airport: NYC (any)
Miles Needed: 9 one-way flights (not segments)
Required Spend or Budget: < $1000 I suppose
Available Travel Dates: All Fridays except 1/15, 2/12, 3/19, 3/26
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL
Any ideas? Back and forth to Boston would be simple but the flight schedule isn't so full as it once was.
Flights to Orlando are as low as $102 (BE) but that would a 3 hour flight.
Jan 6, 2021, 12:51 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,037
ITA Matrix could be a starting point remember to exclude E class as basic economy tickets do not count toward the challenge requirements. IAD/DCA at $72-79 each way in V class seems the way to go...
Jan 18, 2021, 6:05 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 195
Can anyone recommend an AeroMexico mileage/MQD run for mid-February? I'd be flying out of ATL. Which destinations and class of service will be most cost-effective?
Jan 19, 2021, 9:38 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,037
Jan 19, 2021, 9:52 am
#9
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 195
Thanks -- this is perfect! Is there a way to see fare class when booking on AM's site? I searched but couldn't find a chart anywhere online showing how fare class corresponds to class of service.
Jan 22, 2021, 8:19 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: York, PA
Programs: MRSPG LT Tit, HH Diamond, Hertz Pres.
Posts: 1,737
:So have frequently done mattress runs for hotel status, but always earned my airline status with BIS time.
Job change has reduced air travel. Currently delta gold, would love to hit platinum, so as much help as we can get.
Departure Airport: 1-MDT, 2-BWI, 3-PHL
Miles Needed: as many as possible
Required Spend or Budget: < $1000, could be more for premium cabin
Available Travel Dates: fairly wide open as self employed.
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL,
Job change has reduced air travel. Currently delta gold, would love to hit platinum, so as much help as we can get.
Departure Airport: 1-MDT, 2-BWI, 3-PHL
Miles Needed: as many as possible
Required Spend or Budget: < $1000, could be more for premium cabin
Available Travel Dates: fairly wide open as self employed.
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL,
Last edited by etsmyers; Jan 22, 2021 at 8:48 pm
Jan 22, 2021, 10:12 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,037
How many MQDs do you have? Willing to travel international in Q3?
My usual recommendation is to look at Aeromexico fares as they credit at 40% of Distance for MQDs and 150% for MQMs.
My usual recommendation is to look at Aeromexico fares as they credit at 40% of Distance for MQDs and 150% for MQMs.
Jan 23, 2021, 8:29 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: York, PA
Programs: MRSPG LT Tit, HH Diamond, Hertz Pres.
Posts: 1,737
Honestly, never booked a mileage run and no idea how to start researching them
Jan 25, 2021, 6:57 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2021
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1
Departure Airport: ATL
Miles Needed: 45-50k total in 2021
Required Spend or Budget: As cheap as possible
Available Travel Dates: Completely open
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Yes
Wanting to hit diamond this year on DELTA. Currently have 50k mqm and will get another 30k mqm through card spend on AMEX. I work remotely as most of us do in covid times and am flexible.
Miles Needed: 45-50k total in 2021
Required Spend or Budget: As cheap as possible
Available Travel Dates: Completely open
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Yes
Wanting to hit diamond this year on DELTA. Currently have 50k mqm and will get another 30k mqm through card spend on AMEX. I work remotely as most of us do in covid times and am flexible.
Jan 25, 2021, 12:55 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Departure Airport: ATL
Miles Needed: 45-50k total in 2021
Required Spend or Budget: As cheap as possible
Available Travel Dates: Completely open
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Yes
Wanting to hit diamond this year on DELTA. Currently have 50k mqm and will get another 30k mqm through card spend on AMEX. I work remotely as most of us do in covid times and am flexible.
Miles Needed: 45-50k total in 2021
Required Spend or Budget: As cheap as possible
Available Travel Dates: Completely open
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Yes
Wanting to hit diamond this year on DELTA. Currently have 50k mqm and will get another 30k mqm through card spend on AMEX. I work remotely as most of us do in covid times and am flexible.
ATL-RIO non-stop is available for $546 (BE) / $636 (MC) for various dates in March, about 9400 MQMs,red-eye flight, 2 hours in Rio
Last edited by canuck_traveler; Jan 25, 2021 at 5:30 pm Reason: update with Brazil entry requirements
Jan 29, 2021, 2:34 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Departure Airport: ATL
Miles Needed: 45-50k total in 2021
Required Spend or Budget: As cheap as possible
Available Travel Dates: Completely open
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Yes
Wanting to hit diamond this year on DELTA. Currently have 50k mqm and will get another 30k mqm through card spend on AMEX. I work remotely as most of us do in covid times and am flexible.
Miles Needed: 45-50k total in 2021
Required Spend or Budget: As cheap as possible
Available Travel Dates: Completely open
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Yes
Wanting to hit diamond this year on DELTA. Currently have 50k mqm and will get another 30k mqm through card spend on AMEX. I work remotely as most of us do in covid times and am flexible.
