Jan 2, 2022, 1:46 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
Need 4000+ MQDs?
If based in a city that is served by Virgin Atlantic such as IAD, JFK, BOS, MIA, LAS, LAX, SFO one of the best options is to fly to JNB or CPT via LHR. This can be done in a weekend and you can usually earn 4-5000 MQDs for under 1300-1600. You need to select Economy Delight which is similar to regular economy but with more legroom and the possibility of earning 20% of distance as MQDs. This is the most common way to earn large chunks at a cheap price.
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
Need 4000+ MQDs?
If based in a city that is served by Virgin Atlantic such as IAD, JFK, BOS, MIA, LAS, LAX, SFO one of the best options is to fly to JNB or CPT via LHR. This can be done in a weekend and you can usually earn 4-5000 MQDs for under 1300-1600. You need to select Economy Delight which is similar to regular economy but with more legroom and the possibility of earning 20% of distance as MQDs. This is the most common way to earn large chunks at a cheap price.
DL/Sky Team: 2022 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed
Jul 7, 2022, 7:50 am
#226
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,038
Hi All - thanks for all you do on this forum! This would be my first time doing a mileage run so your help is greatly appreciated. I’ve browsed the forum a few times and it seems like the JFK-LHR-JNB route is a popular one. To get to my level of MQM, I would need at least 3 trips to make it work. Any other ideas to shorten the amount of trips required? How about one of the Asian Airlines (ie Korean)? Wouldn’t mind a delish meal in between flights!
Departure Airport: NYC (jfk, lga, ewr)
Miles Needed: 50,000 MQM and $3,500 MQD for diamond status
Required Spend or Budget: $3,000
Available Travel Dates: ideally over long weekends (excluding thanksgiving and Xmas)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: yes
Departure Airport: NYC (jfk, lga, ewr)
Miles Needed: 50,000 MQM and $3,500 MQD for diamond status
Required Spend or Budget: $3,000
Available Travel Dates: ideally over long weekends (excluding thanksgiving and Xmas)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: yes
so a creative , not sure about the total cost, would be across 3 tickets...
Ticket 1 NYC to TIJ,
Ticket 2 TIJ to YYC
Ticket 3 YYC to SCL
Ticket 3 SCL to YYC , this could be to YVR and skip the last WestJet segment
Ticket 2 YYC to TIJ
Ticket 1 TIJ to NYC
If not 2 JNB trips with longish layover in London and explore the city...
Jul 7, 2022, 9:17 pm
#227
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 90
Is the LAX - NRT AM deal still available? I realized I booked it on some really ...... dates and want to get some travel credits or book it further down the line.
Jul 8, 2022, 5:19 pm
#228
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 1
Need 9k MQD for Diamond
Hi all! Only year I'll ever probably be able to hit Diamond. Thanks for any info/guidance!
9000 MQDs for DiamondDeparture Airport: BNA or ATLMiles Needed: Just MQDs -9kRequired Spend or Budget: $2500 for each personAvailable Travel Dates: Any - I'll probably do a solo weekend in airports
9000 MQDs for DiamondDeparture Airport: BNA or ATLMiles Needed: Just MQDs -9kRequired Spend or Budget: $2500 for each personAvailable Travel Dates: Any - I'll probably do a solo weekend in airports
Jul 8, 2022, 9:08 pm
#229
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Hi all! Only year I'll ever probably be able to hit Diamond. Thanks for any info/guidance!
9000 MQDs for DiamondDeparture Airport: BNA or ATLMiles Needed: Just MQDs -9kRequired Spend or Budget: $2500 for each personAvailable Travel Dates: Any - I'll probably do a solo weekend in airports
9000 MQDs for DiamondDeparture Airport: BNA or ATLMiles Needed: Just MQDs -9kRequired Spend or Budget: $2500 for each personAvailable Travel Dates: Any - I'll probably do a solo weekend in airports
A second option is to do several MR from TIJ on AeroMexico. Please see JFKEZE's posting
Jul 8, 2022, 10:54 pm
#230
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 2
DL Winter Trip Help Needed
I'm like $3,500 from hitting diamond and am looking at doing a family vacation in December with somewhat flexible dates. The key here is leaving on or near December 19th (no earlier than the 17th) and being somewhere for 10-12 days. Can also land at a different spot then returning to as long as the original flight starts in Los Angeles and I return to Los Angeles. Any help with this is greatly appreciated and we are totally open to going anywhere.
Departure Airport: LAX
MQD Needed: $3,500
Required Spend or Budget: $2000
Available Travel Dates: Leave anytime after December 17th and return 10-13 days after departing
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
Departure Airport: LAX
MQD Needed: $3,500
Required Spend or Budget: $2000
Available Travel Dates: Leave anytime after December 17th and return 10-13 days after departing
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
Jul 9, 2022, 5:36 am
#231
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,038
I'm like $3,500 from hitting diamond and am looking at doing a family vacation in December with somewhat flexible dates. The key here is leaving on or near December 19th (no earlier than the 17th) and being somewhere for 10-12 days. Can also land at a different spot then returning to as long as the original flight starts in Los Angeles and I return to Los Angeles. Any help with this is greatly appreciated and we are totally open to going anywhere.
Departure Airport: LAX
MQD Needed: $3,500
Required Spend or Budget: $2000
Available Travel Dates: Leave anytime after December 17th and return 10-13 days after departing
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
Departure Airport: LAX
MQD Needed: $3,500
Required Spend or Budget: $2000
Available Travel Dates: Leave anytime after December 17th and return 10-13 days after departing
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
The other issue with Family MRs is that usually not everyone is happy with extra stops, positing flights etc.
Does everyone need the MQDs or just you? Why not grab a weekend trip for yourself such as YYC-SCL fare /CAD 1722 or USD 1336 in Business for 5226 MQD
Or if you want a Family MR look into JNB in Economy Delight which gives 25% of distance.... But fares are over 3000 in coach at times....
I would look at Hermosillo from Tijuana as the best chance for MQDs 1868 each so two of them should do it
Jul 9, 2022, 9:04 am
#232
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: Delta
Posts: 23
Currently, I have Gold Medallion status, but I am attempting to get Platinum status for next year. It's been a slow year, but I have 20,932 MQMs & $1,369 MQDs. I have a few flights upcoming as well, but I want to maximize what I can get from now through August 25th. I would like to go to Santo Domingo & I was exploring traveling through Mexico to gain additional miles. I'd love a great itinerary for that at the minimum. But, I really want the best cost-effective way to get my required spend etc, like everyone else. I appreciate your assistance/guidance! 
Departure Airport: BOS
MQD Needed: 55,000 MQMs and $7,700 MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: $2500, maybe $3K
Available Travel Dates: Any time from now until 25th (see below)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
Edit - let me take back any day. These days will not work July 15th-18th
August 2nd, August 3-8, August 12th
Departure Airport: BOS
MQD Needed: 55,000 MQMs and $7,700 MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: $2500, maybe $3K
Available Travel Dates: Any time from now until 25th (see below)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
Edit - let me take back any day. These days will not work July 15th-18th
August 2nd, August 3-8, August 12th
Last edited by jcasanovadavis; Jul 9, 2022 at 9:15 am
Jul 9, 2022, 1:52 pm
#233
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 2
OK that makes sense, so if i don't do it with family which is totally fine, Here is a new request. The key for me is trying to find something from LAX. My fall is really busy (unfortunately) so that is the challenge here.
Departure Airport: LAX
MQD Needed: $3,500
Required Spend or Budget: $2000
Available Travel Dates: July 27 - Aug 3
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
Departure Airport: LAX
MQD Needed: $3,500
Required Spend or Budget: $2000
Available Travel Dates: July 27 - Aug 3
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
Jul 11, 2022, 9:27 pm
#234
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: Delta
Posts: 23
Currently, I have Gold Medallion status, but I am attempting to get Platinum status for next year. It's been a slow year, but I have 20,932 MQMs & $1,369 MQDs. I have a few flights upcoming as well, but I want to maximize what I can get from now through August 25th. I would like to go to Santo Domingo & I was exploring traveling through Mexico to gain additional miles. I'd love a great itinerary for that at the minimum. But, I really want the best cost-effective way to get my required spend etc, like everyone else. I appreciate your assistance/guidance!
Departure Airport: BOS
MQD Needed: 55,000 MQMs and $7,700 MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: $2500, maybe $3K
Available Travel Dates: Any time from now until 25th (see below)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
Edit - let me take back any day. These days will not work July 15th-18th
August 2nd, August 3-8, August 12th
Departure Airport: BOS
MQD Needed: 55,000 MQMs and $7,700 MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: $2500, maybe $3K
Available Travel Dates: Any time from now until 25th (see below)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
Edit - let me take back any day. These days will not work July 15th-18th
August 2nd, August 3-8, August 12th
Jul 11, 2022, 9:46 pm
#235
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Glob/UA Gold
Posts: 613
Currently, I have Gold Medallion status, but I am attempting to get Platinum status for next year. It's been a slow year, but I have 20,932 MQMs & $1,369 MQDs. I have a few flights upcoming as well, but I want to maximize what I can get from now through August 25th. I would like to go to Santo Domingo & I was exploring traveling through Mexico to gain additional miles. I'd love a great itinerary for that at the minimum. But, I really want the best cost-effective way to get my required spend etc, like everyone else. I appreciate your assistance/guidance!
Departure Airport: BOS
MQD Needed: 55,000 MQMs and $7,700 MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: $2500, maybe $3K
Available Travel Dates: Any time from now until 25th (see below)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
Edit - let me take back any day. These days will not work July 15th-18th
August 2nd, August 3-8, August 12th
Departure Airport: BOS
MQD Needed: 55,000 MQMs and $7,700 MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: $2500, maybe $3K
Available Travel Dates: Any time from now until 25th (see below)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
Edit - let me take back any day. These days will not work July 15th-18th
August 2nd, August 3-8, August 12th
Jul 13, 2022, 7:07 am
#236
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
Thanks to all the active participants in this thread, there are some great ideas out there.
Departure Airport: NYC
MQD Needed: $8,000
Required Spend or Budget: flexible
Available Travel Dates: late September-early November
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
The Economy Delight fares on VS would probably be the most efficient way to knock this out but I'm not sure I can sign up to that much flying in Y over a short period of time. I do have GUCs though successful use of those on VS is pretty spotty. (Those also used to present interesting opportunities on AF/KL but I understand that loophole may now have closed.)
I have found some okay-ish fares to JNB (mid $3ks) out of EWR and ORD, but they mostly require 3-4 nights in JNB which plus travel time adds up to quite a bit of time away ... I do have the vacation days but debating if it's the best use of time. (I have been to JNB before so familiar with what there is and isn't to do there.) NYC-Mexicali also looks interesting although I'd need to do it a few times, which adds up in time/hassle/cost.
Appreciate any other ideas!
Departure Airport: NYC
MQD Needed: $8,000
Required Spend or Budget: flexible
Available Travel Dates: late September-early November
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
The Economy Delight fares on VS would probably be the most efficient way to knock this out but I'm not sure I can sign up to that much flying in Y over a short period of time. I do have GUCs though successful use of those on VS is pretty spotty. (Those also used to present interesting opportunities on AF/KL but I understand that loophole may now have closed.)
I have found some okay-ish fares to JNB (mid $3ks) out of EWR and ORD, but they mostly require 3-4 nights in JNB which plus travel time adds up to quite a bit of time away ... I do have the vacation days but debating if it's the best use of time. (I have been to JNB before so familiar with what there is and isn't to do there.) NYC-Mexicali also looks interesting although I'd need to do it a few times, which adds up in time/hassle/cost.
Appreciate any other ideas!
Jul 13, 2022, 8:24 am
#237
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,038
Thanks to all the active participants in this thread, there are some great ideas out there.
Departure Airport: NYC
MQD Needed: $8,000
Required Spend or Budget: flexible
Available Travel Dates: late September-early November
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
The Economy Delight fares on VS would probably be the most efficient way to knock this out but I'm not sure I can sign up to that much flying in Y over a short period of time. I do have GUCs though successful use of those on VS is pretty spotty. (Those also used to present interesting opportunities on AF/KL but I understand that loophole may now have closed.)
I have found some okay-ish fares to JNB (mid $3ks) out of EWR and ORD, but they mostly require 3-4 nights in JNB which plus travel time adds up to quite a bit of time away ... I do have the vacation days but debating if it's the best use of time. (I have been to JNB before so familiar with what there is and isn't to do there.) NYC-Mexicali also looks interesting although I'd need to do it a few times, which adds up in time/hassle/cost.
Appreciate any other ideas!
Departure Airport: NYC
MQD Needed: $8,000
Required Spend or Budget: flexible
Available Travel Dates: late September-early November
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*:
The Economy Delight fares on VS would probably be the most efficient way to knock this out but I'm not sure I can sign up to that much flying in Y over a short period of time. I do have GUCs though successful use of those on VS is pretty spotty. (Those also used to present interesting opportunities on AF/KL but I understand that loophole may now have closed.)
I have found some okay-ish fares to JNB (mid $3ks) out of EWR and ORD, but they mostly require 3-4 nights in JNB which plus travel time adds up to quite a bit of time away ... I do have the vacation days but debating if it's the best use of time. (I have been to JNB before so familiar with what there is and isn't to do there.) NYC-Mexicali also looks interesting although I'd need to do it a few times, which adds up in time/hassle/cost.
Appreciate any other ideas!
Also look at Premium Economy to JNB , it used to be a good value
Jul 14, 2022, 8:00 pm
#238
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 10
Given the issues at LHR and the passenger limits they've placed, is it worth finding flights that connect through there? I know the MIA-JNB does that, but I fear what could happen.
Jul 15, 2022, 7:48 am
#239
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
In terms of what could happen ... I assume for a mileage run one is not checking a bag, so that solves one of the biggest risks flying in Europe lately. I would be worried about any shorter connections, say less than 3 hours, though I would be nervous about that at LHR any time.
There is also a possibility that with the airport putting limits on passengers numbers, your flight could be cancelled in advance, but in some cases you may be able to parlay that into a more desirable itinerary, or worst case just get a refund (which is not an awful outcome if you weren't actually taking the trip because you needed to be somewhere...).
If a flight is cancelled at short notice, there is of course always a risk of not getting home on time, etc., and I might be cautious about super short turnaround itineraries given that risk. But in terms of the mileage implications you should generally (perhaps with a fight) be able to get "original routing credit", i.e. the mileage credit you originally expected to get before you were rebooked on something else.
Jul 19, 2022, 9:30 am
#240
Join Date: Nov 2021
Programs: SkyTeam, OneWorld
Posts: 5
Hey folks! Just working on MQD for Diamond again this year. I'm set on everything but that 15k requirement. I have a friend going to Seoul for the dates below so if there's any iteration of a deal that goes through there that would be amazing. Thanks y'all
Departure Airport: AUS
MQD Needed: $9000 by EOY
Required Spend or Budget: whatever is a good deal
Available Travel Dates: 25 July - 15 Aug
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Whatever gets the most MQD
Departure Airport: AUS
MQD Needed: $9000 by EOY
Required Spend or Budget: whatever is a good deal
Available Travel Dates: 25 July - 15 Aug
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Whatever gets the most MQD