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Merry Christmas, indeed! We get lots of requests for mileage runs from Atlanta (and other Delta hubs). They’re generally hard to find — but we’re always excited when we find one.
Here’s a true mileage run (i.e. not leaving the airport, doing tons of flying) from Atlanta to Delhi, India in Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy. The final flight — a JFK to ATL hop — is in Delta Comfort+ but still codes as a Virgin “K” fare.
It currently prices at $1,596.55 and is estimated to travel 16,711 miles.
- Cost: $1,596.55
- Dates: March 28-30
- Route: ATL-LHR-DEL-LHR-JFK-ATL.
- Class: Virgin Atlantic K
- Miles Flown (estimated via Unofficial SkyMiles Calculator): 16,711
- MQD (est): $5013 (because Virgin Atlantic’s Premium Economy earns 30% of mileage flown)
- MQM: (est): 25,068 MQM (6.4 CPM)
- SkyMiles (est): 25,068 (plus medallion bonus: Diamond + 120%; Platinum + 80%; Gold + 60%; Silver + 40%)
This sinlge trip can give you an entire status jump from most tiers to the next.
Delta Gold, Platinum and Diamonds Medallions: remember you’re SkyTeam Elite. This gives you and a guest access to Delta Air Lines Sky Clubs during international trips such as these. Plus, Platinums and Diamonds can enjoy the fabulous Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at London Heathrow!
A few things to know:
The State Department says all US citizens need visas to visit India. I don’t see any exemptions for mileage runners 🙂 . They run about $100 and are valid for 10 years. So factor that cost into your run if you don’t hold an Indian travel visa.
Book through Virgin Atlantic and credit to your Delta SkyMiles account. (See Rene’s post explaining why and how.)
If This Run Doesn’t Work for You…
Make a New Year’s resolution to enjoy mileage runs tailored to your schedule, budget, and home airport! Get in touch with the mileage run staff at Juicy Miles now and plan something for 2020.
Paying for the Trip
Remember to use a credit card that gives you bonus points on your airfare purchases!
5X on The Platinum Card® from American Express (<– LINK) when using your card to purchase airfare directly from airlines. Plus, airport lounge access!
2X with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (<– LINK), which also comes with great trip delay and cancellation coverage!
3X on the Chase Ink Business Preferred Card (<– LINK) (3X on the first $150,000 combined spend in categories — such as travel — each anniversary year)
3X with the American Express® Gold Card (<– LINK) when using your card to purchase airfare directly from airlines
3X with the American Express® Green Card (<– LINK), which awards all travel purchases, including airfare, hotels, rideshare, and more!
3X with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (<– LINK), which also comes with an annual $300 travel credit. Plus, airport lounge access!
Enjoy!
— Santa Chris
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- 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 (<– LINK) or Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card (<– LINK)
- 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!
Featured image: ©iStock.com/YURY_TARANIK
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Chris, Virgin Atlantic rules are slightly different than Sky Team partners.
From https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/where-we-fly/flight-partners/virgin-atlantic-partnership/virgin-atlantic-faqs.html/#clubhouse (and copied below)
Notice the important differences between Diamond/Platinum and Gold. Gold can only use the Clubhouse within the US, but is given access to other, sadly lesser, lounges in LHR.
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Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse lounge access is available at select locations to Delta One® passengers, Upper Class passengers, and Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion Members with a same-day nonstop transatlantic flight between North America and the U.K. that is operated by Delta or Virgin Atlantic. Diamond and Platinum Medallion Members may access Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses in London-Gatwick, New York-JFK, Newark, Washington-Dulles, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco Airports. Gold Medallion Members may only access Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses within the U.S. (New York-JFK, Newark, Washington-Dulles, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco Airports). Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion Members are allowed to bring one guest. While access to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in London-Heathrow is not available to Gold Medallion Members, these Members may enjoy access to No1 Lounges, Heathrow at LHR’s Terminal 3. Please travel with and be prepared to show proof of your Medallion status to the Virgin Atlantic representative to receive these benefits.
@Matt: Thanks for the reminder! I updated the post accordingly.
Looks like I will be postponing the JFK-DEL run that I ha scheduled for the end of this month. All India tourist visas are suspended for a month. Time to call VS and see how long the hold times are. 🙂