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Delta SkyMiles members in the southeast can quickly score a bunch of MQM on this Orlando (MCO) to Lihue, Kauai (LIH) elite mileage run. (Perhaps Atlanta-based travelers can reposition to/from MCO for this one?)
Heads-up: it involves a lot of flying during a relatively short period of time.
But there is good news.
The entire run is in Delta First Class (domestic business class). So you’ll be at least somewhat comfortable.
Plus, the cash cost is $1324.29 — or 102,000 SkyMiles (plus about $6). That’s great because Delta awards 75% MQM, MQD, and MQS bonuses on premium cabin tickets flown through the rest of 2021 — including award tickets.
Based on that, the trip should haul in ~27,272 MQM and $2129.50 MQD. That’s nearly an entire status jump to/from most Medallion tiers. That comes in at about 5 CPMQM — which is pretty good for a business class run, IMHO.
The trip flies MCO-SLC-LAX-LIH-SEA-MCO. So you’re hitting nearly all of Delta’s West Coast hubs in a little over one day.
Notice that meals will be served during all but one flight! Hallelujah!
(I hope you have either a Delta Sky Club membership or one of these American Express cards giving members admission to the lounges so you can get a shower or place to relax between flights. If you don’t, now might be the time to get one.)
The only date I saw available was August 31. But poke around in case something becomes available.
COVID-Testing Requirements
Hawaii currently requires negative COVID-19 tests for all travelers entering the state. Even the fully vaccinated folks.
Trans-Pacific travelers arriving WITHOUT a confirmed negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure are subject to a mandatory 10-day quarantine.
Here’s a list of the state’s participating COVID test providers. Factor these potential costs into your trip.
Hawaii will drop the testing and quarantine requirements if 70% of the state’s residents get COVID-19 vaccinations. That could happen as soon as next month. But I’d play it safe and plan to get a COVID test a day or so before my flight.
Need a Different Mileage Run?
Want something on Oneworld or Star Alliance? Having a hard time finding a mileage run or award redemption from your home airport? Not sure how those “MQM runs” everyone talks about work — and how you can book one? Get in touch with our friends at Juicy Miles. They can put together a mileage run that’ll amaze you — and handle the heavy lifting for you.
Happy travels!
- Don’t miss a single run. Subscribe HERE mileage run email alerts!
- 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/sorincolac
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.
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Ugh, this is awesome! Wish these originated from MSP!
Take a positioning trip to MCO! Use some points or free night certificates to stay at airport hotels
For the last few months everytime I go into the Delta website to book a ticket, it does not let me click on Shop with Miles. I have talked to the Diamond desk about it a number of times and they don’t seem to know what to do about it. If I want to book a ticket using miles the only way I can do it is by calling into the Diamond Desk. Why should it be like that. Has anyone else had this problem? I would love to do this milage run but the website does not let me book with miles.
Wow. That’s the first time I’ve heard of that. I assume you tried different browsers?
Do you have business and personal profile setup on Delta? I had this happen when my business profile was selected by default. You can only shop with miles on your personal profile.
Besides adding in the cost of the Hawaii Pre-travel covid test, don’t forget to add in the time to stand in the covid line at the Lihue airport (plan on an hour plus) and add in the time you have to spend uploading information on the safe travel Hawaii web-site in order to get your QR code, before you land in Hawaii. All in all, a giant hassle going anywhere in Hawaii right now.