Assuming you are starting from zero today.

Fast Method

Time: 6 months
Method: A combination of 25-30 stacked 6 month unlimited passes yielding 400,000 EQM miles a month combined with long haul (e.g. LHR - SYD) mileage running (+100,000 status miles per month)
Total Personal Cost: $500,000
Other Benefits: 3,600,000 Aeroplan points, plus a full set of threshold gifts (1x). Add to that the notoriety of being the first and perhaps only Aeroplan member to top 3 MM Status Miles in a single year. You might even get written up in EnRoute!
Comments: Why the rush? Works if you are in a hurry, but not very efficient. Quick and painful.


Cheap Method

Time: 5+ Years (could be shorter but would drive most people insane)
Method: Twenty long-haul international mileage runs each year (e.g. Europe - SYD).
Total Personal Cost: $250,000 to $300,000 (includes positioning flights, but assumes maximising sale fares)
Other Benefits: 6,000,000 Aeroplan points, plus a full set of threshold gifts each year (5x)
Comments: Inexpensive but not very practical unless you are a hermit.


Maximum Return on Investment Method

Time: 10 Years
Method: Maximize mileage and threshold gifts by hitting 300k each year through a combination of normal business travel and (when required) mileage runs
Total Personal Cost: Highly Variable depending on how much travel is already covered by employer and normal travel patterns
Other Benefits: 3,000,000 to 6,000,000 Aeroplan points (depending on the mix of flight pass vs. regular mileage), plus a full set of threshold gifts each year (10x)
Comments: A good balance of speed and benefit. Maxing out the threshold gifts adds another 3,000,000 aeroplan points or $70k+ in merchandise over the ten year earning period.


Default Method

Time: Highly Variable (10-40 years for an SE)
Method: Business as usual. No additional spend or travel outside of employer paid travel and routine vacations.
Total Personal Cost: $0
Other Benefits: None beyond default mileage/benefits
Comments: The null option and a good starting point. If background travel patterns allow one to achieve 3,000,000 AC status miles during the span of a travelling career, this is the best option by a mile.



SG