US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - best mileage runs ??? (from PHL)

Hi,
I just received my US air credit card.

best ways for me to get lots of miles heading out west (LAX, LAS, SLC, etc,)???

or just about anywhere that might be a sleeper as far as accumulating miles quick !!!

thanks so much, and enjoy the rest of your summer !!
ellen in NJ

Ellen,

MRs can be tough out of PHL, better found out of BWI, if you're dedicated enough to make the drive. Depending where you are in NJ (or where you travels take you), you might consider out of LGA.

If you're in no rush, a fall sale should come soon, including historically good deals to Europe for a weekend getaway.

For shorter MRs out of PHL, look at the GoFare markets and plan ahead: RDU, PVD, MHT, BDL, etc. For a day-long effort, I've found some great deals to LAX and PHX. For the west coast runs, try and connect thru CLT or PIT.

Transcon runs provide the benefit of a possible UG if you have status and if you book yourself on the 321 routes.

EB

Hi,
I just received my US air credit card.

best ways for me to get lots of miles heading out west (LAX, LAS, SLC, etc,)???

or just about anywhere that might be a sleeper as far as accumulating miles quick !!!

thanks so much, and enjoy the rest of your summer !!
ellen in NJ

You can often find fairly cheap fares to LAX, SFO or SEA. I need about 3,500 miles to hit my preferred goal for this year and should be able to hit that with work travel. If for some reason I don't need to do much more travel this year, I will be looking to do the same thing.

Does anyone have a good sense of a reasonable cost per mile for a mileage run? Based on my back of the napkin calculations, I would guess that anything less than, say, 6 or 7 cents per mile is a pretty good deal. For example, there are PHL-LAX flights (4800 miles R/T) right now for $218. That's less than 5 cents per mile. Any thoughts?

Hint: Look to FLL for segments (from PHL).

You can often find fairly cheap fares to LAX, SFO or SEA. I need about 3,500 miles to hit my preferred goal for this year and should be able to hit that with work travel. If for some reason I don't need to do much more travel this year, I will be looking to do the same thing.

Does anyone have a good sense of a reasonable cost per mile for a mileage run? Based on my back of the napkin calculations, I would guess that anything less than, say, 6 or 7 cents per mile is a pretty good deal. For example, there are PHL-LAX flights (4800 miles R/T) right now for $218. That's less than 5 cents per mile. Any thoughts?

From what I can tell the hard-core mileage runners like to get it under 3.5 or so. But that is for a run you are making purely for the mileage.

Most of my mileage runs are more pseudo-MR. I am already going somwhere, so I add segments and routings where I can without adding expense.

I've found it easier to learn the ropes as a rookie that way.

For example, there are PHL-LAX flights (4800 miles R/T) right now for $218. That's less than 5 cents per mile. Any thoughts?

The trick is to get elite status which gives you a 50% or 100% bonus. That changes all of the math. Then MRs become much more "profitable."

Also, as EB said, if possible don't fly direct. PHL-LAX becomes PHL-PIT-LAX or PHL-CLT-LAX.

The trick is to get elite status which gives you a 50% or 100% bonus. That changes all of the math. Then MRs become much more "profitable."

Also, as EB said, if possible don't fly direct. PHL-LAX becomes PHL-PIT-LAX or PHL-CLT-LAX.


Just a quick caveat---the elite status bonuses DON"T count toward Preferred Status!

The trick is to get elite status which gives you a 50% or 100% bonus. That changes all of the math. Then MRs become much more "profitable."

Also, as EB said, if possible don't fly direct. PHL-LAX becomes PHL-PIT-LAX or PHL-CLT-LAX.
PHL-LAX: 2,398
PHL-PIT-LAX: 2,633

I'm not sure if the extra leg and all that added travel time is really worth it.

It really is an issue of whether you are doing the MR for preferred status or redeemable mileage. If for preferred status - the value of the miles is almost completely intangiable.....for redeemable, a little more calculable but it does require you to analyze your travel habits.

There's also personal factors involved. For me, I value the lack of distractions and interuptions on the plane that allows me to get focused work done in the air. I've also managed including a quick lunch with a friend who would come out the to airport. Those things make me a little more flexible on price than if I were just going for the miles.

Ellen,

MRs can be tough out of PHL, better found out of BWI, if you're dedicated enough to make the drive. Depending where you are in NJ (or where you travels take you), you might consider out of LGA.

If you're in no rush, a fall sale should come soon, including historically good deals to Europe for a weekend getaway.

For shorter MRs out of PHL, look at the GoFare markets and plan ahead: RDU, PVD, MHT, BDL, etc. For a day-long effort, I've found some great deals to LAX and PHX. For the west coast runs, try and connect thru CLT or PIT.

Transcon runs provide the benefit of a possible UG if you have status and if you book yourself on the 321 routes.

EB I live by Atlantic City, but I'm flexible.
thanks for the great advice
ellen