This deal has expired.
Two separate fare sales posted today:
United Airlines Detroit (DTW) to LA $120 round trip (basic econ) or $170 (reg econ)
Late August to Feb 2019. Cheap price NOT available around Thanksgiving / Christmas / New Years. These are 1-stop flights from Detroit to a United hub such as Denver (DEN) Washington Dulles (IAD), Chicago (ORD), Newark (EWR).
Sample Google Flights - Thurs Nov 29 - Mon Dec 3. LINK
Background article HERE lists fares as $134/184 (basic/regular economy), but these flights are pricing out cheaper than that on Google flights and United.com as of 12:50pm on 6/26/2018.
Alaska Airlines Chicago (ORD) to LAX. Nonstop. $176+ RT. Sept - early Dec 2018
Tues/Weds/Sat flights only. Nonstop flights available from $217 for travel on other days of the week. Sale ends today 6/26. United has matched Alaska's pricing on this as well. American has prices from $197.
Background article HERE.
Sample Google Flights - Tues Dec 4 - Sat Dec 8. LINK.
These are good, but not great, flight prices from the Midwest to LA.
Great mileage run for elite qualifying miles with Delta.
Earn 21,239 Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) from Chicago.
1-stop and 2-stop flights to Beijing (PEK) via Detroit (DTW). Other routings also available for more $$, via Seattle (SEA) or other cities.
Best fares available March thru mid-April 2018. Some February fares slightly more expensive.
- O'Hare (ORD) or Midway (MDW) as low as $653 round trip
- Boston from $615
- Other cities also available for similar pricing - e.g. Rochester NY (ROC) $671+
- Columbus (CMH) and Indianapolis (IND) both < $800
- Cleveland (CLE) $875+
Search on Google Flights. www.google.com/flights
These flights all route thru Detroit to Beijing (PEK). Most of them are on Delta's new Airbus A350, so you are getting a seat in Delta's new "Premium Select" cabin which is available so far only on their A350. This is a better experience and seat than Delta's typical Comfort+ cabin on other long-haul aircraft such as the A330, B767, etc.
The connecting flights within the U.S. will mostly be booked into first class with this deal as well, but keep an eye out to be sure.
Sample Searches
CMH/IND March 8-12 from $758. LINK
ROC April 5-9 from $671. LINK
ORD/MDW April 5-9 from $658. LINK
BOS March 18-26 from $665. LINK
Great for Earning Toward Delta Elite Status
- This fare earns 20,000+ Delta Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs). From ORD, 21,239 MQMs. For $650-800 that's a GREAT return, especially considering it's not in the economy cabin. Note the MQD earnings aren't great because it's 1 MQD per $1 of base fare for Delta flights. However...
- Anyone can still waive the MQD requirement for 2019 Silver, Gold, or Platinum status with $25k credit card spend during calendar year 2018
- 21k MQMs is most of what you need for Silver (25k). It also can push someone most of the way from Silver (25k) to Gold (50k), or Gold (50k) to Platinum (75k)
- 21,239 MQM for $653 is 3.1 cents per elite qualifying mile - a GREAT deal especially considering the deal is in premium economy, not regular economy
{This airfare sale has expired.]
*UPDATE. Fares as low as $513 round trip. Original post was for $659 RT from LAX. Other cities are even cheaper. Chicago to Lima is under $600 RT.*
Prime example of an airfare that's a great way to earn toward elite status with Delta.
This airfare earns way more elite qualifying miles (MQMs) and elite qulaifying dollars (MQDs) with Delta than people realize is possible for $659
Aeromexico, along with Delta a SkyTeam member, has $659 round trip business class flights in 2018 from LAX to Lima Peru (LIM).
Also available is JFK or Orlando (MCO) to Santiago Chile from $1,012 on Aeromexico (1-stop via MEX) - with a chance to book the 787 with lie-flat business class seats. 12,350 mile roundtrip from JFK = almost 24,700 MQMs and 24,700 Sky Miles, and 4,940 MQDs
Basics
- 8,365 flown miles (Great Circle Mapper DETAILS - LAX-MEX-LIM)
- 16,730 elite qualifying miles (200% MQMs for this business class fare)
- $3,346 elite qualifying dollars (MQDs) - based on this fare class earning MQDs of 40% of the miles flown. 0.4 x 8,365 flight miles = 3,346
How Good is This Deal?
- Very good...
- Earning $3,200 MQDs for a $659 flight is excellent. Partner flights earn MQDs based on a percentage of miles flown. Delta's own flights (or Delta-marketed partner flights) earn 1 MQD per mile flown, but only on the main fare - not on the taxes & fees part. If this was a Delta flight, you'd earn maybe $500-550 MQD.
Background Articles
