Mileage Run Discussion - Need help from mileage run gurus

A buddy of mine wants to make EXP for the first time. I've been EXP for a few years, and he sees how much better it is being EXP than Platinum, which he has been for the past four years.

He makes a lot of r/t from AUS to LAX, and for what he pays in sticker upgrades each year it makes sense for him to do a mileage run to get EXP if he can get a reasonable enough priced ticket and not be gone more than a couple days to do it.

He currently is sitting at about 63,000 EQM. He has a trip next week that will boost him to 68,000 EQM after the bonuses post.

So he is looking to do a trip that will get him 16,000 base EQM miles, that with the double bonus raising it to 32,000 will put him over the top to EXP.

We looked at a few routes, like AUS-JFK-NRT-JFK-AUS for example that would do it, but the tickets priced out above $3,000 in coach - more than he wants to spend.

Any of you mileage run experts have any suggestions on routing that will get him the 16,000 miles needed at the lowest price possible ($1,000 to $1,500 range) and minimize layover time?

Thanks in advance for your expert suggestions.

This is really a MR question and not suited for this particular forum, but since ya' asked nicely ;), from ITA:

12/5 to 12/6

AUS-DFW-LAX-LHR-LAX-DFW-AUS at $1153.30 should get you there. I am sure you could probably do better, but that should get you started in the right direction and is just about there. Might need one other segment.:)

Safe Travels

This is really a MR question and not suited for this particular forum, but since ya' asked nicely ;), from ITA:

12/5 to 12/6

AUS-DFW-LAX-LHR-LAX-DFW-AUS at $1153.30 should get you there. I am sure you could probably do better, but that should get you started in the right direction and is just about there. Might need one other segment.:)

Safe Travels

That routing gets 14382 miles (using Flying Fish). Switch the destination to MAN and get an extra 1000 miles (codeshares on BA) for an extra $23.90 for AUS-DFW-LAX-LHR-MAN-LHR-LAX-DFW-AUS or swap MAN for CDG on the 3rd/4th December for $1087.10 ai for 15382 miles total.

That routing gets 14382 miles (using Flying Fish). Switch the destination to MAN and get an extra 1000 miles (codeshares on BA) for an extra $23.90 for AUS-DFW-LAX-LHR-MAN-LHR-LAX-DFW-AUS or swap MAN for CDG on the 3rd/4th December for $1087.10 ai for 15382 miles total.

As I said, probably someone could do a little better.:D

DFW-FRA-DFW is 10,688 miles before DBEQM, and usually pretty cheap. I booked MSP-DFW-FRA-ORD-MSP for $612 the last weekend of November (that's the MR) and MSP-DFW-FRA-DFW-MSP for $566 for 12/3-7 (weekend in Berlin for XMas shopping, tango dancing and visiting the house where my mother grew up).

I have a SEA MR in the MR forum for $730ai, he could (nest) it with aus-ord-sea-ord-aus for about $950 and have a good time doing it

Please continue to follow this thread in the MR Discussion Forum.

dstan
AA Forum Co-Moderator

for 5-6DEC I have
AUS-DFW-BOS-JFK-ZRH and return via same for $848.30 a/i. Unfortunately that's just shy of 13K return, so it would require something like AUS-DFW-XXX-DFW-AUS on another trip to top it off.

AUS-DFW-LGA-ORD-FRA and FRA-ORD-SFO/SEA/LAX-(redeye)-DFW-AUS in time for work monday morning for ~927a/i depending on connecting city and over 15K miles, leaving only an AUS-DFW-AUS for 16K or AUS-DFW-XXX-DFW-AUS if outside the bonus EQM period.

Hope these are helpful. IMHO the return routing through a west-coast redeye is hilarious.

These are same-day, same-plane return fares. I have heard that it is easy to clear immigration at FRA for MR.