Yo, New York (or, of course, those who can position there)! Here’s your chance to make a quick run to Guatemala and score over $2100 MQD!
For $571 you can enjoy business class on Aeromexico. Routing is JFK-MEX-GUA-MEX-JFK.
The trip is conservatively estimated to travel 5,424 miles. Thanks to how Delta awards partner travel when you credit it to your SkyMiles account, you’ll earn approximately:
- $2169 MQD
- 8,136 MQM (7.2 CPM)
- 10,848 base SkyMiles (plus medallion bonus: Diamond + 120%; Platinum + 80%; Gold + 60%; Silver + 40%)
As usual, these are Y-UP fares that code as “I” tickets. There have been, in the past, some issues with getting correct credit with Y-UPs from AeroMexico. All data points suggest this problem has been fixed — but be sure to save all your boarding passes and follow these steps to make sure you get correct credit!
Right now, there are plenty of dates open the rest of this month and October. There are three or four dates in November and December — but the ones I found all require one-night stays. And because redeyes are involved, a one night trip turns into two nights (and sometimes pushes three).
Many dates give you the option to either get right back on the plane in GUA or stay a few days. The immediate turnarounds are only about an hour, which may not give you enough time to clear customs and immigration before going back through security and getting on the plane. Just something to consider. There are runs with a layover of about 6 1/2 hours, giving you time to sightsee for a couple of hours.
An overnight stopover in Mexico City is required with pretty much all the weekend runs. (When staying overnight in MEX, consider the Hilton Mexico City Airport, which is at Terminal 1 — right at the airport! You can help support the blog by booking with our Hilton link offering free breakfast and hotel credit at properties in Mexico — thank you! Hilton also is available through Be Frugal and Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates).
Minimum stays vary from day to day. You may see the $549 fare in the calendar below and assume it’s over a quick turn. That particular day’s fare, though, may require a one- or two-night stay. Punch around on Aeromexico.com (look for the “Comfort” fares) and Google Flights to see what you come up with.
Here’s a sample itinerary of an immediate turnaround — leaving early Thursday morning and back in New York early Friday morning.
Google Flights Link
Here is a pre-populated Google Flights link to help you get started.
A few things to keep in mind:
The AeroMexico flight price isn’t displayed right away in the grid. Here’s an example from a previous MQD run.
But once you select dates, then AeroMexico’s prices show up. Sometimes, it says “Price Unavailable” — worth giving it a click to see what happens.
Select “Book with Aeromexico” and then you’ll be taken their site:
Select the flight you want and go from there!
Remember The Platinum Card® from American Express (learn how to apply) awards 5X on airfare purchased directly though the airline. Or consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card or Ink Business Preferred Card, both of which reward 3X on travel.
These deals usually disappear quickly. If prices aren’t available for the dates you selected, the fare is probably sold out. Try, try again for other dates if you can!
Lounge Access at JFK, Mexico City, and Guatemala City
As SkyTeam Elite members, Delta Air Lines Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallions (should…) receive complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club in T4 (the SkyDeck one!) when traveling on a SkyTeam partner international trip (like this one!) and may bring a guest on the same PNR. Aeromexico says you can you also take advantage of the Japan Airlines lounge. Priority Pass-wise, you can visit the Wingtips Lounge.
According to Aeromexico, you should be able to enter any Aeromexico lounge, given you’re traveling business class on a SkyTeam partner airline.
Per the SkyTeam website, SkyTeam Elite passengers also receive complimentary access to the Aeromexico’s Salon Premier Nacional in Terminal M.
Also, Priority Pass members may access Salon Premier and Terraza Premier in Terminal 2.
This (and most Aeromexico) run goes through Mexico City, which has a Centurion Lounge (read Rene’s review). So if you don’t yet have a Platinum Card® from American Express (learn how to apply) or Business Platinum Card® from American Express (learn how to apply) to get you into the Centurion Lounge, now would be a great time to consider applying.
In Guatemala City, Priority Pass gets you into the Copa Lounge.
Get Into the Lounge!
<– Platinum Card® from American Express (learn how to apply)
<– Business Platinum Card® from American Express (learn how to apply)
Remember our friend Adam and his Juicy Miles team will construct a personalized mileage run for you!
— Chris
- Don’t miss a single run.
- Subscribe to our mileage run emails HERE: www.RenesPoints.com/RunMail
- Bookmark EliteMileageRuns.com!
- Follow @EliteMileageRun on Twitter!
- 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 how to apply) or Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card (learn how to apply)
- 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 how to apply)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (learn how to apply)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (learn how to apply)
- Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card (learn how to apply)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (no access to Delta Sky Clubs)
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Chris, although I can’t do this [run] – I want to thank you. What is especially helpful is the way you are pointing out all the caveats so clearly (the potential risk of the immediate turnaround for example). This approach is very helpful.
@Bernard: My pleasure!
Thank you, Chris! Booked for Memorial Day weekend 2020.
@Mojo: You’re quite welcome. Enjoy!
Hi there – I am a little confused as on Delta’s mileage partner earnings page AM earns 40% MQMs based on distance flown in FC=I. Is this wrong? Or am I thinking about this wrong?
Additionally I see some from LAX as well. What’s the best way to calculate MQDs and MQMs when looking at this same fare class from other departure airports?
Thanks!!!
@Jake Petersen: AM’s I fares — when credited to SkyMiles — earn 40% MQD based on mileage flown and 150% MQM.
I generally use this calculator and punch in an itinerary (i.e. LAX-MEX-GUA-MEX-LAX). However many MQM are displayed (4314, in this case) is pretty accurate to whatever you’ll receive. As for MQD, look at “Miles flown” and for AM I fares multiply that number by .4. So 4314 x .4 = 1725 MQD (I round down to be safe).