Mileage Run Deals - Why Do Mileage Runs?

I have read a couple of times on this board that people do mileage runs. Why? I know that you get the eqm but there has got to be other reasons. Do any of you who do them - do you enjoy them? :confused: I hope that my enquiry is not too intrusive. I am a bit perplexed and a bit amused and since I'm just sitting here watching the snow storm - I thought I would see what is behind the psyche of a mileage runner.

All you mileage runners I hope that you don't take any offense to my question. Just wanted to know why.

Thanks

You might want to take a look over on the MR forum as many people there have discussed this at length before.

Basically, though, people do MRs because they want to meet the EQM threshhold for their desired level of status. Elite status makes a big difference when travelling; you get upgrades, better service (hypothetically), and a host of other benefits. MRs seem weird when you first learn about them, but strangely over time (and after reading FT a while) they seem perfectly sane and normal. :)

Moved to MileageRuns forum.

cblaisd
Moderator, United

All you mileage runners I hope that you don't take any offense to my question. Just wanted to know why.

Take offense to your questions? Noooo ;)

Couldn't explain it better than TakeMeToEZE

Well...miles built up on cheap fares help to buy expensive tickets that one would otherwise not be able to afford (or just not want to pay for). The last three summers I've flown to Tokyo, Barcelona and Athens (for the Olympics) all in business class, on award tickets valued at over $5,000 each. I've also done 10 award tickets in business or first over the last dozen years to Australia or New Zealand, generally valued at $7,000RT or more. I built up the majority of the miles for those on domestic tickets that cost less than $200, or off-season Europe tickets under $400, and have been able to upgrade on most of those just because of frequent flyer status.

Yes, makes sense to me :) Once you've made top tier on your selected program, you just don't want to drop back down.

I, like you, didn't understand the whole MR concept, until I finally got Premier status on UA for this year. Only reason I have it too is because of 2 trips to Europe I took last year and now I want it all the time :) I know I'll never reach any higher status as I don't travel for work, so it's all leisure trips I have to take to get status.

So I will be taking my first official MR in a couple weeks LAX-PHL for only $178rt on UA. Luckily I can stay a couple days and visit friends which is cool. I'm now totally on the hunt for cheap MR's so that I can make Premier status for 2006 for when I go Down Under :D

This is probably another thread but what do you usually do on a mileage run? Do you usually do a mileage run in E-? I see that some do mileage runs to Asia. Do you pay for it or somehow set up your trip to do some biz also?

Do you enjoy it?

If you're at the mid to top elite level, at least at AA (and probably virtually all domestic legacy airlines), you get a 100% mileage bonus plus a 1000 mile booking bonus (if booked at AA.com). If you have a Citibank AAdvantage Mastercard, you get the miles for each dollar of airfare as well (assuming you used that card to charge the airfare). So, let's say you get a 7,300 mile weird-routing transcon for $230 all inclusive (don't forget you get a minimum base mileage of 500 even if the leg is alot less, e.g. ~200 miles DCA-LGA counts as 500). So the 7,300 mile transcon for $230 gets you 7,300 base miles + 7,300 bonus miles + 1,000 AA.com booking bonus + 230 miles AAdvantage Mastercard miles = 15,830. You do two of those ($460) and it's more than enough for a 25K award transcon and almost enough for a RT award to Hawaii (35K). That's not counting the freebie domestic FC upgrades, 8 electronic UPGs per year for upgrading travel to Europe, Asia, etc (assuming you're Executive Plat at AA) regardless of fare paid. Sometimes, like last year, they have special promos where you earn extra award tickets in addition to the miles you get to use for regular awards. So, there is a method to the madness. ;)

Well, some of us do mileage runs so that we can get top-tier status (such as 1K on United) cheaply, so that when we fly FUTURE mileage runs, they will generally ALL be upgraded to business class, so that....

Hmmm, does this sound like a dog chasing its tail? Or the tail wagging the dog? Or something....

Seriously, though, once you've enjoyed the high-status bennies you won't want to go back to being a plebe! ;)

Seriously, though, once you've enjoyed the high-status bennies you won't want to go back to being a plebe! ;)

That makes perfect sense to me.

Before I became a Delta FO, I really didn't know what I was missing....

Now, I find that at the very least, I want to make sure to keep that status...if not move up to either Gold or maybe even....Platinum. :cool:

As a result, I have started planning my routings to increase the number of miles that I get for each trip.

Case in point.....3 SPG stays, 7556 Delta MQMs and over 11,000 Skymiles for a weekend trip (T-class - about $175 since I booked it as 2 one-ways) to New Orleans from NYC-LGA. I definitely plan to go back at some point after Mardi Gras is over.....but before it gets too hot down there. ;)

My next "MR" on Delta is going to just be more of the same....outbound to either SFO or OAK and returning from SMF..... 2 SPG stays, over 7100 MQMs and over 10,000 more skymiles...not counting a bunch of Amtrak points as well. :cool:

I know that neither of these are true mileage runs in the strictest sense, but as far as I'm concerned, every additional MQM that I earn is one step closer to a higher level....and I really want to make sure that at the very minimum, I reach Gold this year.

Still, I have yet to do an actual "fast turn" mileage run....simply because I like to turn these "MR"s into short getaways for the weekend. ;)

Personally....I enjoy flying....especially when I'm upgraded to FC. ;)

A.J.

So the 7,300 mile transcon for $230 gets you 7,300 base miles + 7,300 bonus miles + 1,000 AA.com booking bonus + 230 miles AAdvantage Mastercard miles = 15,830. You do two of those ($460) and it's more than enough for a 25K award transcon and almost enough for a RT award to Hawaii (35K).

I tell myself that too, but then generally whenever there are saver award tickets available the fare is cheap enough that I buy the ticket instead because I can't pass up the chance to get the EQMs, redeemable miles, and upgrades. In my mind I still think of 25k as being a free domestic ticket, but the serious mileage runner isn't going to end up using the miles for those award tickets anyway.

It's okay to realize that the whole mileage/status run mindset is a touch irrational and keep doing it anyway. It's a hobby, no more silly than buying a $35k car when one costing $15k will be just as effective in most situations. There are times when having the more expensive car (or MR obtained status) proves spectacularly enjoyable and convenient, but whether the overall cost is worth it is something each person must decide on their own.

Stretching things a little and throwing in a bit of psycho-babble: working the system to achieve status, etc. is a way for the lone individual to feel a bit of recognition and self-actualization in the faceless corporate world we all navigate. It's an ironic, defiant statement: "You only care about the almighty dollar, and not me as a person? Fine! I only care about the Almighty Mile!"

It's okay to realize that the whole mileage/status run mindset is a touch irrational and keep doing it anyway. It's a hobby"

I am starting to understand a bit. It was hard because I travel for business and I travel about 100,000 miles plus. Planes mean work.

I've never done MR just for the miles- i.e, don't actually enjoy the destination. I've done a "MR" but have stayed a night or two to visit friends/family or routed a trip that otherwise would've been nonstop into something a little more extra- like routing through CVG on Northeast-FL routes. Maybe a little longer on FT and I'll be crazy enough to go on a pure MR.

I usually don't do mileage runs, but we'll take off for a weekend someplace we want to go because it's cheap and we get the miles. Normal people will call that a mileage run, nobody sane goes to Rio for the weekend they will say, people here wouldn't call it a pure run because there was something other then an airplane trip involved. People here would say why pay for a hotel room when you could come back home the same day?

And, yes I am saying if we are on this board we generally aren't normal. :rolleyes:

All that being said, there are times I'll do one. A few years ago I was a few hundred miles from the status level I held for many years wtith only two weeks left in the year. Some end of year trips all got cancleded when the financial situtation at my company of the time turned, so I wasn't going to make the level I wanted.

I would have given up the double bonus, I would have given up all the free upgrades to Business (at the time I couldn't even remember the last time I was in coach), and everything else we all love about having status.

It was the last week of the year, so I took a day trip from New York down to Atlanta. Got some dogs at the Varsity, drank about $100 worth of soda over at Coke, and came home. I had says to use at the job by the end of the year, or I would lose them, and I needed the miles, and it all worked out. I even managed to get bumped on the way home, so I got another free trip. I left in the morning, was back home at dinner time, just like I went into work.

I've never done MR just for the miles- i.e, don't actually enjoy the destination. I've done a "MR" but have stayed a night or two to visit friends/family or routed a trip that otherwise would've been nonstop into something a little more extra- like routing through CVG on Northeast-FL routes. Maybe a little longer on FT and I'll be crazy enough to go on a pure MR.

The good thing about your setup is you don't have to get as creative with those Sat night stays and 1/3 day minimums... PErsonally, I extend out travel I was going to do anyway, or possibly some place I don't mind going. Yet to do a pure run, but mainly becuase i just started this FT thing last year, and did the AA challenge to get to PLAT. We will see, but I am sure by Oct 05 I won't want to be loosing status and will want to do something creative..

This week, I took what would have been MCI_ORD_IAD or MCI_DFW_IAD to MCI_DFW_SFO_LAX_IAD and back IAD_LAX_BOS_LGA_MCI

10k miles for more upgrade stickers and a jump on the status for next year... :) If you book the redeye transcon's and are going the right direction, you can rack up miles quickly... I have yet to get my passport, I have been wanting a reason besides MR's.

In addition to the obvious "earn miles/retain status" reasons already given, I'll add a couple more: meet other Flyertalkers and show support for your favorite airline! Check out these two threads from the US Airways Forum...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=377287

and

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=381342

[QUOTE=Bulldog King]That makes perfect sense to me.
Before I became a Delta FO, I really didn't know what I was missing....
Now, I find that at the very least, I want to make sure to keep that status...if not move up to either Gold or maybe even....Platinum. :cool:
As a result, I have started planning my routings to increase the number of miles that I get for each trip.

Can you elaborate? I always fly non-stop to save time and hassle. Is that counter to what you are saying?

thanks, Jean

[QUOTE=Bulldog King]That makes perfect sense to me.
Before I became a Delta FO, I really didn't know what I was missing....
Now, I find that at the very least, I want to make sure to keep that status...if not move up to either Gold or maybe even....Platinum. :cool:
As a result, I have started planning my routings to increase the number of miles that I get for each trip.

Can you elaborate? I always fly non-stop to save time and hassle. Is that counter to what you are saying?

thanks, Jean

It all depends on whether or not you're in a hurry to get somewhere...or you're just out on a mileage run and the number of accumulated miles are what is most important.

Also, it depends on the routing that is allowed for a particular fare.

Case in point.....I want to go out to the SF Bay area to visit my cousin on Feb 11th and return on the 14th.

Now, I could take a non-stop direct flight on Delta from JFK to SFO...but that would net me only 5176 MQMs....cost $266.90 (booking code: U).

Or, I could depart from LGA and connect in ATL...which would give me 5800 MQMs....cost $278.30 (booking code: U).

And then there's the long route...... ;)

I could go LGA-BOS-ATL-OAK and return (OAK-ATL-BOS-LGA) which would net me 7152 MQMs. :cool:

FWIW, I just entered this itinerary on Delta.com (Feb. 11th / Feb. 14th) and it priced at $202.20 (booking class: T / fare code: TR5N42) or $.028 per MQM.

Not bad at all. :)

A.J.

Edit: Even though Delta.com prices the long routing, I can't seem to book any itinerary via the website with a Delta Shuttle flight connecting in Boston to a regular flight. :(

However, it does work by substituting JFK for LGA. ;)

Unfortunately, all JFK-BOS flights are on CRJs. :(

At least, it's a very short flight. :)

I have only taken one "Mileage run" last December to get Premier Ex , 50,000 miles

I do fly alot long distance , to Europe and Asia , I try to get the most miles possible for the best price. and never business class.
But I travel for business/fun so would not really want to do a "mileage run" that did not include some fun time at my destination.

I also find it weird to do a mileage run to say Toyko and not even leave the airport !

Well...miles built up on cheap fares help to buy expensive tickets that one would otherwise not be able to afford (or just not want to pay for). The last three summers I've flown to Tokyo, Barcelona and Athens (for the Olympics) all in business class, on award tickets valued at over $5,000 each. I've also done 10 award tickets in business or first over the last dozen years to Australia or New Zealand, generally valued at $7,000RT or more. I built up the majority of the miles for those on domestic tickets that cost less than $200, or off-season Europe tickets under $400, and have been able to upgrade on most of those just because of frequent flyer status.

Yes, makes sense to me :) Once you've made top tier on your selected program, you just don't want to drop back down.

Couldn't agree with you more on the last line about once making top tier you don't want to drop back down. I keep telling myself once i drop down from UA 1K or SPG Plat, I won't be able to force myself to requalify from the bottom up.

Until this past fall, I've mainly been in earn mode, but then it came time to burn some miles for tickets that I never could have purchased.

For me let's see....

Hong Kong/Japan: SQ C / UA C
Munich: UA F
Chicago/Barcelona/Cologne: LH F / UA F
Hong Kong/Singapore/Japan: SQ C

All the above tickets I never would have purchased, but thanks to miles earned on the cheap I'm able to enjoy these luxuries.

Hotel wise, I've been pretty fortunate, but on a recent trip to NYC before Christmas rooms were running about $400/night in which case I was more than willing to give SPG 10,000 pts a night for a room at the Westin and W Times Square.

Besides all the nice award tickets and the rooms in NYC, some mileage runs that got me to 1K have allowed me to enjoy most if not all my travel in Biz/First in 2004. Mattress runs to help me finish up qualifying for SPG Platinum have been rewarded with some suites that many only dream of :)

Fortunately, with more international travel I have become less dependent on mileage runs to requalify for 1K. I still probably need to mattress run a few times in Nov/Dec to finish up with SPG.

I find it hard to do a real true MR as I'm going to AMS for a weekend from SAN, but the EQM plus the chance to see another country or two is worth it for me.

Getting about .0217c/m with my AS MVP bonus. Should work out to be about 17700 miles.

Not bad for a few hours of time, almost a free domestic ticket and some of the segments are looking pretty full already a month out.

i'm flying PDX-MSP-LGW = nearly 16,000 miles and 11,000 EQMs, for less than $400 all in... it seemed like a cheap way to take a vacation to Europe, earn 3/5 of a free domestic ticket (approximate value maybe $150), and continue the quest for WP Gold Elite (free upgrades, early boarding, 100% bonus miles, etc).

If you extend the logic a few more paces, you end up with a mileage run.

Just to clarify, I've never (yet) done a "pure" mileage run. However, I have done a number of runs of this form: fly a redeye from SFO to NYC (either JFK or EWR, usually nonstop but sometimes connecting); arrive early in the morning in NYC; spend about 8 hours roaming around Manhattan (and/or other boroughs) doing fun stuff; return on an evening flight. So, more of a micro-vacation rather than a pure run. Lots of times these transcons can be purchased for $250 to $260, sometimes even around $200 or less. It's over 5,000 elite qualifying miles, and double redeemable miles (for PremEx or 1K flyers on UA), plus whatever other promo bonuses might apply.

I'm not keen on the multi-segment runs where you spend the whole time on planes or in airports. For one thing, misconnects are a very real possibility on these runs and can wreak havoc with your schedule. For another, in spite of being on FlyerTalk all these years, this type of run still seems pointless and unnecessary to me. However, never say never! ;)

I'm not keen on the multi-segment runs where you spend the whole time on planes or in airports. For one thing, misconnects are a very real possibility on these runs and can wreak havoc with your schedule. For another, in spite of being on FlyerTalk all these years, this type of run still seems pointless and unnecessary to me. However, never say never! ;)

I agree with you, i'd rather just sit on a plane and lose 500 miles than make multiple hops. I suppose the only advantage to doing that would be bump opportunities but that's all I can really think of to justify those multi-stop runs.

I agree with you, i'd rather just sit on a plane and lose 500 miles than make multiple hops. I suppose the only advantage to doing that would be bump opportunities but that's all I can really think of to justify those multi-stop runs.
But you can rack up large quantities of extra miles for little or no extra money, if you construct your itinerary cleverly. I just object to such runs on the grounds of unpleasantness. However, some day (especially when there aren't so many EQM promos any more) I may end up doing them!

It's okay to realize that the whole mileage/status run mindset is a touch irrational and keep doing it anyway. It's a hobby, no more silly than buying a $35k car when one costing $15k will be just as effective in most situations.

Interesting analogy! I would tweak that a bit...

For me, doing mileage runs is something like this...

Frequently renting a car (when I really do not need to) so that one day I will be able to buy that $35k car for only $15k!

I am starting to understand a bit. It was hard because I travel for business and I travel about 100,000 miles plus. Planes mean work.
If you fly 100K/year you're obviously already elite so MRs may be irrelevant. I would suspect MRs first started when someone was, say, 5K short of status at the end of the year. No further trips were planned. So the question was, do you end up with no status or fly one trip with no purpose other than to acquire EQMs?

I agree with you, i'd rather just sit on a plane and lose 500 miles than make multiple hops. I suppose the only advantage to doing that would be bump opportunities but that's all I can really think of to justify those multi-stop runs.


Yes, you can look at it that way. A simple LAXMCO rt at 4436 can go up to 7354 if you are willing to stop in SFO and IAD and if it's the redeye you arrive at 10a rather than 6a, so you don't have to wait for hotel check-in times. 2918 is more than 500 miles.

Don't get me started with the promos.... ooops you did. The 1 for 2 promos, DL, AA and UA had last year for flying two rt btw LAX/SFO and JFK/BOS, got me a free rt ticket anywhere they fly. (178.00*2=356.00)* Now all I am paying for my rt tkt LAXSYD is the taxes. Yes some of the MR are the redeye there and back on the early morning flight, but sometimes a trip into the city is welcome, and look it's NYC maybe a game at the Garden or a show on Broadway. It was winter no baseball of football.


*I did four RT LAXJFK US$712.00. I would have been dropped in HNL for two rather than make it all the way to SYD. The mileage.. 19800 would have given me a OW upgrade for one on the same LAXHNL flight.

So the question was, do you end up with no status or fly one trip with no purpose other than to acquire EQMs?

"No status or no purpose -- that is the question --
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The narrow pitch and spinzels of coach,
Or to take flight in a sky of economy fares,
And by MR'ing end them?"

Someone please tell me this is okay for a first MR. I booked MCO-LGA and return same day on Feb 5 for $123 with AA. I need 1000 points to make platinum status before a spring trip to ROME. This is a first MR for me and I feel a bit stupid for spending the day on a plane for no purpose other than earn miles.

Someone please tell me this is okay for a first MR. I booked MCO-LGA and return same day on Feb 5 for $123 with AA. I need 1000 points to make platinum status before a spring trip to ROME. This is a first MR for me and I feel a bit stupid for spending the day on a plane for no purpose other than earn miles.

Others will differ, but I think it is a fine FIRST mileage run. It's what, 1900 miles, 10 hours, 2 segs both nonstops, cheap and gets you to Plat for your trip to Rome. Glitch potential near zero, you don't have to sleep, maybe just buy lunch? Sounds okay.

Remember the specifics of this MR for future reference. As time goes by and you do more MRs, the CPM of $.0646 will seem pretty high. A Cents Per Mile cost of about $.02 (or less) is what I look for.

However, like I said, your MR sounds fine for a first effort as it gets you what you want with few opportunities for things to go wrong, and very little in the way of collateral costs. No hotel and you can even pack a lunch!

Welcome to mileage running. Have fun! ^

Normally, as a moderator, the only posts I get to make are those trying to keep people focused on the topic, or "applying the rules".

I couldn't help but take a second to post on this thread, though, to thank every single one of you for the excellent posts. I'm going to make this a sticky at the top of the forum to help round out the forum -- we will now have the why, what and how of Mileage Runs compiled together for anyone wondering why we're all so crazy.

Threads like this are why I'm a FlyerTalk addict.

Dave, a.k.a. dmfriedman
Moderator, Mileage Run

Yes, you can look at it that way. A simple LAXMCO rt at 4436 can go up to 7354 if you are willing to stop in SFO and IAD and if it's the redeye you arrive at 10a rather than 6a, so you don't have to wait for hotel check-in times. 2918 is more than 500 miles.


The point of my statement was adding segments where the mileage doesn't 'make sense' to me. I mean, if flying from SAN-TPA, it makes sense to route that as far north as possible, and then arch it back down south, so on
CO/NW, SAN-MSP-IAH-TPA makes sense.

For a person like me, I have a hard time justifying on NW going from SAN-MSP-DTW-TPA (6086 eqm), as opposed to just SAN-DTW-TPA (5878 eqm). Only way I could justify the extra stop for about 200 miles is if the MSP-DTW segment appears to be grossly overbooked. Otherwise, i'd skip it.

The point of my statement was adding segments where the mileage doesn't 'make sense' to me.

...or when other "normal" people would consider it to be a sign of mental instability to book such a routing. ;)

Such as the time when I recently went to New Orleans via ATL and SLC. :D

This route from LGA added about 5000 extra miles to the trip. :cool:

However, be careful as to who you tell about such a trip.....as they just might think you're actually nuts. :p

A.J.

The primary reason I take mileage runs is to earn Status. Status gives me things I would never pay for, and in many cases, things I can NOT pay for.

Can't pay for: You can't pay for the privilege of going to the head of every line, but it sure pleases me to do so. Boarding a plane first, so I get all my stuff stored wherever I want, leaving room for my feet under the seat in front of me, and getting all comfortable before the trip pleases me. Getting competent airline reservation staff on most of my calls, and usually pleasant and fun. It feels good actually being served on the phone when you have to interact with the airline anyway. Walking in to a gate just before the last passenger boards, where a ton of people have been waiting hours on a standby list to board, adding myself to the standby list, and then being the ONLY person called from the standby list to board is quite amazing. Getting my seating preferences met 97% of the time is cool too. And when there is a serious schedule problem, the airline calls me to tell me about it, and will work with me to fix it then and there instead of letting me show up at the airport, be blown away, then standing in a long line trying to correct the problem. I guess I could get many of these benefits by buying first class seats for every flight I take. But then I'd be paying 10 to 15 times more for travel than I usually do. Do you want to pay 53 cents per mile flown? or 4 cents per mile?

Wouldn't pay for: I am top tier on NW and AA. That means I get upgraded to first class on almost any NW and AA North America flight I take at no extra cost. Before I reached top tier, I NEVER flew first class. Now I almost ALWAYS do. At no extra cost. I feel incredibly happy to fly round trip on business from coast to coast for $180 and sit in first class and get fed a decent meal to boot. All because I earned status.

The miles earned are a benefit, and help fuel the hobby. (Everybody needs a hobby). And miles are kind of cool to give to friends that need to go somewhere, but are having trouble affording it. A wedding. A summer vacation. Whatever. It is cool to make somebody happy by getting them an award ticket from miles that I got for free doing something I had to do anyway.

One more reason to take Mileage Runs? With status and mileage runs, I feel like I am working the system, instead of the system working me.

If maybe 10%-15% of my miles are for "unnecessary" trips or trip extensions, but it makes such a huge difference for the other 85%-90% of my flying, doesn't that make sense? My MR flights sometimes actually save me money (by taking some weird routing no one wants, so it is priced more cheaply than the non-stop alternative), and when they cost me money, they are always VERY CHEAP. I never do an expensive MR. $72. $123. $189. And I get SO MUCH in return. And I enjoy myself far more. And the 85%-90% of the obligatory flying is so much nicer as well.

Just to clarify, I've never (yet) done a "pure" mileage run. However, I have done a number of runs of this form: fly a redeye from SFO to NYC (either JFK or EWR, usually nonstop but sometimes connecting); arrive early in the morning in NYC; spend about 8 hours roaming around Manhattan (and/or other boroughs) doing fun stuff; return on an evening flight. So, more of a micro-vacation rather than a pure run. Lots of times these transcons can be purchased for $250 to $260, sometimes even around $200 or less. It's over 5,000 elite qualifying miles, and double redeemable miles (for PremEx or 1K flyers on UA), plus whatever other promo bonuses might apply.

I'm not keen on the multi-segment runs where you spend the whole time on planes or in airports. For one thing, misconnects are a very real possibility on these runs and can wreak havoc with your schedule. For another, in spite of being on FlyerTalk all these years, this type of run still seems pointless and unnecessary to me. However, never say never! ;)

you took the words right out of my mouth!

The point of my statement was adding segments where the mileage doesn't 'make sense' to me. I mean, if flying from SAN-TPA, it makes sense to route that as far north as possible, and then arch it back down south, so on
CO/NW, SAN-MSP-IAH-TPA makes sense.

For a person like me, I have a hard time justifying on NW going from SAN-MSP-DTW-TPA (6086 eqm), as opposed to just SAN-DTW-TPA (5878 eqm). Only way I could justify the extra stop for about 200 miles is if the MSP-DTW segment appears to be grossly overbooked. Otherwise, i'd skip it.

This is very sound advice, and I wish more people would pay attention to it.

UA routes such as SFO-DEN-ORD-IAD are basically ineffective at adding mileage, as the difference between SFO-IAD and SFO-DEN-ORD-IAD is negligible. One's time would be much better spent flying SFO-JFK-IAD or SFO-LAX-IAD or SFO-LAX-JFK-IAD instead.

However, at times it's necessary to book such segments. In addition to your overbooking concern, at times you'll find that availability may require it. If SAN-DTW is not available, but SAN-MSP-DTW is, you may be forced to fly SAN-MSP-DTW to preserve the fare.

I did a (slightly-impure) MR last Dec to hit 1K. I was sitting around 70 EQM on UA. I had one leg singapore to pittsburgh purchased, and planned pit-lax to see family for xmas (85EQM so far). Then I noticed the double EQM offer, and my sin-pit qualified (95EQM now!). So I needed a little bit more. For $600 - double registration plus rt to hkg - I could have 6 system upgrades (each of which would be used for 20 hr flights), a bunch of regional, better lines (Prem Exec doesn't get much in singapore, but 1K does), etc. Oh, and I could have 8 hours to see hong kong. I thought it was a great deal!

Note, if I'd been paying attention to the offers, I could have purchased sin-hkg for less money. But as it was a high fee, they gave me free upgrades to hong kong on my MR!

For me it was 1) low marginal cost - most of the travel was planned anyway and much of it paid by work and 2) known large payoff - I knew I'd use all 6 swu's for 10,000 miles of flight.

I've not done a pure mileage run yet. However, I did once route a Star1 RTW to include LHR-ORD-MKE-ORD-MKE-ORD-MKE-ORD-SBN-ORD-MKE-ORD-MKE-ORD-GRR-ORD-SEA over 2-and-a-bit days.

This meant that, for only the cost of a couple of hotel rooms (about US$40/night each on Priceline) and some time, I was able to end the year at about 51k EQM on UA instead of 48k. It was actually quite fun flying back and forth. One of the UA staff at MKE started to address me by name, without looking at my boarding pass.

However, my lack of mileage runs is about to change. Since I did very little paid flying last year, I'd like to qualify for UA 1P again by end of Feb (when it would otherwise run out), so I'm flying over 50k EQMs in Feb. Part of that, for example, is SEA-SFO-JFK-IAD-MCO-IAD-JFK-IAD-SEA for US$278. Around 8586 EQMs and over 18k miles. 3.2c/EQM and 1.5c/mile.

I have an additional reason on this one: I want to try out UA's new p.s. service SFO-JFK. (... and it's upgaded to business class.)

I'm wanting to do a MR to the USA - I like the USA for cheap fuel and car hire etc. but I don't like heavy traffic. I've done Boston a couple of times and my question really is: where can/should I go next? I prefer to fly UA as I can use their economy plus product but any star alliance carrier would be ok.

In typical MR fashion, I'm only staying at the destination for a day or so but it needs to be somewhere quietish - I couldn't imagine driving around New York, for example.

I find cost per mile is cheap on the BOS via IAD runs..so I'd be looking for something in that price range.

On the west coast, both San Francisco and Seattle have excellent public transport from the airport into the city, if you wanted to stay a night. Both can be easily done on foot or local transit when downtown. You'll be able to get a hotel in the airport zone on priceline for less than $40, too. There'd be plenty to keep you occupied for a day, or longer, in either city.

Is it a "mileage run" to you when a good fare pops up to a place you want to go, and you take off for a weekend? (I call that a mini-vacation)

Is it a "mileage run" to you when you are planning a trip for business or pleasure and you maximize the miles/segments? (I call that creative routing)

Is it a "mileage run" when a good fare comes up to a place you wouldn't mind going, and you route it so you actually spend more time getting there and back than at the destination, but you still have time to explore a little bit, maybe spend the night in a hotel? (How about "mileage run lite" for that one?)

Is it a mileage run when you don't care where you go, as long as there are maximum miles and segments and a low CPM? And if it's overnight, you arrive on the last flight in and take the first flight out, sleeping in the airport, or the nearest hotel or even in a rented car? Maybe it's a one hour turnaround and you never leave the airport? (That to me is now a MILEAGE RUN, that is, an itinerary undertaken for no other purpose than to accrue miles and/or segments)

What do YOU call a mileage run?

Disclaimer: I realized that I have progressed (or regressed) in my time on FT, passing through each stage above, and at each stage, felt like I was doing mileage runs. Now that I have bottomed out, only the last definition applies.

Case in point: Sat-Sun 2/12-13 I am doing SAN-DEN-DFW-ORD-FLL-CLT-ORD-LAX-SAN on UA. $226.50 all in, arr 1100pm, will sleep on a couch in FLL (good reviews of sleeping at FLL (http://sleepinginairports.com/usa/fortlauderdale.htm)), and take the first flight out in the morning.

Thanks a lot, FlyerTalk! :rolleyes:

Is it a "mileage run" to you when a good fare pops up to a place you want to go, and you take off for a weekend? (I call that a mini-vacation)

Is it a "mileage run" to you when you are planning a trip for business or pleasure and you maximize the miles/segments? (I call that creative routing)

Is it a "mileage run" when a good fare comes up to a place you wouldn't mind going, and you route it so you actually spend more time getting there and back than at the destination, but you still have time to explore a little bit, maybe spend the night in a hotel? (How about "mileage run lite" for that one?)

Is it a mileage run when you don't care where you go, as long as there are maximum miles and segments and a low CPM? And if it's overnight, you arrive on the last flight in and take the first flight out, sleeping in the airport, or the nearest hotel or even in a rented car? Maybe it's a one hour turnaround and you never leave the airport? (That to me is now a MILEAGE RUN, that is, an itinerary undertaken for no other purpose than to accrue miles and/or segments)

What do YOU call a mileage run?

Disclaimer: I realized that I have progressed (or regressed) in my time on FT, passing through each stage above, and at each stage, felt like I was doing mileage runs. Now that I have bottomed out, only the last definition applies.

Case in point: Sat-Sun 2/12-13 I am doing SAN-DEN-DFW-ORD-FLL-CLT-ORD-LAX-SAN on UA. $226.50 all in, arr 1100pm, will sleep on a couch in FLL (good reviews of sleeping at FLL (http://sleepinginairports.com/usa/fortlauderdale.htm)), and take the first flight out in the morning.

Thanks a lot, FlyerTalk! :rolleyes:

For me, a Mileage Run is flying somewhere purely for maximum mileage to maintain status in your chosen FF plan. Seeing the destination for maybe one or two nights (max.) is a pleasant but not essential side line. I live in UK and enjoy my MR's to the USA - flying 11,000 miles inside of 48 hours might seem crazy to some but if it gets me *A Gold status cheaply then so be it. I think you have to be interested in and enjoy flying, otherwise you probably wouldn't go to those lengths. Also, compared to domestic economy, I think long haul economy with most airlines is very good value for money at the moment.

Stretching things a little and throwing in a bit of psycho-babble: working the system to achieve status, etc. is a way for the lone individual to feel a bit of recognition and self-actualization in the faceless corporate world we all navigate. It's an ironic, defiant statement: "You only care about the almighty dollar, and not me as a person? Fine! I only care about the Almighty Mile!"

I've never really stopped to think about it that way, but you're right. I don't mean to psycho-analyze myself, but what you wrote is part of the reason I do MRs. Also, it's a challenge of sorts, i.e. using the various tools to build multi-segment trips for cheap fares, enrolling in special promos, etc. Many times you could be flying on one of your segments where the person sitting next to you (and that small segment for you might be his/her entire trip) has paid two or three times what you paid. One thing I've learned from constructing MRs and using "the system" is that airline pricing is totally idiotic.

Is Elite status all that great? Is flying in first for free really worth it? I don't know...but maybe because I am still young. Last year I did a lot of quase mileage runs...I found a lot of cheap weekend flights to South America and Paris and while flying those I got the quadruple bonus from AA. But, I would usually stay 4 or more days in each place and visit friends. Why I consider them MRs is that each of those flights to Brazil and Argentina for $600 gave me back another free trip (40K miles) and I wouldn't have gone so many times in 2 months if I hadn't had that and someone else paying for most of it.
<p>
I made executive platnium for the first time at the end of the year on my 3rd trip to Brazil (this time I was going to celebrate quitting that job, so no milage run here). Is it worth it? I'm still not sure. The upgrades are nice but if you fly a lot you will probably get them anyway...and business or first is not that much better on most planes. Do you really care about getting some crappy airplane food? I upgraded my first flight to Brazil this year using 2 of the 8 free VIPs you get, and to be honest wasn't that impressed. I like to sleep on planes, and the seats really weren't that much more comfortable than 2 (or better 3) economy seats next to each other...something you can still find on a midweek flight to Brazil or even Paris. Is the crappy champagne worth the money? Flat out, no. Is the food really that much better? No (you're still much better off eating at a nice restaurant in the airport). For those who can't sleep then maybe...but why on earth would you put yourself through several hours on a plane just to get some miles? Not to offend anyone, but take that money and spend some time with a friend.
<p>
One thing I have seen is that miles and status are a bit addictive. How many of us out there are willing to spend money instead of use miles for a ticket just because we know that if we use miles we won't get the mileage or status points for the flight? How many of us, like me, are sitting on 400,000 plus miles? How many of us have actually cashed in a mileage ticket for our own use in the last 5 trips we have flown? My guess would be that there are some, but most haven't. It is nice to have a special 800 number where the person answering really works hard at helping you out...but most mileage runners book online so they can get the bonus. If first class were really 10 times better, then maybe it would be worth it...but as far as I am concerned we all get there at the same time anyway and none of them are that comfortable. I'm writing this mostly because as I write I am pondering the reasons I care so much about mileage...I can't place it. Can anyone else? I think I am going to start using some of mine.

That said, it is a challenge and it is fun. I might do one again if I am close to P or EP again near the end of the year.

I'm wanting to do a MR to the USA - I like the USA for cheap fuel and car hire etc. but I don't like heavy traffic. I've done Boston a couple of times and my question really is: where can/should I go next? I prefer to fly UA as I can use their economy plus product but any star alliance carrier would be ok.

In typical MR fashion, I'm only staying at the destination for a day or so but it needs to be somewhere quietish - I couldn't imagine driving around New York, for example.

I find cost per mile is cheap on the BOS via IAD runs..so I'd be looking for something in that price range.
You could try US Air's GO FARES routing through PHL!
Anyway, I've never done a pure MR but have routed through ATL or CVG on example BOS-MCO trips. Now BOS-ATL-MCO only gives around 500 more miles but sometimes I get tired of flying Song so much (although it's a great product) and want to fly some of Delta's old 767s on MCO-ATL route, and the possibility of an upgrade is there!
And scp22, flying is part of the FT "culture" or shall I say, addiction. It's just another excitement to add to life.
And I must say, status did help (either that or seat 1A did) when I was at the MCO Terminal B security line at 7am and it was very long. But the TSA agent checking BP (boarding passes) noticed "1A, DL Elite" and said, oh you can go to the First Class line. (I didn't even know there was one!)
Sweet! I guess saving the half hour of time could be a payoff to spending more on a MR!

Well thank you all for responding. I am happy to say that I was impressed by the amount of dedication that some of you have to get to that next level. I noticed that many of you have a driving force to achieve, conquer, attain. I would be interested in a Mileage Runner age, sex, and occupation level and future occupational level. Hope no offense in trying to get a psyche makeup of the mileage runner. Hey for anyone out there that would be a great name for a fictional book - "The Mileage Runner" :)



Age : which I probably peg most of you at 35-50.
Sex :Male
Occupational Level : Owner - Enterpeneur, Mid Level Management, Sales,

Well thank you all for responding. I am happy to say that I was impressed by the amount of dedication that some of you have to get to that next level. I noticed that many of you have a driving force to achieve, conquer, attain. I would be interested in a Mileage Runner age, sex, and occupation level and future occupational level. Hope no offense in trying to get a psyche makeup of the mileage runner. Hey for anyone out there that would be a great name for a fictional book - "The Mileage Runner" :)



Age : which I probably peg most of you at 35-50.
Sex :Male
Occupational Level : Owner - Enterpeneur, Mid Level Management, Sales,

Well I'm 30 (just!), Male, Consultant.

Personally I think FlyerTalk should have a forum for Mileage Runners to meet up - I do a fair bit of travel for MR purposes and I often wonder when on a packed 747 how many others on the plane are subscribers to FT...statistically it must be similar to there being a doctor on-board. My idea would be to have a forum where you input your travel details and likeminded FTers could match up with those - a bit like friends re-united but you don't know the person initially and hey, might never see them again. Just a thought.

Well I'm 30 (just!), Male, Consultant.

Personally I think FlyerTalk should have a forum for Mileage Runners to meet up - I do a fair bit of travel for MR purposes and I often wonder when on a packed 747 how many others on the plane are subscribers to FT...statistically it must be similar to there being a doctor on-board. My idea would be to have a forum where you input your travel details and likeminded FTers could match up with those - a bit like friends re-united but you don't know the person initially and hey, might never see them again. Just a thought.

Itineraries? (http://flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=381)

Age: 19
Sex: Male
Occupation: FT college student; I also work FT at a restaurant. I am a rare breed!

Age: 19
Sex: Male
Occupation: FT college student; I also work FT at a restaurant. I am a rare breed!

i'm close....

25
male
ft college/ft customer service rep for a dot-com company.

I'm suprised i've missed this thread up until now. That will teach me to ignore the sticky's!

I did my first "mileage run" about 5 years ago (long before I had a clue about flyertalk or mileage runs) when I was about 1200 miles short of Plat on NW. I flew FNT-DTW-ATL-DFW-FNT on Christmas eve, back Christmas morning for about $125 while scoring a $250 Voucher in the process.

Since all of my travel is leisure, I like to bank the miles from cheap tickets and use them for trips that would otherwise be price prohibitive (biz class to europe, etc).

I often, as most of us do, find creative routings and look for aircraft that are more comfortable (767/777's on CO domestically, avoid CRJ's, ERJ's, and CO735's, etc).

Vegas is a frequent stop for me. I don't care if I get to Vegas at noon, 3pm, or 8pm, which usually leads me to book something like DTW-CLE-EWR-IAH-LAS outbound, but simply LAS-DTW on the way back.

One crazy weekend, I played golf in Michigan at noon, flew to SFO and back, and played golf at 10:00am the next morning.

It is indeed addictive though. When Mr. Roberto enlightened us to the LAX-MCI $150ish first class round trips on CO that was routable through IAH and EWR, I booked several of them. When else can you get status miles for about 1.3cents each? Then I had to book several trips on NW from Michigan to LAX to catch the LAX-MCI runs. This is the one that has several of my friends convinced that I'm nuts.

I ran four in rapid succession early in 2003 simply to accumulate miles to get my wife a FC ticket to Europe late in '03. I already had enough miles for one ticket.

She thought I was crazy at the time, but I nested them into my business trips to avoid extra time away from home. Anyway, I spent about $800 to get a ticket normally costing thousands. Additionally, I was able to get a pile of work done on the way.

Took the trip....Began and ended first class. Best trip we've ever had. That's why I'd do a mileage run.

Age: 35, professional engineer.

54 semi-retired. On a run as I write. JAX to SFO. I like to fly, read and look out the window. It's peaceful. Love the challenge of finding the longest routing, for the cheapest fare and the best bump possiblities. My wife is a part time nurse for one of the cruise lines and we go 4 to 6 times a year for a week to a month. Her travel is provided. I have to get my own. Europe this year for a month. Open jaw to CPH return from FCO. I wonder what that ticket would have cost in first if it weren't for mileage runs and cheap FF miles?.

26, M, Attorney

Pardon my ignorance, but how exactly do y'all go about booking these irregular routes?

I use DL for example - how would i change the route on a normal BHM-ATL-LAX trip?

I'm very familiar with Orbitz - so so with delta.com......

also....again, i apologize for not being on top of the rules for a RTW, but would it ever make sense to use one soley as a MR? How much do they cost anyway? I figure anyway you route it you are looking at 30,000 MQM's ++

Pardon my ignorance, but how exactly do y'all go about booking these irregular routes?

Well, are you really prepared to earn the education? If so, go to the Mileage Run forum and read the stickies for MRs.

Then go to the Global Alliances forum and learn about RTWs. I like OneWorld's forum the best. Yes, people have taken RTW trips for status alone, but rarely at normally acceptable MR discount prices, though usually in Business Class and First Class.

There are TONS of people that will help in your education if you apply yourself. Few if you don't.

Good luck! It is FUN!

Sad as it sounds, i've actually read quite a bit before i ever posted.

How bout we just start with my first question.

Once i find a fare that i like, how do i go about changing the routing so as to get more miles?

Other than the obvious individual routing options provided by delta.com - i see no way to change the routing so as to take a longer route through an out of the way destination.

I've picked up that the most commonly used web travel site used is expedia and travelocity in a close second - is there something that these two sites provide that orbitz is lacking? i'm very experienced with orbitz, but neither of the other two. is that my first problem?

thanks again ya'll - its amazing how much ive picked up already for all of your experience.

I have found the "How to Construct and Book a Mileage Run" to be very helpful, and should give you solid direction at answering some of your own questions.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=391187

I've read that twice now.

I can find a fare. I can book a fare. What i can't do, is change the routing of that fare and still keep the same fare.

Oh well - i'll figure it out with time.

I would LOVE if someone would show me where they actually find a good DL MR.

I've read that twice now.

OK. Enter the from, to, and dates you want on EXPEDIA. Press Search. In the left column, find Airline, change it from No Preference to Delta, and push GO. Then browse through the results and see if you don't find some longer routings. This is the simplest form possible. There are other techniques to maximize, mostly using other tools. Read the stickies some more.

I tell myself that too, but then generally whenever there are saver award tickets available the fare is cheap enough that I buy the ticket instead because I can't pass up the chance to get the EQMs, redeemable miles, and upgrades. In my mind I still think of 25k as being a free domestic ticket, but the serious mileage runner isn't going to end up using the miles for those award tickets anyway.


One bonus of using your miles for international travel is that many times you can do a stopover for free (just added taxes) in any city in the same region. For domestic travel you can use them for a open jaw ticket which can be more expensive.

I fly to the EU for a day or two to get lots of EQM's. I either Priceline rooms or cash in HH points (best use of those, in my opinion).

For me it's all about seeing great cities and getting lots of miles in one trip. I love Europe, especially Paris, and spend probably an inordinate amount of time dreaming of it.

FT is to blame, by the way, I didn't even know what an MR was till I met this site. Now I consider myself a quasi expert, at least on NW.

All of my travel any more is leisure, so I look for great off-season EU fares. I've done the domestic trips with lots of segments and never leaving the airport, and I must confess, I like them. Then again, I'm an aviation nut and much of the fun for me is in the flying.

I like the perks of status and am willing to pay to keep them. Seeing Europe albeit not for long is a great bennie. It's a hobby, not a cheap one, but not one I want to give up. I feel privileged to travel and enjoy it immensely. One day when my kids are of an age to remember these sorts of things I'll take them with me.

Western, 40, M, engineer (P.E. for those that care about such credentials) in public works construction mgmt

Are milage tickets really more flexible? For me they were always rather very restrictive.

Because I spent $2150 purely on mileage runs, made 1k, bought 2 $1500 Q tkts IAD-SGN-HKG-NRT-IAD and upgraded with SWU's. The cost of the tickets in business would have been over $7500 each. In addition to the SWU's I got 2 systemwide Y tkts, 1 Fly 3, 1 Fly 6, points in Around the World, CR1's, 500 milers, etc.

Reading this thread is giving me the itch! :D

My wife has a saying "If it itches, scratch it".

This week, I took what would have been MCI_ORD_IAD or MCI_DFW_IAD to MCI_DFW_SFO_LAX_IAD and back IAD_LAX_BOS_LGA_MCI


how in the world do you book something like that and it not costing over $1000?

I tried to search for a mileage run,I went for a transcon ticket LGA-SAN-LGA,it isn't that cheap though,$419.10.

BUt u can get a lot of miles as long most of the flights are really short and yoou get anyway 500 mile per segment!

that't the route on UA 11/23/05

LGA-PIT-ORD-SAN and back on SAN-LAX-ORD-BUF-IAD-LGA! try with other dates and carriers!with flexible dates I guess can be cheaper!

have fun

I tried to search for a mileage run,I went for a transcon ticket LGA-SAN-LGA,it isn't that cheap though,$419.10.

BUt u can get a lot of miles as long most of the flights are really short and yoou get anyway 500 mile per segment!

that't the route on UA 11/23/05

LGA-PIT-ORD-SAN and back on SAN-LAX-ORD-BUF-IAD-LGA! try with other dates and carriers!with flexible dates I guess can be cheaper!

have fun

THat actually could have been a lot cheaper w/ all due respect. Could have flown LGA-IAD-FLL 3x over, gotten nearly double the miles at around the same price.

Transcons are pretty cheap these days, even with the jacked up fuel rates. I picked up SAN-MSP-JAX/TPA runs at $190/all and a SAN-ATL-IAD run for $223. The IAD run was the cheapest transcon I could find that weekend which is why I went for it. All those flights are 1 day trips, no overnights and maximized as best I could (South-North-South etc)

I try to keep the EQM at .03-.04 and the total mile at .02-.025 w/ bonuses.

It was my first try of a mileage run,on a route I might do often soon!the price wasn't that good,but I spent less then 10 minutes looking for it!But I accept any suggestion from everybody here because most of you guys do fly more than I do as long as I'm not working but just studying and fares aren't that cheap in Europe!that's why I'm moving to the US soon! :)

Go here:

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/BusinessTravel/story?id=673321&page=1

The agreement has allowed him to continue racking up miles, which he hopes to one day use to fly around the world, or at the very least to pick up women.

"I've always thought it would be a good line to say, "Hey, do you want to fly to Paris for the weekend?' " he said. "Then I could call Delta and book first-class tickets and a first-class hotel room, all for free with my miles."


same here ^ ^ ^

Transcons are pretty cheap these days, even with the jacked up fuel rates. I picked up SAN-MSP-JAX/TPA runs at $190/all and a SAN-ATL-IAD run for $223.

What about the value of your time? Transportation to/from airport? Meals during flights. Reading materials, etc.

I would say that $190 is more like $700+ when you factor all that in.

I can see doing an MR if you need a flight to get elite status, but doing it for miles only is no way worth it.

What about the value of your time? Transportation to/from airport? Meals during flights. Reading materials, etc.

I would say that $190 is more like $700+ when you factor all that in.

I can see doing an MR if you need a flight to get elite status, but doing it for miles only is no way worth it.

days off work: free

parking: $10

food: $10 (if not upgraded)

always have tons to read as well, just order books online a few weeks in advance.

I live 15 min from SAN, there's a huge parking garage that always has space (except holidays) that $10/day. I have days off of work that are not typical sat-sunday days off. I have silver status on NW, one of the runs i'm taking is tomorrow, and I got upgraded 3 of 4 legs ^ ^

If I was calling in sick and not getting paid, having to actually take a taxi to/from the airport, or lived far away from the airport, then i'd understand your concern but that's hardly the case for me.

Plus I chalk up the $10 spent on food as something i'd already be paying for since I gotta eat + parking $10 is like an afternoon in downtown SAN for lunch or something.

What about the value of your time? Transportation to/from airport? Meals during flights. Reading materials, etc.

I'm getting free upgrades on over 95% of my flights, and getting fed if they're during the day. I have TIVO To Go on the laptop and bring along my own TV programs that I haven't watched in the weeks before (Alias, Lost, Monk, 60 Minutes, for instance), as well as reading material. I'm just enjoying my days off somewhere other than home (and with 3 days off each week I can afford to spend one in the air or in airline lounges). I don't work on my days off, so I'm not missing any income (I could work every day off on overtime if I wanted to...but 40 hours a week is plenty for me..and I'm looking forward to retiring this summer so I can travel even more on the international side).

The payoff is really what you do with the miles. I've bought business class tickets over the years, with miles, to Athens (for the Olympics), Barcelona (for World Swimming Championships, with free London stopover), Japan (for Pan Pac Swimming Championships), Australia or New Zealand (11 different award trips to date, plus 2 bought in coach that were upgraded for free), and a stack of domestic tickets for vacation or swimming events. I can buy revenue tickets months ahead when there are sales, so I am able to capitalize when I see the right price.

In my case, I think I'm getting an excellent return on the money I spend each year for airline tickets, a majority of them being mileage runs, or one night or weekend stays. It works for me, but I can see it might not work for others. Just depends if you have the time, vacation (I get 10 weeks a year), and enthusiasm (I'm been flying like this for 14 years now, after finding out about frequent flyer programs in 1991).

Another benefit to MR is access to international lounges. Tom usually signs his messages with where he is at and it always amazes me.

tom911, you forgot your signature..."tom911 from ord FL lounge" or "tom911 from CX lounge LHR"

I'm home today, and due at work later tonight. I did a mileage run over the weekend to Omaha ($89RT plus taxes) and posted a couple times on the AA board from LAX and ORD (SFO-LAX-ORD-OMA-DFW-LAX-SFO, all in F except one commuter segment).

I'm home today, and due at work later tonight. I did a mileage run over the weekend to Omaha ($89RT plus taxes) and posted a couple times on the AA board from LAX and ORD (SFO-LAX-ORD-OMA-DFW-LAX-SFO, all in F except one commuter segment).

So what are you going to do for fun after you retire? Cruise Runs?!? ;)

I recently completed my first MR to achieve 1P status on UA. I'm a solo musician and travel all over the country with lots of equipment. Being 1P on United allows me to check an additional item (3 items total) without having to pay an exorbitant extra baggage charge. I'm still upset at most of the major airlines for their money-grubbing limitations on number of items you can check (used to be 3, now 2) and weight limits (used to be 70 lbs, now 50). Any wonder overhead space is getting more limited? The only carriers I've flown with domestically who still honor the old limits are JetBlue and Southwest.

I posted earlier in this thread but not sure if i gave such a detailed post so i'll post again.

I do MRs to gain status to acquire more miles.

Based on tickets I purchased + flights this year (recreationally and MRs) I'll have just a drop under 38000 EQM (not inc. any bonus miles where I get 50%). I'm heading to SIN later this year for vacation so if I get Gold by then, I get a 100% mile bonus. I'd have to do a couple of MRs but I think it would be worth it.

If I route SAN-PDX-HNL-NRT-SIN and back, that's approx 21300 EQM + 100% bonus = 42700 miles.

So for the price of a ticket to SIN, with the miles I earn, I'm basically getting 2 R/Ts to northern Latin America, one to Southern LA, or close to a free trip to Europe.

So there's method to the madness.

I am starting to understand a bit. It was hard because I travel for business and I travel about 100,000 miles plus. Planes mean work.

For me, planes are work too; but the best part of it ;)

Is Elite status all that great? Is flying in first for free really worth it? (...) The upgrades are nice but if you fly a lot you will probably get them anyway...and business or first is not that much better on most planes.

A very late reply, but just some points where I beg to differ.

Upgrades are nice. Unless you have status, you do not get them. That's my experience. I used to fly (and still do) quite extensively on BA (cheap economy) and I rake in tens of thousands BA miles through affilliates left, right and centre. However, this does not earn me status and I only get a free flight for my family about once a year.

Then I saw the light and started choosing *A instead. Two years later, I am in Gold, and boy does it make a difference, if you think of London Heathrow early morning check-in queues. Lufthansa or Austrian desks can make you weep.

And as for difference between business/first and economy, I would say there is a little bit of difference, esp. on long haul routes... ;)

...or when other "normal" people would consider it to be a sign of mental instability to book such a routing. ;)

Such as the time when I recently went to New Orleans via ATL and SLC. :D

This route from LGA added about 5000 extra miles to the trip. :cool:

However, be careful as to who you tell about such a trip.....as they just might think you're actually nuts. :p

A.J.

Not to engage in one-upmanship, but I beat that with LHR-ORD-MIA-LGA instead of LHR-JFK -- it doubled the miles and I got 7k bonus when my MIA flight was delayed. In fact I could've got a bump voucher on the MIA-LGA leg but was too tired by that time to even contemplate another day's travelling. :-)