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
Dec 8, 2022, 9:04 pm
#1021
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
First of all, this forum is amazing. Second, could you help me see if it’s possible to get 3800 MQDs from RDU before the end of the year?
Departure Airport: RDU - ATL or JFK work too
Miles Needed: 3,800 MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: Least amount possible - ideally less than 1k but I know it’s unlikely so I’m flexible.
Available Travel Dates: before December 30th.
Departure Airport: RDU - ATL or JFK work too
Miles Needed: 3,800 MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: Least amount possible - ideally less than 1k but I know it’s unlikely so I’m flexible.
Available Travel Dates: before December 30th.
e.g. December 12 - 13, JFK-MEX-LIM-MEX-JFK, $2703, about $3700 MQDs. Google Flights link
Dec 8, 2022, 10:50 pm
#1022
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 5
Chimichurri
Last edited by Chicken Nuggets; Jan 1, 2023 at 8:04 pm Reason: Chimichurri
Dec 9, 2022, 8:19 am
#1023
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 1
Help - DL Platinum Run by Year-End
Departure Airport: Any NYC airport (JFK/EWR/LGA)
Miles Needed: 2400 MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: Open
Available Travel Dates: Before year end
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
Miles Needed: 2400 MQDs
Required Spend or Budget: Open
Available Travel Dates: Before year end
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: DL or any partner
Dec 9, 2022, 9:16 am
#1024
Join Date: Nov 2019
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1
7000 MQD Partner run request, MSP origin or will commute -
Departure Airport: MSP or can commute ex: LAX, JFK, etc prefer to maximize MQDs and therefore distance.Miles Needed: 0 MQMs, 7000 MQDs (just barely under)Required Spend or Budget: as little as possible but flexible. Prefer to not spend 7K and maximize partner fares. Also have 4 GUC expiring end of Jan.
Available Travel Dates: 12/26 to 12/21 or possibly dates up to 12/23. (Do need to be in LUX on 12/29 so something near or routing through FRA, LUX or CDG probably good)
Also, considering additional January MQD run to use up GUC.
Required Metal or Codeshares okay* (need codeshares please)
Thanks In advance for any help.
**also, new poster so I did a reply (hopefully not starting a new thread)
Available Travel Dates: 12/26 to 12/21 or possibly dates up to 12/23. (Do need to be in LUX on 12/29 so something near or routing through FRA, LUX or CDG probably good)
Also, considering additional January MQD run to use up GUC.
Required Metal or Codeshares okay* (need codeshares please)
Thanks In advance for any help.
**also, new poster so I did a reply (hopefully not starting a new thread)
Dec 9, 2022, 10:50 am
#1025
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 8
Dec 9, 2022, 11:00 am
#1026
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,038
JFK-GRU would earn 20106 MQMs 3351 MQDs 1.88 MQD Ratio
Dec 9, 2022, 11:02 am
#1027
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,038
JFK-GRU would earn 20106 MQMs 3351 MQDs 1.88 MQD Ratio
Dec 9, 2022, 11:08 am
#1028
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,038
Departure Airport: MSP or can commute ex: LAX, JFK, etc prefer to maximize MQDs and therefore distance.Miles Needed: 0 MQMs, 7000 MQDs (just barely under)Required Spend or Budget: as little as possible but flexible. Prefer to not spend 7K and maximize partner fares. Also have 4 GUC expiring end of Jan.
Available Travel Dates: 12/26 to 12/21 or possibly dates up to 12/23. (Do need to be in LUX on 12/29 so something near or routing through FRA, LUX or CDG probably good)
Also, considering additional January MQD run to use up GUC.
Required Metal or Codeshares okay* (need codeshares please)
Thanks In advance for any help.
**also, new poster so I did a reply (hopefully not starting a new thread)
Available Travel Dates: 12/26 to 12/21 or possibly dates up to 12/23. (Do need to be in LUX on 12/29 so something near or routing through FRA, LUX or CDG probably good)
Also, considering additional January MQD run to use up GUC.
Required Metal or Codeshares okay* (need codeshares please)
Thanks In advance for any help.
**also, new poster so I did a reply (hopefully not starting a new thread)
I would consider if not best to aim for status next year? How many MQMs do you have? At this point in the year and for that amount of MQDs you need 3-4 TIJ-HMO/CJS runs plus a positioning flight to TIJ/SAN so looking at 600 a pop times 4 runs , or basically 5 days travelling around Mexico...
Or two USA-CPT/JNB Virgin runs and those are also pricey... would it make more sense to go for Diamond early in the year?
Dec 9, 2022, 11:54 am
#1029
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 355
Warning - MQDs may be lower if you use SkyMiles and cash
Maybe this belongs elsewhere, but a warning for those trying to squeeze as many MQDs in before year-end.
I decided to skip the use of other carriers and just to pay to upgrade for more expensive tickets. One recent trip was ATL-LEX in FC. I wavered between paying out of pocket or using SkyMiles. I ended up doing both and used 85,500 SkyMiles and I paid $341 and change for the cash portion. Some of those $$ were for fees and taxes, but the remaining $330 I *thought* would get me 330 of MQDs. Wrong - they were converted to 17,500 SkyMiles. The result was a total of 103k SkyMiles and 1,030 of MQDs, which was a difference of "only" 125 MQDs. But, if I had not been paying attention, I could have ended up short with no time left to fly again.
I decided to skip the use of other carriers and just to pay to upgrade for more expensive tickets. One recent trip was ATL-LEX in FC. I wavered between paying out of pocket or using SkyMiles. I ended up doing both and used 85,500 SkyMiles and I paid $341 and change for the cash portion. Some of those $$ were for fees and taxes, but the remaining $330 I *thought* would get me 330 of MQDs. Wrong - they were converted to 17,500 SkyMiles. The result was a total of 103k SkyMiles and 1,030 of MQDs, which was a difference of "only" 125 MQDs. But, if I had not been paying attention, I could have ended up short with no time left to fly again.
Dec 9, 2022, 11:57 am
#1030
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 5
Need a mileage run from ATL
Hello -
I am 13413 MQMS away from being diamond. Please help.
Departure Airport: ATL or NYC ( better internationally out of NY )
Miles Needed: 13413 MQM
Required Spend or Budget: 190,000 skymiles or 500$ +/-
Available Travel Dates: 12/11-12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Delta or any partner.
I don’t mind traveling internationally, but would really prefer flights under 8 hours. I also don’t mind if this is broken into 1-3 trips.
I am 13413 MQMS away from being diamond. Please help.
Departure Airport: ATL or NYC ( better internationally out of NY )
Miles Needed: 13413 MQM
Required Spend or Budget: 190,000 skymiles or 500$ +/-
Available Travel Dates: 12/11-12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Delta or any partner.
I don’t mind traveling internationally, but would really prefer flights under 8 hours. I also don’t mind if this is broken into 1-3 trips.
Dec 9, 2022, 12:13 pm
#1031
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,051
Maybe this belongs elsewhere, but a warning for those trying to squeeze as many MQDs in before year-end.
I decided to skip the use of other carriers and just to pay to upgrade for more expensive tickets. One recent trip was ATL-LEX in FC. I wavered between paying out of pocket or using SkyMiles. I ended up doing both and used 85,500 SkyMiles and I paid $341 and change for the cash portion. Some of those $$ were for fees and taxes, but the remaining $330 I *thought* would get me 330 of MQDs. Wrong - they were converted to 17,500 SkyMiles. The result was a total of 103k SkyMiles and 1,030 of MQDs, which was a difference of "only" 125 MQDs. But, if I had not been paying attention, I could have ended up short with no time left to fly again.
I decided to skip the use of other carriers and just to pay to upgrade for more expensive tickets. One recent trip was ATL-LEX in FC. I wavered between paying out of pocket or using SkyMiles. I ended up doing both and used 85,500 SkyMiles and I paid $341 and change for the cash portion. Some of those $$ were for fees and taxes, but the remaining $330 I *thought* would get me 330 of MQDs. Wrong - they were converted to 17,500 SkyMiles. The result was a total of 103k SkyMiles and 1,030 of MQDs, which was a difference of "only" 125 MQDs. But, if I had not been paying attention, I could have ended up short with no time left to fly again.
I have bought cash tickets and used miles to upgrade (via the seat map) and have received MQDs as expected ... the normal MQDs from the base ticket plus the mileage amount /100 for the upgrade. It sounds like maybe something went wrong with your credit that could be worth calling Delta for further investigation?
That said, if you bought a miles ticket and upgraded with cash, I've never done that, so I don't know for sure, but what you describe still sounds wrong.
Dec 9, 2022, 12:30 pm
#1032
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 355
Sorry, I may not have been as clear as I could have been.
I bought the ticket using the option of paying with miles and cash, as described above. If you go to "book" and look at the top right, you can have the results in $USD, Miles or "Miles + Cash". I chose option #3, and the result for the round trip ticket was 85,500 of miles and $341 of cash. $11 was for the fee, leaving $330 for the ticket itself. I got 85,500/100 credit for the miles used (855 MQDs), but the $330 was converted into 17,500 miles to make the entire ticket an award ticket of 103k - or 1,030 of MQDs. I can see it on the activity, and I called and spent 25 minutes on with the DM desk while the agent spoke to another person to confirm the above.
I bought the ticket using the option of paying with miles and cash, as described above. If you go to "book" and look at the top right, you can have the results in $USD, Miles or "Miles + Cash". I chose option #3, and the result for the round trip ticket was 85,500 of miles and $341 of cash. $11 was for the fee, leaving $330 for the ticket itself. I got 85,500/100 credit for the miles used (855 MQDs), but the $330 was converted into 17,500 miles to make the entire ticket an award ticket of 103k - or 1,030 of MQDs. I can see it on the activity, and I called and spent 25 minutes on with the DM desk while the agent spoke to another person to confirm the above.
Dec 9, 2022, 3:25 pm
#1033
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Hello -
I am 13413 MQMS away from being diamond. Please help.
Departure Airport: ATL or NYC ( better internationally out of NY )
Miles Needed: 13413 MQM
Required Spend or Budget: 190,000 skymiles or 500$ +/-
Available Travel Dates: 12/11-12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Delta or any partner.
I don’t mind traveling internationally, but would really prefer flights under 8 hours. I also don’t mind if this is broken into 1-3 trips.
I am 13413 MQMS away from being diamond. Please help.
Departure Airport: ATL or NYC ( better internationally out of NY )
Miles Needed: 13413 MQM
Required Spend or Budget: 190,000 skymiles or 500$ +/-
Available Travel Dates: 12/11-12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Delta or any partner.
I don’t mind traveling internationally, but would really prefer flights under 8 hours. I also don’t mind if this is broken into 1-3 trips.
In the example below the longest flight is a little less than 6 hours. You would earn 9300 MQMS and costing 73,000 Skymiles + $5.60. You can do a second trip to Hawaii or maybe Seattle, Portland, Anchorage, etc. for the remaining MQMs for a similar amount of Skymiles.
Dec 9, 2022, 5:14 pm
#1034
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Delta, American
Posts: 3
LAX Mileage run
Hello, need 8,000 MQMs for Platinum renew. Travel dates: 12/10-11, or 12/30-31. LAX, LGB or SNA airports. Already obtained MQDs.
Departure Airport: LAX, SNA, LGB
Miles Needed: 8,000 MQM
Required Spend or Budget: 0 MQDs needed so lower fares preferred
Available Travel Dates: 12/10-11 or 12/30-31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Delta or any partner.
Departure Airport: LAX, SNA, LGB
Miles Needed: 8,000 MQM
Required Spend or Budget: 0 MQDs needed so lower fares preferred
Available Travel Dates: 12/10-11 or 12/30-31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Delta or any partner.
Last edited by JAL98; Dec 9, 2022 at 5:18 pm Reason: Format
Dec 9, 2022, 5:39 pm
#1035
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,895
Hello, need 8,000 MQMs for Platinum renew. Travel dates: 12/10-11, or 12/30-31. LAX, LGB or SNA airports. Already obtained MQDs.
Departure Airport: LAX, SNA, LGB
Miles Needed: 8,000 MQM
Required Spend or Budget: 0 MQDs needed so lower fares preferred
Available Travel Dates: 12/10-11 or 12/30-31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Delta or any partner.
Departure Airport: LAX, SNA, LGB
Miles Needed: 8,000 MQM
Required Spend or Budget: 0 MQDs needed so lower fares preferred
Available Travel Dates: 12/10-11 or 12/30-31
Required Metal or Codeshares okay*: Delta or any partner.
LAX - LIH - LAX is $432 on December 10th and earns 5200 MQMs. Various dates available at this price.