<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Warrenlm:
keithguy, I think applying vouchers, etc. makes the cost per mile number calculated only of interest to the individual and not useful to others for comparison.</font>
Exactly. When I do comparisons, it is from one mileage run of mine to another mileage run of mine. I don't see the point of comparing a mileage run of mine to someone else's mileage run. I think the objectives of each run are all unique and depend on the person (e.g. going for status miles, earned miles, flying various aircraft type, going through various airports, etc).
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Also, if we are looking at the cost per mile ("earned") after all savings and bonuses, it also then seems we should include the parking, hotel, etc. costs.</font>
I tend to view the airfare as the cost of miles/status miles. Ground transport, hotel (if any), meals on the ground, gifts, etc are all costs that I absorb as travel costs - the cost of going places and seeing things.