Monday, November 30, 2015 by John @laptoptravel
So, I am posting this I wanted to refine this amazing deal to make it even better for Mileage Runs. GO it alone, or take a companion. It seems that Delta is not blocking any holiday dates, as you can see by the calendar I placed above.
My search was for 1-4 nights, but it looks like you can stay even longer at the same prices.
So, to maximize your MQM’s you should put LAX (or in some cases SEA) in either the outbound or the return route. However, Delta’s online booking system is not liking those ‘enhancements.” I did get the one shown to price out at Delta. So let us assume you can do no better (although you should keep trying; maybe you will get lucky.)
I picked a departure of Thursday, February 11th as my target, staying over the holiday weekend in Italy and returning Monday, February 15th. With a morning departure you arrive early morning the next day (in this case Friday) and a morning departure from Milan and still get back in to San Francisco the same evening.
There is the Italian rail system (Italo) which has a depot in the Milan airport, so you can use that to get to a lot of places in Italy (and Europe) within a reasonable amount of time and cost. The EurRail system is also there. My wife and I just did a similar run. We landed in Milan and got the first train out to Southern Italy. By the way, if you are looking for a Greece run from the East Coast CHECK HERE
Have fun playing with your dates and the many, many possibilities! There are wide-open dates January, February and early March!
The Details:
MQM’s: 13,120 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQM’s)
Ticket Price: $467
CPM: 3.5 Cents Per Mile (CPM)
Before you click on the booking lick I just provided (shown above) please log into your Delta.com account first. Then click on your DIRECT KAYAK BOOKING LINK
Choose the flights shown above and then press SELECT (on the Kayak site) which will take you directly to Delta.com’s booking engine. If you really want the MQM’s and you can afford a single weekend to get them in, here is a way to get a bunch!
(A big HT to TheFlightDeal) I am tweaking their original fare find for us Mileage Runners! I hope you enjoy what I am offering here and the timing is perfect if you want to enjoy Europe for some low prices! – If you really want the MQM’s and you can afford a single weekend to get them in, here is a way to get a bunch!– John @laptoptravel
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Unless this is new, Italo does NOT depart from Malpensa (MXP). The only train is by Ferrovie Nord Milano (FNM) and will take you to the Milan Cadorna station in about 30 minutes. If you want a taxi after departing the Malpensa Express train in Milan, turn right at the end of the platform and right again at the end of the train and you will see the exit on your left. Go through the turnstile and the taxi stand is just to your left at the street, (Via Giacomo Leopardi). This allows you to exit the station without having to go through the station main lobby which depending how you go though will cause you to use 2-3 steps.
After buying your ticket from Malpensa to the Cadorna Station, (Milan), look for a display overhead showing which Binaro (Track or platform) the next train departs from. There are several tracks to choose from and there are elevators for all of them. Also BE SURE to validate your tickets. There are small yellow boxes where you stick your ticket in to be stamped. These are located to your right when exiting the ticket office and on the platforms.
If you want/need to go to Stazione Centrale (Central Station, Milan’s largest and main train station, both national and international), the easiest and quickest way is to go upstairs and get a bus to Stazione Centrale. About €11 one way. In the airport, look for the large glass elevators. You walk in, push the button and walk out, note, do not turn around because you exit through out the other door. The older elevators (A bank of 4) are a royal pain to use.
From baggage claim exit through customs and look for signs for the bus or the train. Many workers in the airport will speak English.
The buses leave every 20 minutes and drop you off beside the train station. Get off the bus, turn left and 50-100′ on the right you will see the entrance to the train station. Or if you want a taxi, get off the bus, turn left and walk to the covered taxi stand to the left, about 250′.
Personally I do not like Italo for train service from/to Milan. Italo uses Milano Porta Garibaldi train station. More than once both the elevator down to the lower level and the elevator up to the track were out of service at the same time, forcing you to carry all of your luggage down and back up.
I recommend you buy your tickets online in advance: http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en and plan to leave from Stazione Centrale which is a very easy station to navigate. Is has elevators and inclined moving escalators.
When you know when and where you want to go, book your train travel on line and look for special prices. I frequently buy a first class ticket for just a few more dollars than second class and to me it is more than worth it.
NOTE! The least expensive ticket will be the local train. So a 2 hour 55 minute express train to Rome on the Frecciarossa, can become a 7 hour Intercity trip. The fast trains are about double the cost. Also the local trains are noisy and not as clean generally speaking.
Steve
@Steve Only Trenord operates to MXP, one has to take Malpensa Express to get to literally anywhere, 45 minute ride to Porta Gabaradi.