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Delta has elite weekend mileage runs to London Heathrow during the first two weekends of November — including a pair of very nice deals from Burbank the second weekend!
You could nearly an entire jump from most Delta statuses to the next if you have the time, energy, and resources to go both weekends!
Please note: I had to play around with private browsing/Incognito mode and my VPN to get some of these prices. So keep that in mind and try both those tactics.
San Francisco (SFO) to London Heathrow (LHR)
- Date: Fri, Nov 8 – Sun, Nov 10
- Outbound Routing: SFO-MSP-LHR. (All on Delta metal.)
- Stay overnight in London on Saturday night.
- Return Routing: LHR-AMS-SFO. (All on KLM metal.)
- Cost: $522.93
- MQM: 11,577
- MQD: $413
- cpMQM: 4.5
Notes: Those with 9-5 jobs will miss only one day of work. Hand Luggage Only writes that Southbank Centre’s Winter Market and Christmas at Leicester Square open that weekend.
The only thing that’s kind of brutal is the Sunday morning 6:30 AM departure from LHR.
Bookable on Delta.com. Here are the details:
The trip is available the following weekend (Nov. 15-17) for $543.43 and 236 fewer MQM. The outbound is non-stop to London.
Los Angeles (LAX) to London Heathrow (LHR)
Option 1
- Date: Fri, Nov 8 – Sun, Nov 10
- Outbound Routing: LAX-CDG-LHR. (LAX to CDG is a currently a Delta 777. CDG to LHR is an Air France A320.)
- Stay overnight in London on Saturday night.
- Return Routing: LHR-DTW-LAX. (All Delta metal.)
- Cost: $585.43
- MQM: 11,915
- MQD: $441
- cpMQM: 4.9
Notes: Slightly more expensive and a higher cpMQM than the SFO options — but you receive more MQM for your trouble. The 9:25 AM departure from LHR is, in my opinion, far more palatable than the SFO trips’ 6:30 AM returns.
Just like the SFO trip, this requires only one weekday and you can visit a couple of Christmas markets if you like.
Bookable on Delta.com. Here are the details:
Option 2
- Date: Fri, Nov 15 – Sun, Nov 17
- Outbound Routing: LAX-CDG-LHR. (All Air France metal.)
- Stay overnight in London on Saturday night.
- Return Routing: LHR-DTW-LAX. (All Delta metal.)
- Cost: $560.43
- MQM: 11,915
- MQD: $416
- cpMQM: 4.7
Notes: Same routing and cheaper than Option 1. (And more Christmas markets open should open that weekend, too.)
Bookable on Delta.com. Here are the details:
Burbank (BUR) to London Heathrow (LHR)
Burbank is an oasis of an airport. While there are no lounges, you can show up practically an hour before your flight (even shorter if you’re on Southwest!). It’s laid back, has AirStairs, an is MUCH quieter than LAX.
This also has two options — both for the November 15 – 17 weekend.
Option 1
- Date: Fri, Nov 15 – Sun, Nov 17
- Outbound Routing: BUR-SLC-AMS-LHR (Delta Connection/Skywest to Delta to KLM)
- Stay overnight in London on Saturday night.
- Return Routing: LHR-CDG-ATL-BUR (First two flights are Air France. ATL to BUR is Delta metal.)
- Cost: $588.43
- MQM: 12,899
- MQD: $423
- cpMQM: 4.6
Notes: Another ugly early morning return from Heathrow (6:25 AM) — and a looong day until you return into BUR at 9:15 PM.
There is a cheaper, more palatable itinerary — but yields about 600 fewer MQM.
Option 2
- Date: Fri, Nov 15 – Sun, Nov 17
- Outbound Routing: BUR-SLC-AMS-LHR (Delta Connection/Skywest to Delta to KLM)
- Stay overnight in London on Saturday night.
- Return Routing: LHR-ATL-BUR (Delta metal then Delta Connection/Skywest from SLC to BUR)
- Cost: $558.83
- MQM: 12,216
- MQD: $423
- cpMQM: 4.6
Notes: About $30 cheaper and 683 fewer MQM — but the 11:00 AM departure from Heathrow sure is nice. And it gets back to Burbank the same time as Option 1.
Bookable on Delta.com. Here are the details:
I’ll keep searching for more international and domestic runs!
In the meantime, consider our friend Adam for help constructing a personalized mileage run that suits your needs and convenience! — Chris
- Don’t miss a single run. Subscribe HERE: www.RenesPoints.com/RunMail
- Need to learn how to find a run? See THIS Rookie post for how-to guide!
- Boost your Delta MQMs with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (learn more) or Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card (learn more)
- Want a custom built run from your home airport? You can find one here.
- Relax in an airport lounge during your mileage run with one of these cards!
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (learn more)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (learn more)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (learn more)
- Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card (learn more)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (no access to Delta Sky Clubs)
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Please start posting the mileage runs on partners for the MQDs, needed much more than those on Delta metal.
@Anna: I’ll search for those, too. Thanks! (Don’t hesitate to see what Adam and his crew can do, too)
Great runs! Thank you for posting them.
@Wayne: My pleasure! Trying to find good ones for people in the Midwest, South, and East, too!
Thanks for posting a run from the SFO area. This year, I’m more in a bind for MQD’s than MQM’s. I suspect next year I will be in the same situation. More suggestions for partner runs from northern Cali would be helpful.
Anything starting east of the Mississippi?
@Geoff: I was looking today but didn’t see anything. The Mississippi River area and eastward are my goals for the next few days. And, of course, there’s always Adam who can work some magic.
Outstanding find!
Chris,
Do you have an article explaining (in very simple terms) how to calculate MQDs on Delta Partners? I have used Adam for two mileage runs, but honestly I don’t understand how to calculate the MQDs on the partner flights. I have the miles for Diamond this year, but not the MQDs. 🙁
@Sandy: Check out this post.
Thanks Chris. I read the article last night and will read it again this weekend. It’s just taking a while for it to sink in and forget about the ticket price and focus on the %, etc. Hoping you will be posting an elite mileage run out of LAX on a partner airline. Have a great weekend!
@Sandy: Thank you!
FWIW, keep an eye on Air France flights out of LAX. They’re the ones that pop up as the best options right now from SoCal — but nothing stellar.