Matrix Guru help needed! - booking DL multi stop from NYC

Hi -need help from an ITA Matrix Guru - I don't know what I'm doing well enough:

Now that you only get 20TP on 1st class in Delta flights under 3000 miles (or 40TP in the upper fare classes, but $$)... I need a TP 'mileage run' to keep Au before late November.

My base is NYC (any) and preferably not be overnight, though it could be, if was in the air. Ideally 1 or 2 stops each way (you get TPs each segment). Must be Biz or First. Am not interested in the miles, its the TPs really, so it need not be a long route/ far destination. Looked at NYC to Boston or Atlanta. but those would need 2 complete round trips to get me over the edge, which is getting pricey. I don't really care where I go, but get confused with Matrix fare codes, and how to find some crazy multi stop routing.

Can some expert help navigate me around, mid October ideally?

Thanks!

From my limited experience - and I’ve not done it for a couple of years so things may have changed - the best TP run value is to be found by looking for routes that DL don’t fly non-stop but where they compete with airlines that do.

So that means itineraries that don’t start at a major hub like NYC, but connect through one.

So to take the west coast as an example, I’ve got some very decent F fares flying LAS-LAX-SAN, but rarely were there any bargains starting at LAX.

Starting your journey at an airline’s hub invariably means higher fares. So, if it works with your schedule, I’d be looking at something like BOS-NYC-DCA where DL will be competing not only with airlines that fly direct from Boston to Washington but also Amtrak.

Thanks for reply. Appreciate this is out of most people's sphere, being UK based Forum contributors for the main part.

A shame is that Delta US flights are now down to just 20TP in First, not even 25, like Virgin's base Economy. So you could fly right across the US, coast to coast, in First Class (and I have, once costing $3000!) and just get 20TPs each way?! I appreciate the old way was somewhat too generous, but they seem to have overcompensated, and gone all stingy. At least 25/ flight in 1st would be fairest for everyone.

I agree - I was surprised that the premium transcon routes like JFK-LAX/SFO etc were not put into their own category. They command a much higher fare so deserve a few extra TPs!