wanaflyforless

“Could EXP or 1K be flown in a month?” I have seen it asked several times on FT. The answer usually points out that if flying long-haul premium cabins 66.6k BIS isn’t all that impossible in month. But I decided to double that pace…100K in 19 days.

Yes, I am doing this partly for bragging rights and partly for fun. The price was right and timing fit my schedule needs this year. 100% pure (pointless? ) MRs. The economics work and I kinda enjoy flying, even this intense. Making something like this happen is a puzzle. It is an art…I look forward to the finished product. What will my 100K in 19 days end up looking like?

I started out on Jan 13 about 1 AM leaving Yaoundé, Cameroon, where I had been for a Christmas vacation and major family event.

By Jan 31 I will have 100K BIS with AA. 100% AA flight #s, starting with an SN code-share, mostly AA metal, mostly domestic, with some AS code-shares involved.

Planning:
- I have a little more than 110K booked in this time-frame…a must considering inevitable disruptions.
- My itineraries allow adequate sleep along the way. The backbone of the itinerary are long enough domestic flights for good sleep…with upgrades (when they clear) into international business style seats…free to me as an EXP. And I stand a good chance of 3 row to myself when the upgrade does not clear.
- Cost: The backbone of my itinerary is a mileage run jewel:
AA 6779 PDX-LAX (AS 737), AA 30 LAX-JFK (762), AA 179 JFK-SFO (763), AA 8089 SFO-PDX (AS CRJ 700).
22:33 minutes total. 1:27 in PDX before the repeat.
$110.46 all in. Bought when the price was right and applicable 7 days a week through end of sched (about 10 months ago). $30 lost when cancelled (I already cancelled 2).
Almost all flights below are paid for with vouchers.


Flown so far:
Jan 13 NSI-BRU-ORD-DUB (NSI-BRU was actually ticketed as 11:40 Jan 12, left 1 hour late)
Jan 14 DUB-SNN-ORD (overnight in ORD)
Jan 15 ORD-LAX-PDX-LAX-JFK
Jan 16 JFK-SFO-LAX-JFK
Jan 17 JFK-SFO-PDX-LAX-JFK
Jan 18 JFK-SFO-PDX-LAX-JFK
Jan 19 JFK-SFO-PDX
Jan 20 PDX-SJC-LAX
Jan 20 LAX-LHR
Jan 21 LHR-ORD
Jan 22 ORD-LAX-JFK
Jan 23 JFK-SFO-PDX-LAX-JFK
Jan 24 JFK-SFO-PDX-LAX-JFK
Jan 25 JFK-SFO-PDX-LAX-JFK
Jan 26 JFK-SFO
78554 miles flown as of 3 PM 1-26-07
Ticketed:
Cancelled for rest/FT meet: Jan 26 PDX-LAX-JFK Jan 27 JFK-SFO-PDX
Jan 27 PDX-LAX-JFK
Jan 28 JFK-SFO-PDX (overnight in PDX)
Jan 29 PDX-SAN-ORD-DEL (VIP upgrade waitlisted)
Jan 31 DEL-ORD-AUS-ORD (VIP upgrade confirmed)
26573 miles to go
Total
Travel Log:

NSI-BRU AA 7821 Arrived 2.75 hours ahead of departure time. It took 3 hours to get to the check in airline agent! Much longer than normal at NSI (from experience) and a very nerve wracking experience. Fortunately, they held the plane until everyone could get checked in and get through the checks. I got bumped up to business class in the end...they ran out of coach. My first time ever for an international op-up and I don't have status on SN! Never an international op-up on AA (EXP for 4 years), UA (1K), or CO (PLT) or any other alliance carrier. I was very happy for my upgrade, but I couldn't help but think: "Why didn't SN bump up their elites and give me coach instead." Ah, I know, I think too much about status...

BRU-ORD AA 89 A very normal flight in a full coach cabin. Arrived a few minutes late.

ORD-DUB AA 92 A much delayed flight (mechanical). Poor communication. Eventually AA came up with a new aircraft for us. Departed more than 2 hours late. Flight was full..no room to lay down.
A very interesting experience in DUB upon arrival in DUB from ORD. Was paged (along with another party apparently also doing a turn - anyone know who?) to make myself known at the front of the plane. Did and was escorted through check-in, security, etc by an agent...helped make the turn onto this delayed flight happen fast. We got back to the departure area with a few minutes to spare and the agent asked if we wanted a few minutes in the lounge before boarding (then took us to the Aer Lingus lounge, noting we were Emeralds). As we were walking, I chatted with the agent about Aer Lingus leaving Oneworld, Ryan Air buying them (maybe), etc....
DUB-SNN AA 92 A super short flight this is for a 767.
SNN-ORD Normal empty flight...got a row of 3! Arrived an hour late or so (same plane as had originally left Chicago late of course, making everything along the way late).

ORD-LAX AA 1247 Normal flight in coach...originally ticketed a longer routing to PDX via a couple places before LAX but decided to sleep longer instead then standby...hence coach. Jan 15 was such a mess at ORD...most flights were being delayed. This LAX flight was one of very few that got out on time that morning...we even arrived in LAX early. The flight had shown F0 Y0 the night before but with so much delayed I made standby without issue and we had a good number of empty seats left on the 757 (maybe 95% full).

LAX-PDX AA 6789 Normal flight in coach...AS 737.

PDX-LAX AA 6779 Normal flight in coach...AS 737. For some reason I got stuck in the very last row of coach; AA never assigned me a seat on the flight when I booked. Delayed flight, arrived in LAX after the last shuttle between terminals (10:30 PM) so I had to walk then re-clear security. Yuck. Shower and snack at AC.

LAX-JFK AA 30 Normal flight in crowded coach , 762. Slept most of the flight. Barely missed the upgrade. Was #7 on upgrade list, 1-6 got upgraded at the gate.

JFK-SFO AA 179 Normal flight in empty coach...nice row of 3 to myself . Also missed upgrade by one person on this flight (was #5 on gate list, 1-4 got upgraded). A well baked Steak Burrito for lunch at the SFO Mission Bar and Grill followed by 3 hours in the SFO AC.

SFO-LAX AA 7082 Modification: AA 8089 SFO-PDX was seriously delayed, so I turned AS SFO-PDX-LAX into AS SFO-LAX to continue my next itinerary from there. (Merged seg 4 of ticket A with seg 1 of ticket B by talking to AS GA - free of course as the delay was AS' fault and essentially I was flying non-stop instead of a connection due to a very delayed flight. My AS MVPG card may have helped.). This new flight was also delayed, but allowed me to make my overnight AA flight to JFK. I arrived on the LAX runway on time...but it took more than half an hour to get a gate. Sure enough, the last shuttle between terminals (10:30 PM) had just left a couple minutes ago, so I had to walk then re-clear security. Yuck.

LAX-JFK AA 30 Great flight in business class. Upgrade cleared a couple days in advance. Slept well.

JFK-SFO AA 179 Great flight in F class. Upgrade cleared a couple days in advance. Slept well. Got a Oven Roasted Chicken Breast double the meat 6" sub for lunch at Subway SFO...wow $7.57 for what costs half that at my local Subway.

SFO-PDX AA 8089 This flight left about on time, but once we got near PDX, the pilot announced we had an ATC hold. Circled PDX for about 45 minutes! Checked in for my next flight then got the special to go (pork rice something) at Capers Cafe PDX. They want a tip when just taking food to go?

PDX-LAX AA 6779 AS Coach. As usual, I didn't try to upgrade using my AS status and crediting this seg to AS (but the AA flights to AA for the AA upgrades) , as doing this on an AA issued ticket sometimes seems to really mess up your record and make AA agents type for 15 minutes to issue (or re-issue) your next boarding passes. The AS issued continuing boarding pass may no longer work if you mix accounts for some reason. This flight (737-70r)was a little delayed departing PDX. We boarded late due to mechanical checks. The GA promised we would still arrive in LAX on-time...and we did touch down around our scheduled arrival time, but sure enough, it took a while to get a gate. I got off the plane about 10:22 and managed to hop on the last shuttle right to AA mainline. No security...much better. ^

LAX-JFK AA 30 Upgrade cleared around 30 hours out. Nice AA; I like this. ^ Slept well after a quick shower in the AC. We arrived in JFK about 40 minutes early...nice headwinds.

JFK-SFO AA 179 The upgrade hadn't cleared when I arrived at JFK. I went to the lounge to get my boarding pass and the AC agent worked their magic to snag an X upgrade...go AC angels!

By this point in my travels, I was no longer feeling so tired. My body had now adjusted and was happy with 4.5 hours of sleep x 2 per day instead of 8 hours at once. I was feeling well rested after my JFK-SFO flights...ready for a 12 hours up before another 4.5 hours of sleep LAX-JFK.

SFO-PDX AA 8089 This flight arrived on-time for once! 100% full CRJ, but no bump offer announced. I got to sit down for a leisurely dinner at Gustav's Pub and Grill at PDX...decent food while reading this thread.

PDX-LAX AA 6779 On time arrival at LAX. ^ Could use the shuttle over to AA.

LAX-JFK AA 30 Upgrade cleared about 4 hours out. This flight was delayed 30 minutes, allowing for a more leisurely shower in AC beforehand. I slept until we started circling JFK....about 40 minutes early even though we had left late...strong tail winds. But JFK had snow that morning...meaning we didn't actually get a gate until about an hour later, now 20 mins late arrival.

JFK-SFO AA 179 Upgrade cleared about 30 hours in advance. Nice. I have been contemplating asking to switch to a free row of coach on this flight one of these days..the seat on the 763 is excellent but part of me prefers flat...3 seats are a flat bed (On my side with my legs a little bent). Coach seems to aways have free rows on this flight...but if I make this switch I will miss my post sleep pre-SFO arrival single glass of red wine ritual.
So far, I have kept my F upgrade. Between flights at JFK, I got breakfast to go (Eggs, Sausage, & Toast) from the Brooklin National Deli. The person packaged it up for me before handing it to me and I didn't think of checking inside. No silverware! A problem as I wanted to eat on the plane before take-off then get sleeping ...got to board now, to be continued. OK, have time now: We had at least 40 minutes on the ground waiting for other planes to take off from JFK...because of the snow. I felt awkward asking, but an FA quickly produced a fork for me so I could eat breakfast then get a start on my sleep all flight long. (Until the end, when I would wake up and ask for a glass of red wine and water before landing, as usual.)

SFO-PDX AA 8089 On time flight. Arrived in PDX, and for the first time, was not about to get on a plane again. I did however still walk to a gate and ask for a boarding pass, this time for tomorrow morning PDX-SJC. Sure enough when they tried to print this boarding pass PDX-SJC-LAX-LHR-ORD printed. "Oh, this can't be right"..."Don't worry, it is right" I counter. "I am in London for less than 24 hours so the next boarding pass will automatically print in your system (Sabre)."

(overnight in PDX) Stayed at the Sheraton PDX - on 3K SPG points of course. Not a bad hotel...and a decent supper before bed and about 10 hours of sleep.

PDX-SJC AS 312 I decided to upgrade on AS this morning by giving them my AS MVPG # at the gate for my first flight...got me some nice roasted nuts on this 1:17 flight. These are the first nuts I have eaten all week.

SJC-LAX AA 3199 Good o'l Eagle ERJ...I like them around California for the scenery and a little variety. They do get old fast, though!

I am feeling good...not jet-lagged, super tired, or anything other than quite well, happy, and enjoying what I am doing.

LAX-LHR AA 136 The flight went well...good food, half decent seat. Got some sleep, but not for more than about 4 hours because it did not fit my body's sleep sched.
(As I was typing here, waiting for my LAX-LHR flight today, Expert Flyer came through for me: I was waiting for an upgrade, AA 136 was showing F1, J1, Y7. I have been waitlisted for a month and no inventory was released; AA has only been selling J, not D on this flight, so they expect it to sell. Of course, I had set up a flight alert for C inventory using Expert Flyer and at approx 2 hours before the flight, while typing here, a new email from Expert Flyer flashed across my screen. C1. So I go to the lounge agent and ask if she would check C inventory; sure enough she confirms C1 but "we don't process upgrades here, you have to wait. Besides, you are number 2 on the list." Me #2 now...hmmm me thinks. I had been #1 when I was put on it a couple hours ago...and I checked in for this flight yesterday evening withe AS (all boarding passes printed then) so AA's system must not be correctly recognizing my time of check in with AS - but rather the time of re-issue. AA had to reissue my boarding passes for some reason. OK, time to call the EXP desk and inquire of upgrade inventory for my flight. EXP agent gets my record locator and confirms the upgrade...all done. I now have a new boarding pass.)

LHR-ORD AA 93 While still in the lounge in LAX before leaving for LHR, I noticed something quite important to me: AA 93 LHR-ORD went from lots of free rows in coach to almost 100% full. AA had cancelled Saturday's ORD-LHR AA 90 (probably mechanical) and needed to cancel a Sun LHR-ORD so cancelled the flight two hours before mine, moving tons of people to my flight. So all cabins became full on AA 93 and I lost my free row I was looking to secure with a friendly agent at LHR. Cramped coach...and left a little late and arrived a little late. Because I had two items, backpack + roller, I was forced to clear immigration at LHR and check my roller...then wait ORD for 50 minutes while baggage handlers figured out how to unload our plane. All in, it was 10 PM by the time I got home to my own bed in Chicago...a little later than anticipated. To make matters worse, a head cold virus started.
MORE Will BE FILLED IN AS I HAVE TIME!

ORD-LAX AA 545 I convinced an agent to let me standby for this flight as part of my way to PDX (instead of ticketed ORD-DEN-PDX). I got upgraded, even though I was only put on the flight 45 mins before departure. With the head cold, I decided to sleep long and didn't get to ORD until 3 PM (2 hours after ticketed departure). Now in LAX I will see if my gamble will work...will I be able to get myself on to my ticketed LAX-JFK flight (skipping standby LAX-PDX on one ticket and ticketed PDX-LAX on the next ticket). Will see what happens tonight...if I have to spend the night that is OK with me as need to take a break at a hotel sometime...it is only a matter of when.


^---------------------------^

To make a run like this work:
- Adequate sleep, preferably at the same time day after day. My schedule is as about as good as it gets on consecutive domestic runs for sleep.
- Some Vitamins, Zicam, Airborne-on-the-go, and 1/2 an aspirin (blood thinner - anti DVT) once/day.
- Foot powder/spray for shoes once a day to eliminate any odor. Take off shoes on flights.
- At least one shower a day - part of a good MR planning process.
- Moisturizing lotion once a day after shower - not something I normally use, but keeps my skin good when living on a plane.
- Good noise cancelling headphones (in my case, Bose).
- Good blindfold for sleeping....I bought a tempedic one for $40 (yikes) but it is way more functional that what you get for free on planes: does not touch eyelids, 100% blackout, comfortable, adjustable tension...
- Inflatable rests for certain circumstances; I only use them occasionally but they make a difference then:- Food: Eating around the same times everyday really helps. I am relatively cheap (for airports anyway) but eat relatively healthy (low fat, high protein) when on the road.
- Low stress: I have to check myself sometimes but if I don't let myself tense up when things are late/misconects/weather/etc, I can live a relaxed untired life on a plane.

PDX Meet: I am starting to get a little better from my cold, so plan to continue flying a couple more days, then cancel my 26/27 itinerary. After getting in around 6 PM on the 26th, I will go to a friend's house to crash. On the 27th (Saturday), I would be happy to meet up with FTers for lunch. I do not leave again until 7:47 PM on the 27th.

SchmutzigMSP

My hat's off to you. Pure, unadulterated MRs. It doesn't get any better than this.

So, what does February hold for you?

JflyerYYZ

Well it is possible, but it would obviously get expensive. There was that one guy who bought the first AC North America Unlimited Pass ($7000CAD for 2 months) that, then, gave 100% status miles flown (as opposed to a fixed # miles/month as they do now). He went back and forth on 20 minute YVR-YYJ-YVR flights all day and did red-eye transcons. He ended up getting Super Elite on AC quite quickly and over 1000000 miles over the course of the 2 months. To book all those flights a la carte would be really expensive, so I guess you're stuck to long hauls which take more time per miles earned.

mikey110890

Pure addiction...go baby go.........

mlatuchie

Just got done my first MR this morning - maybe someday I'll be doing 100k/month too!!!

Best of luck!

drbond

I am looking for one of these, so when it happens I will do the 30 or 60 day back and forths on any airline that offers it.

wherenext

I have to say I am a bit envious, although I don't know if I could physically pull this off. I try to do in 10 months what you plan on doing in 2 weeks. Good luck.

eastwest

beautiful ^

Thebigwopper

Fabulous...! I love it...

How do you have so much time to do this? Are you taking the month off? I wish I had more time...

johnep1

Ouch. Best of luck to you!

jpdx

I'm sure the Portland FTers would be happy to buy you a beer on a stopover. You certainly deserve it!

MileageGoblin

Let's hope you don't go crazy in the middle of these flights:

Be sure to buy a newspaper so you don't forget what day of the week it is!

sllevin

I'm jealous!

actually, I had thought of once trying to fly the 66,667k miles in business class on back to back flights to/from Asia, but then I wimped out.

I salute you!

Steve

ROW2Aisle

Staying at home no doubt and recovering from a severe case of constipation

To the OP: How often and where do you plan on showers?

Nosmo King

...uh, yeah. I hope so.