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 27, 2022, 4:43 pm
#256
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Departure Airport: DCA/BWI/JFK/
MQD Needed: $1500
MQM: 12,500
Required Spend or Budget: $3500
Available Travel Dates:
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL is preferred with limited partner
Hi,
I am currently a GM and trying to maintain it for the year. Have an upcoming trip and trying to maximize miles/spend as effectively as possible. Leave JFK 9/22 or 9/23 open to any destination DL flies from the above airports. Need to arrive in LHR on 9/25 or 9/26. I leave LHR on 10/20 for BWI. Any suggestions would be great.
MQD Needed: $1500
MQM: 12,500
Required Spend or Budget: $3500
Available Travel Dates:
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL is preferred with limited partner
Hi,
I am currently a GM and trying to maintain it for the year. Have an upcoming trip and trying to maximize miles/spend as effectively as possible. Leave JFK 9/22 or 9/23 open to any destination DL flies from the above airports. Need to arrive in LHR on 9/25 or 9/26. I leave LHR on 10/20 for BWI. Any suggestions would be great.
Jul 27, 2022, 5:35 pm
#257
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,038
One suggestion is to fly Virgin Atlantic (Economy Delight class) from BWI to LHR (Sept 24 - Oct. 20, $1127). The trip will earn about $1900 MQD and 9700 MQMs. You can pick up the remaining MQMs with a BWI-LAS-BWI (roughly 4000 MQMs) on Sept 23 (getting back into BWI the morning of the 24th in time to leave for LHR.)
MQMs 150% 11031
MQDs 30% 2206
MQD Ratio 1.87
Jul 27, 2022, 6:49 pm
#258
Join Date: Jul 2022
Programs: SkyMiles
Posts: 2
Trying to maintain Gold
If I book Premium on Virgin for BWI - LHR ($2342) would that be a better or could I book IAD-LHR($1602) on Virgin Premium - same dates?
One suggestion is to fly Virgin Atlantic (Economy Delight class) from BWI to LHR (Sept 24 - Oct. 20, $1127). The trip will earn about $1900 MQD and 9700 MQMs. You can pick up the remaining MQMs with a BWI-LAS-BWI (roughly 4000 MQMs) on Sept 23 (getting back into BWI the morning of the 24th in time to leave for LHR.)
Jul 28, 2022, 4:45 am
#259
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
You would still be a few MQMs short but a short / quick trip should fix that.
Jul 28, 2022, 3:37 pm
#260
Join Date: Jul 2022
Programs: SkyMiles
Posts: 1
Trying my hardest to land Diamond status this year! I'm also open to multiple 2-3 runs to get to my goal. Thanks in advance for any insights!
Departure Airport: ATL/NYC/MIA/Any east coast hub
MQD Needed: 11,000
Required Spend or Budget: Sub $2000
Available Travel Dates: Any dates before December 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
Departure Airport: ATL/NYC/MIA/Any east coast hub
MQD Needed: 11,000
Required Spend or Budget: Sub $2000
Available Travel Dates: Any dates before December 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
Jul 28, 2022, 5:06 pm
#261
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,038
Trying my hardest to land Diamond status this year! I'm also open to multiple 2-3 runs to get to my goal. Thanks in advance for any insights!
Departure Airport: ATL/NYC/MIA/Any east coast hub
MQD Needed: 11,000
Required Spend or Budget: Sub $2000
Available Travel Dates: Any dates before December 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
Departure Airport: ATL/NYC/MIA/Any east coast hub
MQD Needed: 11,000
Required Spend or Budget: Sub $2000
Available Travel Dates: Any dates before December 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
Your best option is to do several JNB runs in what is called Economy Delight which credit 25% of distance as MQDs or 4500 MQDs per trip at some 1200-1400 a trip...
Another option is to look at going to TIJ and doing several trips from there...
Without looking at it too much, probably under 3000 is more reasonable without too many positioning flights, but probably can be improved with some further analysis...
Jul 28, 2022, 5:23 pm
#262
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 28
Departure Airport: FSD but can reposition to any where in US, Canada
Destination - ICN in 2nd week of September would be nice but doesn't have to be. ICN via AeroMexico maybe?
MQD Needed: $7000
MQM: none
Required Spend or Budget: $3500
Available Travel Dates: any time 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Partner preferred for better MQD
Destination - ICN in 2nd week of September would be nice but doesn't have to be. ICN via AeroMexico maybe?
MQD Needed: $7000
MQM: none
Required Spend or Budget: $3500
Available Travel Dates: any time 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Partner preferred for better MQD
Jul 29, 2022, 4:26 pm
#263
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 4
Diamond Status Run
Departure Airport: ATL/NYC/MIA/Any east coast hub
MQD Needed: $9000
MQM Needed: 50,000
Required Spend or Budget: sub $4000
Available Travel Dates: Any dates before December 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
open to doing multiple runs or repositioning out of the west coast
MQD Needed: $9000
MQM Needed: 50,000
Required Spend or Budget: sub $4000
Available Travel Dates: Any dates before December 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
open to doing multiple runs or repositioning out of the west coast
Jul 29, 2022, 4:52 pm
#264
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Departure Airport: ATL/NYC/MIA/Any east coast hub
MQD Needed: $9000
MQM Needed: 50,000
Required Spend or Budget: sub $4000
Available Travel Dates: Any dates before December 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
open to doing multiple runs or repositioning out of the west coast
MQD Needed: $9000
MQM Needed: 50,000
Required Spend or Budget: sub $4000
Available Travel Dates: Any dates before December 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
open to doing multiple runs or repositioning out of the west coast
e.g. Sept 23 - 25, $1457, long layovers in LHR on outbound and inbound, 9 hours in JNB, many dates available at the $1457 price, book on Virgin Atlantic website
Jul 31, 2022, 9:09 am
#265
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 9
Virgin Atlantic in Economy Delight class is available for $1678 for AUS-LHR-JNB-LHR-AUS earning about $5250 MQDs. Various dates at this price starting in September (e.g. Nov 11 - 13). Use the flexible date search on the Virgin Atlantic website to find something that matches your schedule. You can get the remaining needed MQDs with several TIJ - XXX runs in business class on Aero Mexico.
Jul 31, 2022, 12:50 pm
#266
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 2
MQDs needed for Diamond
Departure Airport: NY (JFK/LGA)
Miles Needed: Need ~7K MQDs for Diamond (already have more than enough MQMs)
Required Spend or Budget: $2-3k (or more if needed, but spending >$5/6k would be tough- just trying to maximize value hence coming to the experts)
Available Travel Dates: September 2nd-5th, Late Oct/Early Nov, Late Dec (~25th or NYE)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Delta and/or any Partner airlines with MQD value (e.g. aeromexico, virgin)
***Additional Notes*** :: Looking for easy entry/exit re: covid protocols etc >> I can do 1 solo mile/MQD run (pref LAX,ATL,LHR,etc), and 1 or 2 other trips/vacation with my wife (destination preferences: TIJ, Japan, Paris, Portugal)) | I also plan to use my 400K Skymiles, $300 delta gift card, 2 reg companion certs (where possible in route, for my wife's tickets), 3 reg upgrade certs (where possible in route, for my wife's tickets) (will be trying to keep costs down esp for her tickets since I don't get MQD benefits for those..)
Thank you in advance !!
Miles Needed: Need ~7K MQDs for Diamond (already have more than enough MQMs)
Required Spend or Budget: $2-3k (or more if needed, but spending >$5/6k would be tough- just trying to maximize value hence coming to the experts)
Available Travel Dates: September 2nd-5th, Late Oct/Early Nov, Late Dec (~25th or NYE)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Delta and/or any Partner airlines with MQD value (e.g. aeromexico, virgin)
***Additional Notes*** :: Looking for easy entry/exit re: covid protocols etc >> I can do 1 solo mile/MQD run (pref LAX,ATL,LHR,etc), and 1 or 2 other trips/vacation with my wife (destination preferences: TIJ, Japan, Paris, Portugal)) | I also plan to use my 400K Skymiles, $300 delta gift card, 2 reg companion certs (where possible in route, for my wife's tickets), 3 reg upgrade certs (where possible in route, for my wife's tickets) (will be trying to keep costs down esp for her tickets since I don't get MQD benefits for those..)
Thank you in advance !!
Aug 2, 2022, 7:41 am
#267
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Departure Airport: NY (JFK/LGA)
Miles Needed: Need ~7K MQDs for Diamond (already have more than enough MQMs)
Required Spend or Budget: $2-3k (or more if needed, but spending >$5/6k would be tough- just trying to maximize value hence coming to the experts)
Available Travel Dates: September 2nd-5th, Late Oct/Early Nov, Late Dec (~25th or NYE)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Delta and/or any Partner airlines with MQD value (e.g. aeromexico, virgin)
***Additional Notes*** :: Looking for easy entry/exit re: covid protocols etc >> I can do 1 solo mile/MQD run (pref LAX,ATL,LHR,etc), and 1 or 2 other trips/vacation with my wife (destination preferences: TIJ, Japan, Paris, Portugal)) | I also plan to use my 400K Skymiles, $300 delta gift card, 2 reg companion certs (where possible in route, for my wife's tickets), 3 reg upgrade certs (where possible in route, for my wife's tickets) (will be trying to keep costs down esp for her tickets since I don't get MQD benefits for those..)
Thank you in advance !!
Miles Needed: Need ~7K MQDs for Diamond (already have more than enough MQMs)
Required Spend or Budget: $2-3k (or more if needed, but spending >$5/6k would be tough- just trying to maximize value hence coming to the experts)
Available Travel Dates: September 2nd-5th, Late Oct/Early Nov, Late Dec (~25th or NYE)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Delta and/or any Partner airlines with MQD value (e.g. aeromexico, virgin)
***Additional Notes*** :: Looking for easy entry/exit re: covid protocols etc >> I can do 1 solo mile/MQD run (pref LAX,ATL,LHR,etc), and 1 or 2 other trips/vacation with my wife (destination preferences: TIJ, Japan, Paris, Portugal)) | I also plan to use my 400K Skymiles, $300 delta gift card, 2 reg companion certs (where possible in route, for my wife's tickets), 3 reg upgrade certs (where possible in route, for my wife's tickets) (will be trying to keep costs down esp for her tickets since I don't get MQD benefits for those..)
Thank you in advance !!
e.g.
Aug 2, 2022, 7:59 am
#268
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Departure Airport: FSD but can reposition to any where in US, Canada
Destination - ICN in 2nd week of September would be nice but doesn't have to be. ICN via AeroMexico maybe?
MQD Needed: $7000
MQM: none
Required Spend or Budget: $3500
Available Travel Dates: any time 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Partner preferred for better MQD
Destination - ICN in 2nd week of September would be nice but doesn't have to be. ICN via AeroMexico maybe?
MQD Needed: $7000
MQM: none
Required Spend or Budget: $3500
Available Travel Dates: any time 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Partner preferred for better MQD
e.g. Nov 5 - 7, $1236, Earns about $5700 MQDs, long layover in LHR on return, various dates available (use Virgin Atlantic flexible date search)
Aug 2, 2022, 9:09 am
#269
Join Date: Nov 2021
Programs: Delta, Marriott, National
Posts: 12
Looking for help reaching Diamond for the first time. I have a tentative trip to Italy planned in October but would like some insurance on MQD. Budget is loose but would prefer to not break the bank.
Departure Airport: ATL
MQD Needed: 8000
Required Spend or Budget: $1k - $2k
Available Travel Dates: Any dates before end of 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
Departure Airport: ATL
MQD Needed: 8000
Required Spend or Budget: $1k - $2k
Available Travel Dates: Any dates before end of 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
Aug 2, 2022, 9:17 am
#270
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Looking for help reaching Diamond for the first time. I have a tentative trip to Italy planned in October but would like some insurance on MQD. Budget is loose but would prefer to not break the bank.
Departure Airport: ATL
MQD Needed: 8000
Required Spend or Budget: $1k - $2k
Available Travel Dates: Any dates before end of 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
Departure Airport: ATL
MQD Needed: 8000
Required Spend or Budget: $1k - $2k
Available Travel Dates: Any dates before end of 2022
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
e.g. ATL - LHR - CPT - LHR - ATL in Economy Delight class will earn about $5000 MQDs and 25,000 MQMs.
