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Delta desperados: Buy your MQMs now

Delta Atlanta

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.

We suggested to JK that he get the Reserve card, and here’s his response: Thanks. That was easy. Applied online and approved instantly. Then got an offer to get the card number and start using it before the physical card arrived. Bought one item over the Thanksgiving weekend and the 10,000 MQMs are already in my account. 

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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