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Premium Economy Mini-Vacation Mileage Run: San Francisco (SFO) to Johannesburg (JNB) — Estimated $6564 Delta MQD and 32,824 MQM!

Chris Carley by Chris Carley
December 26, 2019
in Mileage Run Deals
2
Johannesburg skyline sunrise

(©iStock.com/Johann Swanepoel)

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.

Virgin Atlantic premium economy runs proved popular with our readers this year — and we’re seeing some decent deals beginning in February. We just found this San Francisco to Johannesburg long weekend run.

Discounted airfares are available from February through May.

Our example trip departs SFO on a Friday evening, connects in Heathrow on Saturday, and arrives in Jo’burg on Sunday morning.

The return leaves JNB on Monday night, arrives LHR on Tuesday morning, and gets you back to San Francisco that night.

a seat in an airplane

The cheapest deals range in price from about $2034 to $2105. While certainly not as cheap as coach runs or domestic first trips, keep in mind you’ll ride in premium economy and reap more about triple your fare’s worth in Delta MQD when you credit the trip to your SkyMiles account.

This Virgin Atlantic K-class Premium Economy fare is projected to earn 32,824 MQM and a nice $6564 Delta MQD!

  • Cost: Varies by date. As low as $2033.75
  • Dates: See calendar below
  • Route: SFO-LHR-JNB. Overnight in Johannesburg. JNB-LHR-SFO
  • Miles Flown (estimated via Unofficial SkyMiles Calculator): 21,882
  • MQD (est): $6564 (because Virgin Atlantic’s Premium Economy earns 30% of mileage flown when  credited to your Delta SkyMiles account)
  • MQM: (est): 32,824 MQM (5.7 CPM)
  • SkyMiles (est): 32,824 (plus medallion bonus: Diamond + 120%; Platinum + 80%; Gold + 60%; Silver + 40%)

Book through Virgin Atlantic and credit to your Delta SkyMiles account. (See Rene’s post explaining why and how.)

Virgin Atlantic mileage run in Premium Economy: SFO to JNB via LHR.

Dates for Virgin Atlantic mileage run in Premium Economy: SFO to JNB via LHR.

Delta Platinum and Diamonds Medallions can enjoy the wonderful Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at London Heathrow during their layovers.

Need Something Different?

The mileage run staff at Juicy Miles has created great runs for Rene’s Points readers like you. Get in touch with them for help constructing a personalized mileage run suiting your needs and convenience!

Paying for the Trip

Remember to use a credit card that gives you bonus points on your airfare purchases!

The Platinum Card® from American Express. 5X on The Platinum Card® from American Express (<– LINK) when using your card to purchase airfare directly from airlines. Plus, airport lounge access!

The Ink Business Preferred card3X on the Chase Ink Business Preferred Card (<– LINK) (3X on the first $150,000 combined spend in categories — such as travel — each anniversary year)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card travel rewards credit card.2X with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (<– LINK), which also comes with great trip delay and cancellation coverage!

American Express® Gold Card3X with the American Express® Gold Card (<– LINK) when using your card to purchase airfare directly from airlines

The American Express® Green Card3X with the American Express® Green Card (<– LINK), which awards all travel purchases, including airfare, hotels, rideshare, and more!

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card.3X with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (<– LINK), which also comes with an annual $300 travel credit. Plus, airport lounge access!

Enjoy!

–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 (<– 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!
      • The Platinum Card® from American Express (<– LINK)
      • The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (<– LINK)
      • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (<– LINK)
      • Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card (<– LINK)
      • Chase Sapphire Reserve®  (<– LINK) (no access to Delta Sky Clubs)

Featured image: ©iStock.com/Johann Swanepoel

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.

Tags: Delta SkyMilesJohannesburg South Africa (JNB)London Heathrow (LHR)MQD RunSan Francisco International Airport (SFO)Virgin Atlantic
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Chris Carley

Chris Carley

Chris Carley is the owner, editor, and lead writer of Eye of the Flyer (formerly known as Rene's Points).

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Comments 2

  1. tony says:
    5 years ago

    I think you have “miles flown” incorrect it would be around 21,976 which @ about 30% would give you the 6,564 MQD’s indicated (really 6593 30% of 21,976). What I do not get is how it is calculated 32,824 MQM’s is that based or your fare code or status and which status gives you that? Thanks

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      5 years ago

      @tony — I just corrected that in the post (I got 21,882 on the Unofficial SkyMiles Calculator). Thanks for the heads-up.

      The MQM is based on the fare code. If you go here, look for Virgin Atlantic, and click their earnings, you’ll see the PE “K” earns 150% MQM.

      Reply

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