Mileage Run Discussion - My biggest AA run ever begins (DFW-SFO via ZRH)

Sitting in the DFW D AC right now, getting ready to fly the following itinerary:

DFW-DCA-JFK-ZRH-JFK-LAX-SFO (overnight on 10/24)
SFO-JFK-ZRH-JFK-BOS-DFW (back in DFW on 10/26)

Total base miles: 25,039
With DBEQM: 49,578 (LAX-SFO flight is on AS and is not eligible for DBEQM
RDM: around 75k - not sure if that AS segment gets double or not.

Most of the itinerary is in F/J where available, though two of my TATL segments haven't cleared yet. One looks likely, the other is booked solid. I'll be hitting all the lounges along the way.

I wouldn't mind meeting a fellow FT'er on the way, if our paths cross. If you spot a distressed, tired looking guy in a blue fleece with an orange and gray backpack, it could be me. Unfortuntely, there's no FT tag on my bag for this trip.

Here's hoping you don't encounter any IRROPS -- that could be a killer itinerary to adjust!

just out of curiosity... how many miles per dollar?

whats the cost of such itinerary?


cherrs

Wow! Dedication worthy of FT for sure. :D

Safe travels.

Is this one round-trip ticket, or a ZRH-SFO R/T nested inside a DFW-SRH?

Which segments are upgraded with eVIPs? How many eVIPs were required?

Please continue to follow this thread in the Mileage Run Discussion forum, where I'm sure it will be appreciated by other MRers.

dstan
AA Forum Co-Moderator

..........I wouldn't mind meeting a fellow FT'er on the way, if our paths cross. If you spot a distressed, tired looking guy in a blue fleece with an orange and gray backpack, it could be me. Unfortuntely, there's no FT tag on my bag for this trip.Did you post your flights at FlyerTalk Flight Connect (http://www.flyertalk.com/flightconnect/) to better your chances for a meeting?

24,276 BIS sounds like a great MR and a tough weekend. Hope you're using EVIPs both ways and have about 5 laptop batteries. Too bad AA doesn't go to SIN since I consider it the ideal compact MR with a 3 day stay requirement.

This beats my best MR weekend by 5k. Personally I prefer the a 3 day SIN turn which nets 20k EQM with a 30 hour stay in SIN and 20 hours on the plane each way. Enough time to enjoy a day in SIN and for the UA and DL crowds, full RDM bonus and for UA DEQM.

This is two nested itins: DFW-ZRH-DFW and ZRH-SFO-ZRH. Cost was around $1400, not a great CPM ratio. However, this was about squeezing it all into weekend rather than getting cheaper fares but spread out over more time. To be fair, though, $1100 of that fare was paid for with VDB vouchers, so I'm out of pocket $300. This will help me requalify for EXP (from my pre-trip mileage of about 76k) and hit the 125k threshold, all in one weekend.

I upgraded the whole DFW-ZRH-DFW itin with EVIPs (except for Eagle flights, of course). The ex-ZRH itin only cleared the domestic segments. If they hadn't recently allowed upgrades on O fares, this entire itinerary could potentially have been Y across the pond and F/J domestic. At least I was able to upgrade my O fare on two the TATL segs...

Sitting in the JFK FL right now. It's empty - just two other guests. I have 4 hours of work to kill before heading over to gate 39... :cool:

DFW-DCA-JFK-ZRH-JFK-LAX-SFO (overnight on 10/24)
SFO-JFK-ZRH-JFK-BOS-DFW (back in DFW on 10/26)

Please let us know how it works out. ZRH is a great airport; I think it's probably the best place to turnaround quickly.

Please let us know how it works out. ZRH is a great airport; I think it's probably the best place to turnaround quickly.

ZRH is best in EU and 4th best in the world....I wish it was my home airport...Have fun with this killer itin...

So far so good- I'm half way through. I stood by for the JFK-SFO nonstop yesterday in lieu of the LAX flight. I'm glad I did, since I got to see my parents for dinner. The effect is a loss of only a few EQMs and nothing that will hurt my shot at 125k.

I didn't get upgraded on the SFO flight, but I did get row 17... not bad at all. Headed back to JFK and ZRH this morning. F to JFK but Y to ZRH. Looks like J is sold out to ZRH, so not expecting an upgrade there... :(

Thanks for the update. Glad you are hanging in there!

Thanks for the update. Glad you are hanging in there!

+1. My personal best was ORD-LAX-ORD-EWR-JFK-STN-JFK-LGA-CLT, but that beats this by a mile. Enjoy! Truly and epic!^

Safe Travels

quite the feat! ^

Alright, back in JFK FL - got another ZRH turn on tonight's agenda. AA 64 still a no-go for upgrades, but according at aa.com, there is at least seat in R class available. Hmm... maybe there's an outside shot at an upgrade afterall. Calling all Expert Flyer gurus- I sure hope this comes through.

The VIP gods are smiling on me today - my JFK-ZRH segment has cleared, and into a FEBO friendly seat, too (4B). I'll be able to sleep (somewhat tonight) I've been flying since Friday morning at 7AM CST (save for layovers and a 12 hour stop in SFO for dinner/meet up with parents).

I hope this was worth it...

I'm glad I did, since I got to see my parents for dinner. (


LOL, did you tell them why you were in town?;)

I hope this was worth it...

Hang in there, I questioned what I was doing during my 5 day run last spring. Difference was I left security for three nights of hotel sleep. I wasn't being a wimp, there were no flights out of BOS that fit my itinerary.

Was it worth it?

Sure was. Since becoming an EXP I have had a double OPUP on a BA longhaul and Mrs Gamecock is finishing up a TATL RT as we speak, upgraded to J with my eVIPs. She is enjoying her trip and I am now seen as a loving husband.;)

Glad the upgrades are clearing.

You KNOW it will be worth it.

In fact, at 5 K short of those two extra eVIP's for next year, you've got me angerously considering what I can do about that...

Please let us know how it works out. ZRH is a great airport; I think it's probably the best place to turnaround quickly.

I was in ZRH in late August. About 30 minutes to get luggage and clear customs. Very easy coming back as well. Now if I flew JFK/ZRH/JFK on a MR, would I have to clear customs in Switzerland? Could I just stay at the gate (even use the Connecting flights desk to get my BP), or would I have to clear customs and go back to the gate (should take 45 minutes with a carry on).

With DEQM, I can make EXP with two transcon and one TATL.

Bpauker -- Good luck with the MR and the upgrades! Keep us posted.

Thanks,

The VIP gods are smiling on me today - my JFK-ZRH segment has cleared, and into a FEBO friendly seat, too (4B). I'll be able to sleep (somewhat tonight) I've been flying since Friday morning at 7AM CST (save for layovers and a 12 hour stop in SFO for dinner/meet up with parents).

I hope this was worth it...

What booking tool did you use to research and book this extraordinary itn esp being able to get the up/gs?

I was in ZRH in late August. About 30 minutes to get luggage and clear customs. Very easy coming back as well. Now if I flew JFK/ZRH/JFK on a MR, would I have to clear customs in Switzerland? Could I just stay at the gate (even use the Connecting flights desk to get my BP), or would I have to clear customs and go back to the gate (should take 45 minutes with a carry on).

With DEQM, I can make EXP with two transcon and one TATL.

Bpauker -- Good luck with the MR and the upgrades! Keep us posted.

Thanks,

Back in the JFK FL for the last leg - I wussed out and am standing by for the nonstop to DFW. After checking my math again, I will still come out over 125k, so why bother with the connection in BOS if I don't need to...

Anyway, I thought about using the connecting desk as well, but I noticed some signage that said it was for doing the security questions only and was not for getting boarding passes or checking in. I didn't try it to find out for sure, though.

What booking tool did you use to research and book this extraordinary itn esp being able to get the up/gs?

I used AA.com and did not confirm C availability prior to booking. I was prepared to do parts of this in Y if I had to, but luckily that wasn't the case (except for the standby flights).

Wow - hard to believe I've been traveling nearly nonstop since Friday at 7AM CST. My itinerary changed somewhat due to standbys, but the final tally of flights/miles/class of services/etc. is outlined below:

10/23 DFW-DCA (F) 1192
10/23 DCA-JFK (Y) 500
10/23 JFK-ZRH (J) 3931
10/24 ZRH-JFK (J) 3931
10/24 JFK-SFO (Y) 2586
10/25 SFO-JFK (F) 2586
10/25 JFK-ZRH (J) 3931
10/26 ZRH-JFK (J) 3931
10/26 JFK-DFW (probably Y) 1391

Total: 23,979
With DBEQM: 47,958
My total after this all posts: 126,146
Redeemable miles: 71,937

Used 4 EVIPS
No misconnects, delays, or irregular ops.
No hassles from immigration or customs at either ZRH or JFK.

All in all, it went pretty well... I probably won't be doing this again if I can avoid. It certainly takes a toll on the body. I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.

Wow. Well done :)

Congratulations!

The "Am I crazy for doing this?" bar has certainly been raised :).

Crazy but Impressive, very Impressive.

Now go and plant a LOT of trees, in your yard.

Cheers Larry.

10/23 DFW-DCA (F) 1192
10/23 DCA-JFK (Y) 500
10/23 JFK-ZRH (J) 3931
10/24 ZRH-JFK (J) 3931
10/24 JFK-SFO (Y) 2586
10/25 SFO-JFK (F) 2586
10/25 JFK-ZRH (J) 3931
10/26 ZRH-JFK (J) 3931
10/26 JFK-DFW (probably Y) 1391


You are out of your mind. :)

Well done.

kind of a shame to burn 4 SWU's but I suppose you get them back (or can anyway) by hitting 125k EQM

I admire your internal fortitude. I want to go to ZRH but desire to leave the airport for at least 1 day

Total: 23,979
With DBEQM: 47,958
My total after this all posts: 126,146
Redeemable miles: 71,937

Please pardon the newbie questions... yet how did you get that many RDMs? Plat/EXP gets you a 100% bonus... where did the rest of the bonus come from? Another promo? Thanks!

That's amazing! Good work fella.

See any good movies?!

Congrats. How did you fight the jetlag?

Please pardon the newbie questions... yet how did you get that many RDMs? Plat/EXP gets you a 100% bonus... where did the rest of the bonus come from? Another promo? Thanks!

Double miles for NY area members. Coincidentally, I moved to New York for the exact duration of the promo.

I watched Land of the Lost, Angels and Demons, The Hangover (2x), The Soloist, and all the comedy TV show episodes more than once. I also watched GI Joe, Harry Potter (the newest one), and 20 minutes of Bruno. I turned Bruno after it became clear that it was even more obscene than I'd thought it would be, and I didn't want to irk my fellow passengers that might have cast glances at my screen.

As for jet lag, it wasn't as bad as I'd expected. I just slept as much as possible and tried not to eat too much. I drank lots of water and kept the alcohol to a minimum (just during meals and snack times).