Really well. It’s a breeze to navigate MEL. I’ve always had 24L on a United B789. It has taken me between 11 and 16 minutes to get from the seat to the NZ Lounge (clock starts when the MEL agent gets on the horn to welcome us.) The security check has always been open with at most one person ahead of me. After the NZ agent calls the flight, if you’re GS or 1K, you can delay about 10 minutes before going back to the gate—GS and 1Ks have separate, pre-boarding “pens.” It’s the easiest MR I’ve done.

If you want even even more miles, BUR or ONT or SNA via SFO or DEN back to LAX then on to MEL, sometimes price out $10 to $40 more, but add from 2,000 to 3,000 more BIS miles. I haven’t done this bookend option yet; I just found it.

MEL is a great MR—when the price is right.

I’m actually now returning from a series of MRs to HKG. It does involve an overnight stay, but it’s a fun trip.