I am new to the mileage run idea. Currently I have 30,269 EQMs in my account, and I have a trip from Dec. 8 - Dec. 20 that has 5506 EQMs. I signed up for the double EQMs promo, so at the end of this trip I will have 30269+5506*2 = 41281, just 8719 (so only 4360 miles of flying is needed) shy from platinum. Please let me know what are the cheapest/easiest way to get those miles?
Edit: I just realized that gold status actually have some bonus miles, so how do I calculate how many miles exactly do I need to fly? And where do I get information about the accurate miles for the routes?
I just applied for AA citi visa card (1 approved, 1 pending), not sure if I can do anything with it.
My home airport is AZO (very small, not practical). I am also close to ORD and DTW.
Also, do I need to complete these miles by Dec 31 to achieve the status?
Thanks a lot in advance!
Last edited by kevinwangjk; Dec 3, 12 at 4:28 pm..
You need to fly 4360 miles. My advice is to go to LAX and back from somewhere by connecting to ORD. FInd the cheapest dates/times. Thats it. Credit card wont help.
You need to fly 4360 miles. My advice is to go to LAX and back from somewhere by connecting to ORD. FInd the cheapest dates/times. Thats it. Credit card wont help.
Thanks! Can you tell me what's a cheap price range for that kind of flight? Also, is platinum worth it? I have always been gold.
Depending on what fare classes you're flying in you might find yourself close to the 10,000 points you'd need for a platinum status challenge (probably doesn't count for the DEQP offer). The other nice thing about a status challenge is that it would actually give you until end of February to get your next flight in, so if you're planning travel in early 2013 anyway, you might be able to save yourself another one.
There's a lot of info about status challenges available on this site and elsewhere but the long and short of it is: pay a fee (probably $200 right now) and get 10,000 *EQP* (not miles) in a 3 month period.
If you're flying deep discount fares then this probably won't help you.
Depending on what fare classes you're flying in you might find yourself close to the 10,000 points you'd need for a platinum status challenge (probably doesn't count for the DEQP offer). The other nice thing about a status challenge is that it would actually give you until end of February to get your next flight in, so if you're planning travel in early 2013 anyway, you might be able to save yourself another one.
There's a lot of info about status challenges available on this site and elsewhere but the long and short of it is: pay a fee (probably $200 right now) and get 10,000 *EQP* (not miles) in a 3 month period.
If you're flying deep discount fares then this probably won't help you.
Thanks for the info but I fly deep discount fares . Poor college senior here.
Programs: SPG Platinum / Hyatt Diamond / UA Premier 1K / AA EXP
Posts: 136
With regards on how to book a mileage run / finding the cheapest flight for the miles, I would suggest reading the first two posts on the Mileage Run Discussion forum Mileage Run Tools, Part 2
You can also look to the Mileage Run Deals forum to see if a MR from your home airport(s) has already been found, but I would read the discussion forum first and learn how to piece together a run. I prefer using ITA Matrix through trial and error when constructing my MRs.
Like others have said, "Is Platinum worth it" is only a question you can answer. If anything, you can get some 500 mile stickers after hitting 50k, which might be worth it sine you're so close.
Gold provides 25% redeemable mile bonus on miles flown while Plat provides 100% bonus. So if OP flies 30000 miles in 2013 the bonus is 7500 vs 30000 miles. The 22,500 mile difference is probably worth 1.5 cents / mile or $ 335. Also OP should look at AA Acc't sticker balance. If he is close to the 10,000 mile threshold this MR could provide 4 additional UG stickers ($120)
Hmm... Looks like all the flights from ORD to LAX/SFO are above $700, and that's about exactly the amount of miles I will need. I don't really think it's worth that much for me.
Location: DFW; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA GLD 1.5MM; IHG Plat, Marriott Silver; OMNIPat
Posts: 10,112
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinwangjk
Thanks for checking that for me, but I mentioned that "I have a trip from Dec. 8 - Dec. 20". So it won't work for me . Thanks again though!
Where will you be those 12 days, and would you consider spending one of them flying around to get to PLT? Depending where, it might be easier to do a mileage run from there than from Western Michigan.
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Programs: SPG Platinum / Hyatt Diamond / UA Premier 1K / AA EXP
Posts: 136
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinwangjk
Hmm... Looks like all the flights from ORD to LAX/SFO are above $700, and that's about exactly the amount of miles I will need. I don't really think it's worth that much for me.
My apologies, but I thought you needed 4,360 bis miles, ORD-LAX-ORD is 3,489 and ORD-SFO-ORD is 3,692. Unless are you saying AZO-ORD-LAX-ORD-AZO?
If you can spare a night, ORD-MIA-SJU-MIA-ORD will get you 4,485 miles and availability 12/6-12/7 for 386. Not what I'd call a MR, but since your trip leaves 4 days to departure this week and then the holiday season to work with, might have a hard time finding a good price.
Just for some rough guidance/reference, it's usually difficult to find a fare that costs less than $0.05 per mile earned. So you're looking at a starting point of 4,360 (assuming that's right, I didn't check) * $0.05 = $218. But $0.10 is probably more common.
Where will you be those 12 days, and would you consider spending one of them flying around to get to PLT? Depending where, it might be easier to do a mileage run from there than from Western Michigan.
I'd be in Orlando 9 - 15, then Vegas 15-19, 8 and 20 in Chicago. Maybe I can spare one day flying out from Vegas. I'm taking a vacation with my gf so I'm not entirely sure if she will be happy with that though..
. Poor college senior here.
