Graceful lineup of Delta tails at ATL (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
>Delta rolls out another year-end buy MQM promotion
At this time of year, emails like this one start to pile up in the TravelSkills inbox:
Dear Chris: I am about 8-10k MQMs off qualifying for Platinum on Delta. Do those end of the year buy MQM plans only let you renew or can you earn the next level by paying? Any idea what the best deal is to get those MQMs with a credit card? -JK
If you are short of Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) for the year, Delta is repeating its annual year-end opportunity to buy access to elite status… at painfully high prices.
The deal was a lot better in leaner times! Back in 2011, you could buy 5,000 MQMs for about $500, or 10,000 for about $900. Remember this? When times were really tough back in 2009, Delta offered up to 15,000 MQMs for those who donated to charities like AID Atlanta or Grady Hospital? Those were the days, right?
This year, Delta is selling those cherished MQMs for three times as much– from around $1,000 to $3,000 for 10,000 miles- depending on your status.
Anyway… for flyers who are still missing MQMs, buying them is rarely the answer unless time is of the essence. Delta knows that many customers will come up short at the end of the year and has traditionally cashed in on those that need that slight nudge to the next level– albeit at painfully high prices.
Better idea? Get an American Express Delta Reserve card for $450, and get 10,000 MQMs for your first purchase, and then spend $30K in a year and get 15,000 more. Delta’s Amex Platinum card offers 5,000 MQMs after spending just $1,000.
Qualification and MQM buying rates vary depending upon your mileage balance (must be within 10K miles of the next level) and Medallion status, so hold your nose and at least go check this link to see if you qualify. (Must do so by Febuary 15 2017)
In the comments below, let us know your status and how much Delta wants to sell you MQMs for this year. Will you bite?
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Even in real estate purchases and buying an airline ticket there is a 24 hour period to change your mind (except in that case). You also must not have liked the election results captain. Have a nice day.
You are what’s wrong with the world. It clearly says non-refundable. You made a mistake. You take zero responsibility for YOUR mistake. You tell everyone at DL that they need to fix your mistake. You trash the company publicly (while calling yourself a loyal customer) because they refuse to fix your mistake. You even try to get a travel blogger to fix your mistake (really??). You write the longest paragraph ever and not one word about how maybe you should have been more careful before making this non-refundable purchase.
Desperados? Whomever came up with this pricing is one Bad Hombre.
A mileage run is always gonna be a better deal than buying MQMs. This MQM sale is targeted at people who have more money than time. Or people who realise on Dec 31st that they need MQMs
Last year at this time I needed about 17000 miles to reach Diamond, so instead of buying them I treated myself to a 48 hour business class trip from LAX to Kauai for a great fare (just over $1000 during this off season). It not only got me 7846 MQMs (with the business class bonus), it also got me an additional 10K MQMs because it brought my AMEX spend up to the $25K needed to get those. Much better deal than buying the MQMs, and lots more fun!