So tomorrow is my first ever mileage run.
I already made PM status for next year but DTW is my home airport and I couldn't pass up a relative cheap flight. That doesn't often happen from DTW.
So for $260 and 4520 MQM, I fly as follows:
DTW - MEM - SLC - LGB - SLC - DTW.
I have a free hotel night in LGB before flying back on Saturday.
I've already been upgraded on all of the segments except the DTW - MEM flight.
Any recommendations for my 3 hour layover in MEM tomorrow?
Thx! I've never flown just to fly for miles so I'm kinda excited.
I've never flown just to fly for miles so I'm kinda excited.
The excitement mutates a tiny bit as you have to explain the addiction to relatives, co-workers, and friends at holiday get-togethers.
A few of them get it, after they ask why you don't seem to go on trips to nowhere in March, but always have a story to tell in December. A few of them get it so much they hit their head and go "D'uh! Why haven't *I* been doing the same thing?!?"
And some will never understand mileage runs, because their only experience with travel is at the back of the bus and they can't wrap their heads around the up-front rush, salivating for the PDB and Biscoffs, and having a FA look at their passenger list out of your sight, then coming back and mentioning your name as they take your dinner order.
So tomorrow is my first ever mileage run.
I already made PM status for next year but DTW is my home airport and I couldn't pass up a relative cheap flight. That doesn't often happen from DTW.
So for $260 and 4520 MQM, I fly as follows:
DTW - MEM - SLC - LGB - SLC - DTW.
I have a free hotel night in LGB before flying back on Saturday.
I've already been upgraded on all of the segments except the DTW - MEM flight.
Any recommendations for my 3 hour layover in MEM tomorrow?
Thx! I've never flown just to fly for miles so I'm kinda excited.
Hello all - I'm very new to flying for work. Been lurking at FT for the last few months. I'm based in MSP so DL is my preferred choice. I've seen people posting these milage run and wonder how you do those things. Do we just go to DL website and plugging away or there's a better way of doing this?
Hello all - I'm very new to flying for work. Been lurking at FT for the last few months. I'm based in MSP so DL is my preferred choice. I've seen people posting these milage run and wonder how you do those things. Do we just go to DL website and plugging away or there's a better way of doing this?
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion, American AAdvantage, Southwest Rapid Rewards
Posts: 742
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRoadie
The excitement mutates a tiny bit as you have to explain the addiction to relatives, co-workers, and friends at holiday get-togethers.
A few of them get it, after they ask why you don't seem to go on trips to nowhere in March, but always have a story to tell in December. A few of them get it so much they hit their head and go "D'uh! Why haven't *I* been doing the same thing?!?"
And some will never understand mileage runs, because their only experience with travel is at the back of the bus and they can't wrap their heads around the up-front rush, salivating for the PDB and Biscoffs, and having a FA look at their passenger list out of your sight, then coming back and mentioning your name as they take your dinner order.
I don't think truer words have been spoken on this forum, at least in a long while. I did my first true Mileage run to LAX a couple weeks ago (I did a MR to SAN three years ago but made a weekend trip out of it with my then girlfriend - this LAX trip was nothing but a MR). My fiance was going up to her home town for a family event that I didn't want to go to, and that she agreed that I didn't need to be at. She knew I needed a west coast mileage run to push for GM next year and we decided that weekend would be a good weekend to do it if I could find a good fare, and I did. She does understand the MR concept and was for it (within reason), because she enjoys getting to use my benefits when she flies with me. But when some of her family members asked where I was, she got very puzzled looks and responses. She explained it to them and some got it and laughed, some didn't and were probably mildly offended. It is very true that who fly less are less likely to understand why we do it and why we push for status. They may only travel a couple times a year so they can handle dealing with all the frustrations that come with not having status since they only have to put up with it once or twice a year - longer security lines, not having priority boarding, no access to priority seating (especially exit rows), not having dedicated phone lines and service counters, etc. etc. etc. They don't get how annoying it is to deal with those frustrations on a constant basis and what a blessing it is to have the status to avoid dealing with those frustrations.
There are a couple good BBQ places in the MEM airport, and the SC is nice as well. Other than that, there's not a whole lot to do there.
Enjoy the trip!
The BBQ was not that great (*cough*) but the SC is now my favorite self-serve club in the system. You can easily spend a couple of hours there relaxing and drinking.
-J.
__________________
"...and one of those lights, slightly brighter than the rest, will be my wingtip passing over." -Ryan Bingham, Up in the Air
Programs: Delta DM (From Segments), United Other, Hilton Gold, Marriott Other
Posts: 647
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhumba
Hello all - I'm very new to flying for work. Been lurking at FT for the last few months. I'm based in MSP so DL is my preferred choice. I've seen people posting these milage run and wonder how you do those things. Do we just go to DL website and plugging away or there's a better way of doing this?
Thanks.
Use web-sites like Kayak and SkyScanner to plan a Mileage Run or Segment Run. When in doubt, try routes that include CHI (ORD & MDW), STL, MCI, BNA, MCO, FLL and PBI.
Try explaining to them - or anybody else who "doesn't" get it, the fact you just drove from BUF-PIT to catch a flight PIT-ATL-NRT-HKG-DTW-PIT then drove back PIT-BUF just for the miles.
Once the bug has bitten you, look out, as next year gold will be so last year as you're pushing for PM or DM in 2013.
Personally, I can't do a mileage run with gummi bears or gummi centipedes ... and maybe an ambien or two.
Programs: Delta PM, Priority Club Platinum, National EC Executive, Delta Amex Reserve
Posts: 144
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRoadie
The excitement mutates a tiny bit as you have to explain the addiction to relatives, co-workers, and friends at holiday get-togethers.
LOL
Couldn't have put it better myself. I went on my first Mileage Run to Puerto Rico in October and to quote my mother, "You realize this is the craziest thing you've ever done?" She just didn't get it. (on a side note, I was not a very rebellious kid.)
It's very hard to explain the MR concept to family, friends and co-workers. Although, I am pretty close to getting some co-workers to go on a mileage run before the end of the year.
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion, American AAdvantage, Southwest Rapid Rewards
Posts: 742
Quote:
Originally Posted by RRDD
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhumba
Hello all - I'm very new to flying for work. Been lurking at FT for the last few months. I'm based in MSP so DL is my preferred choice. I've seen people posting these milage run and wonder how you do those things. Do we just go to DL website and plugging away or there's a better way of doing this?
Use web-sites like Kayak and SkyScanner to plan a Mileage Run or Segment Run. When in doubt, try routes that include CHI (ORD & MDW), STL, MCI, BNA, MCO, FLL and PBI.
There's also a section of FlyerTalk dedicated to Mileage Run deals, which can be worth a look. I gave it a quick glance when I was looking at my MR last month, but nothing was coming up for originating at any of the airports near where I live. So to answer rhumba's question: Yes. Best way to find MR deals is just start plugging away with different city pairs and dates. When I did mine, I knew I needed around 4,000 miles so that meant that with a connection (and 1,000 miles for those 2 500 mile segments to the hub), I had to at least go as far west as LAS and from there I just started plugging in the major cities: LAS, SFO, LAX, SAN, SNA, SEA, PDX and a couple others. If you can go international, you can look for deals to cities across either pond as well. Going international wasn't an option for me. You'll find your best deals going into major airports with lots of service (particularly LCC service). I'm sure once a while you can find MR deals to some of those smaller out-stations, but it won't be often.
Eh I can understand wanting to get out of the airport and off the plane to sleep when on a MR. I did a ROC-LGA-ATL-SFO-ATL-JFK-ROC trip back in august where I tried to do everything in two days but by the time I got to ATL the second time I was so destroyed (not a single upgrade) that I ended up SDCing to a later flight and getting a day room at the airport marriott.
I can also understand that if you were doing a TATL or TPAC MR. Wanting to spend a night just for dinner or lunch in an exotic city can be fun.
The excitement mutates a tiny bit as you have to explain the addiction to relatives, co-workers, and friends at holiday get-togethers.
A few of them get it, after they ask why you don't seem to go on trips to nowhere in March, but always have a story to tell in December. A few of them get it so much they hit their head and go "D'uh! Why haven't *I* been doing the same thing?!?"
And some will never understand mileage runs, because their only experience with travel is at the back of the bus and they can't wrap their heads around the up-front rush, salivating for the PDB and Biscoffs, and having a FA look at their passenger list out of your sight, then coming back and mentioning your name as they take your dinner order.
Yep, my co-workers and friends think I'm bonkers for doing this but they also were jealous to hear that we were able to fly free BE to Thailand a few months ago.
The BBQ was not that great (*cough*) but the SC is now my favorite self-serve club in the system. You can easily spend a couple of hours there relaxing and drinking.
