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
Sep 12, 2022, 1:38 pm
#421
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,626
LIMA MILEAGE RUN REPORT: JFK-ATL-LIM-ATL-EWR immediate turnaround
Miles Needed: 7,200 MQM (MQDs satisfied through Delta AMEX spend)
Miles Earned: 7,859 MQMs, $750 MQDs
SkyMiles Used: 75k, $72 in taxes - Could have gotten for less on another day, but it was when I had time to do it.
Metal: Delta
I was credited the MQMs AND MQDs promptly after each flight landed. It's great that Delta now gives you MQMs and MQDs on award tickets. Because of lounge access, the shower was the only thing I paid for. The biggest expense was getting to and from the airports. Now I have Platinum status for the first time!
Miles Needed: 7,200 MQM (MQDs satisfied through Delta AMEX spend)
Miles Earned: 7,859 MQMs, $750 MQDs
SkyMiles Used: 75k, $72 in taxes - Could have gotten for less on another day, but it was when I had time to do it.
Metal: Delta
I was credited the MQMs AND MQDs promptly after each flight landed. It's great that Delta now gives you MQMs and MQDs on award tickets. Because of lounge access, the shower was the only thing I paid for. The biggest expense was getting to and from the airports. Now I have Platinum status for the first time!
I tagged it on to an Asia run when NW was offering some insane mileage multiple for flights that originated in PIT, STL. And then there was this amazing fare STL-LIM, like $200-300 in coach. As I recall the miles were credited to NW and when I checked in at STL, the agent said - you shouldn't have to fly ATL-LIM in coach and somehow put me in business class for the ATL-LIM flight.
I was spending 2 nights (including the arrival night) in Lima. My checked bag went to Wilmington, NC (ILM/LIM) in the days before bag tags were scanned on loading.
Did a day of sightseeing in Lima.
Sep 12, 2022, 4:14 pm
#422
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,038
From the Delta earnings table for Air France for International flights: (intra-Europe flights for A class only earn 10%)
Sep 12, 2022, 4:30 pm
#423
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 7
MQD Run from BOS
Departure Airport: BOS
Miles Needed:750MQM MQD Required $700
Required Spend or Budget: $500 or so. Less is better but I am on a tight schedule and need to get this by November 6th to achieve
Available Travel Dates: September 17th to November 6th. Looking to do a same day or 1 night trip. Any day of the week
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or Codeshares
Thank you for your help. I have been reviewing and see many runs to earn large amount of MQM's and/MOQD's. Looking for this smaller amount- MQD's
Current Status: PM
Miles Needed:750MQM MQD Required $700
Required Spend or Budget: $500 or so. Less is better but I am on a tight schedule and need to get this by November 6th to achieve
Available Travel Dates: September 17th to November 6th. Looking to do a same day or 1 night trip. Any day of the week
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or Codeshares
Thank you for your help. I have been reviewing and see many runs to earn large amount of MQM's and/MOQD's. Looking for this smaller amount- MQD's
Current Status: PM
Last edited by Flyinglotus; Sep 12, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Sep 12, 2022, 5:03 pm
#424
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Departure Airport: BOS
Miles Needed:750MQM MQD Required $700
Required Spend or Budget: $500 or so. Less is better but I am on a tight schedule and need to get this by November 6th to achieve
Available Travel Dates: September 17th to November 6th. Looking to do a same day or 1 night trip. Any day of the week
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or Codeshares
Thank you for your help. I have been reviewing and see many runs to earn large amount of MQM's and/MOQD's. Looking for this smaller amount- MQD's
Current Status: PM
Miles Needed:750MQM MQD Required $700
Required Spend or Budget: $500 or so. Less is better but I am on a tight schedule and need to get this by November 6th to achieve
Available Travel Dates: September 17th to November 6th. Looking to do a same day or 1 night trip. Any day of the week
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or Codeshares
Thank you for your help. I have been reviewing and see many runs to earn large amount of MQM's and/MOQD's. Looking for this smaller amount- MQD's
Current Status: PM
e.g. BOS - PHL
If you need to only spend $500 then you will have to fly on a partner airline which might not be worth the hassle.
Sep 12, 2022, 5:24 pm
#425
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 7
Thank you.
By tight schedule I meant I need to complete the run by November 6th.
Of course, if there are no options under $500, then the flight suggested would be a great option.
Appreciate the help and hoping for other insights/options.
By tight schedule I meant I need to complete the run by November 6th.
Of course, if there are no options under $500, then the flight suggested would be a great option.
Appreciate the help and hoping for other insights/options.
Sep 13, 2022, 1:55 am
#426
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,645
Sep 13, 2022, 10:00 am
#427
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Maybe. Westjet earns 20% for business class, 10% for full economy and 5% for discounted economy for MQDs. To earn $700 MQDs, a person would have to fly 3500, 7000 or 14,000 miles depending on the class of fare. not really a short hop.
If the OP was based in San Diego, then a TIJ - XXX trip would be easy but Boston is kind of out of the way.
If the OP was based in San Diego, then a TIJ - XXX trip would be easy but Boston is kind of out of the way.
Sep 13, 2022, 4:07 pm
#428
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
e.g. October 11, BOS-ATL-MEX-MZT-MEX-DTW-BOS, $618 (business class), about 7800 MQMs, about $2700 MQDs, 45 minutes in Mazatlan, 7 hours in Mexico City (overnight) on return, (option for overnighting in Matzatlan - 11 hours and returning back into Boston around 10:30pm on October 12). Google Flights link
Last edited by canuck_traveler; Sep 13, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Sep 13, 2022, 5:04 pm
#429
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,038
This is a possibility if you can book it as marketed by AeroMexico. Boston - Mazatlan.
e.g. October 11, BOS-ATL-MEX-MZT-MEX-DTW-BOS, $618 (business class), about 7800 MQMs, about $2700 MQDs, 45 minutes in Mazatlan, 7 hours in Mexico City (overnight) on return, (option for overnighting in Matzatlan - 11 hours and returning back into Boston around 10:30pm on October 12). Google Flights link
e.g. October 11, BOS-ATL-MEX-MZT-MEX-DTW-BOS, $618 (business class), about 7800 MQMs, about $2700 MQDs, 45 minutes in Mazatlan, 7 hours in Mexico City (overnight) on return, (option for overnighting in Matzatlan - 11 hours and returning back into Boston around 10:30pm on October 12). Google Flights link
Careful that's a Delta ticket, so MQDs based upon spend just 436 MQDs
This one is a bit more but all AM flight numbers so at least 2981 MQDs
Google Flights
Sep 13, 2022, 5:25 pm
#430
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Canuck!
Careful that's a Delta ticket, so MQDs based upon spend just 436 MQDs
This one is a bit more but all AM flight numbers so at least 2981 MQDs
Google Flights
Careful that's a Delta ticket, so MQDs based upon spend just 436 MQDs
This one is a bit more but all AM flight numbers so at least 2981 MQDs
Google Flights
I was able to price something out on the AeroMexico website but at a higher price and more than the $500 target by the Op.
Sep 13, 2022, 7:53 pm
#431
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 7
Thank you all for your efforts.
Like you, this shorter MQD requirement is proving complicated. I do appreciate the options that have been identified.
As suggested I will keep looking and if it's close to the $700 MQD requirement needed, I might just do a shorter trip as initially suggested by "canuck_traveler."
I just checked with Delta and my MQD requirement is exactly $694
Like you, this shorter MQD requirement is proving complicated. I do appreciate the options that have been identified.
As suggested I will keep looking and if it's close to the $700 MQD requirement needed, I might just do a shorter trip as initially suggested by "canuck_traveler."
I just checked with Delta and my MQD requirement is exactly $694
Sep 14, 2022, 5:14 pm
#432
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New York
Posts: 1
HELP, HELP...
Departure Airports: JFK, LGA
Miles Needed: none
MQD: 6-8k
Required Spend or Budget: As cheap as possible
Available Travel Dates: November, December (if October ... then after 10/20 from Europe)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: to get PM with Delta so I think partners are also ok, btw. I'm ok with MQM 155k
Departure Airports: JFK, LGA
Miles Needed: none
MQD: 6-8k
Required Spend or Budget: As cheap as possible
Available Travel Dates: November, December (if October ... then after 10/20 from Europe)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: to get PM with Delta so I think partners are also ok, btw. I'm ok with MQM 155k
Sep 14, 2022, 6:47 pm
#433
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
HELP, HELP...
Departure Airports: JFK, LGA
Miles Needed: none
MQD: 6-8k
Required Spend or Budget: As cheap as possible
Available Travel Dates: November, December (if October ... then after 10/20 from Europe)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: to get PM with Delta so I think partners are also ok, btw. I'm ok with MQM 155k
Departure Airports: JFK, LGA
Miles Needed: none
MQD: 6-8k
Required Spend or Budget: As cheap as possible
Available Travel Dates: November, December (if October ... then after 10/20 from Europe)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: to get PM with Delta so I think partners are also ok, btw. I'm ok with MQM 155k
Sep 14, 2022, 6:56 pm
#434
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 7
Departure Airport: WAS or NYC - - WAS preferred
Mileage Needed: None
MQDs: $3,000
Budget: flexible but under $1k preferred
Dates: October - early Dec; can fly during weekday
Required Metal: No, just Delta or Delta Partner
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I saw the Virgin Atlantic flight to SA — wondering if there is something a bit closer or to Europe. Also, if I use points to purchase on Virgin Atlantic can I earn MQDs?
Mileage Needed: None
MQDs: $3,000
Budget: flexible but under $1k preferred
Dates: October - early Dec; can fly during weekday
Required Metal: No, just Delta or Delta Partner
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I saw the Virgin Atlantic flight to SA — wondering if there is something a bit closer or to Europe. Also, if I use points to purchase on Virgin Atlantic can I earn MQDs?
Sep 15, 2022, 11:05 am
#435
Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 5
Departure Airport: MSP (could reposition if needed - ORD likely easiest/cheapest)
Mileage Needed: None
MQDs: $3,000
Budget: <$1200
Dates: No restrictions, just want quick turnaround (would prefer not to have to stay overnight at a location if possible)
Required Metal: Would prefer to book using DL as I have a ton of credit if possible (I've seen using ITA Powertools that even AF Premium Economy can get high MQDs when booking on DL)
Mileage Needed: None
MQDs: $3,000
Budget: <$1200
Dates: No restrictions, just want quick turnaround (would prefer not to have to stay overnight at a location if possible)
Required Metal: Would prefer to book using DL as I have a ton of credit if possible (I've seen using ITA Powertools that even AF Premium Economy can get high MQDs when booking on DL)