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Spain is scheduled to welcome tourists next month — which is great news because we found a very nice MQD run from Chicago O’Hare to Madrid for August!
It’s an AeroMexico business class mileage run traveling Chicago-Mexico City-Madrid-Mexico City-Chicago. The run prices out at $1,417.85 — but yields more than four times that amount worth of Delta MQD!
Plus, the hops between MEX and MAD are aboard a 787 — meaning you’ll have lie-flats so you can relax in comfort and style!
I found only two departure dates: August 20 and August 27. But several readers played around with dates and found several more available into the fall.
Here’s the itinerary:
(It’s a great deal, so it may sell quickly. Also, consider asking our friends at Juicy Miles to help you find and book the run, if it’s available.)
Please make sure you research all applicable documentation and health requirements for entering Spain. (i.e. “vaccination passports,” negative test results, etc.)
As usual, these are Y-UP fares. 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!
You’ll notice the trip involves nearly 28 hours worth of layover time in Mexico City. Your business class ticket should give you access to any open AeroMexico lounges. And if you have The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you can visit the Centurion Lounge. (Read Rene’s review of the MEX Centurion Lounge.)
On the way back, you’ll likely require a hotel room where you can spend the night (unless you have other ways to kill an evening in Mexico City). FWIW, there’s a Hilton at the airport.
The Unofficial SkyMiles Calculator pegs the trip at 14,716 miles flown. ITA Matrix says it’s 14,636. (We’ll go with that, the slightly more conservative figure.) Because AeroMexico business class tickets earn 40% MQD of distance flown when you credit the trip to your Delta SkyMiles account, you should earn approximately $5854 MQD toward Delta Medallion status. Plus, you’ll score about 22,000 MQM (6.4 CPM) and 29,400 redeemable SkyMiles (plus medallion bonus: Diamond + 120%; Platinum + 80%; Gold + 60%; Silver + 40%).
Need Help Booking This Run — or Finding Another One?
If you want help booking this mileage run — or something tailored just for you — get in touch with our friends at Juicy Miles. In fact, they have a Delta and SkyTeam expert who will personally craft the most ideal mileage run around your parameters.
And, heck, save money! Pay with Membership Rewards points through Juicy Miles’ new American Express partnership.
- Don’t miss a single run. Subscribe HERE mileage run email alerts!Â
- Need to learn how to find a run? See THIS Rookie post for how-to guide!
- Want a custom built run from your home airport? You can find one here.
Featured image: ©iStock.com/basiczto
To see the rates and fees for the American Express cards featured above, please visit the following links:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (See Rates and Fees)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (See Rates and Fees)
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.
You’d travel on a 737 Max?
I’m traveling in one the middle of next week. If there aren’t any new blog posts by next Friday, you’ll know how it went.
I decided that I am not going to go for DM and drop down to PM using the credit card waiver. However, I will be looking for deals like this starting Feb. 1, 2022.
I considered skipping the credit card waiver and not having any status next year, but I have plenty of MQMs so I might was well get the four domestic upgrade certificates.
@Dave – Earn at least Silver Medallion MQDs to retain rollover MQMs. This, and other runs, will be a way to CRUSH status in JAN 2022 for two years of status!
#PROTIP – Keep in mind if you are a million miler – you are NOT again NOT NOT NOT – AOK on rollover. You still must EARN at least Silver MQDs to have ANY rollover MQMs.
Thanks for confirming that million milers can’t roll over MQMs solely using million miler SM status. I am 20,000 MQMs away from million miler status.
For me, this is a tough choice. I can spend $2K in dollars or points (valued at one cent each for MQD purposes) to reach SM, save 50,000 MQMs, redirect the Delta AMEX spend elsewhere, and forgo the four DUCs. or I can spend much less with Delta and get to PM using the credit card waiver, burn 50,000 more MQMs, and get the DUCs. Am I missing anything else? For 2022, I will still have plenty of MQMs either way, and MQDs will determine when I hit DM. The only advantage I see is saving MQMs for future years.
One question. You stated “This, and other runs, will be a way to CRUSH status in JAN 2022 for two years of status!” If I did this particular run, I would hit GM this year since I have already traveled with Delta in 2021. Based on your strategy, it seems that I would want to avoid that and save 25,000 MQMs by only reaching SM.
Or you could do the New York – Madrid bonanza we blogged early this AM 😉
That one is pretty impressive, but it takes a week (plus getting to JFK).
I am hoping to get a couple business trips to Asia in business class on China Eastern in early 2022, and I will be looking for a modest MQD run (like this one but in early 2022). My CLEAR subscription renews 06/27/2022 and ti would be nice to have DM status before then.
Hey Chris.
Nice MQD run. Are COVID testing facilities at the Mexico Airport for testing before reentering the United States?
Thanks, Dennis. No idea re MEX COVID testing.
Hi Chris,
Aeromexico doesn’t list “business class” as an option on their website. Which of their options do you need to choose? Basic, Classic, AM Plus, Comfort or Premier?
Regards,
Mark
@Mark – You can not book on AeroMexico site. You need to book on Priceline to get the deal. Search for business class.