Originally Posted by FWAAA

Although I agree that the number is almost too large to be believed, IIRC, lifetime AAirpass holders get the miles flown by their companion - that's right - it's the only exception to the usual rule that you only get credit for your own flown miles. The miles from companion flying that the pass owner accumulates are even counted toward status. EXP would be awarded to the owner of the AAirpass after only 33.3k miles flown in F.

Accordingly, it would take an average of 1,200 miles per day (8,400 miles/week) if he always brought along a companion. On top of that, add in all the bonus miles for multiple trips to Europe or Asia that come around every year, and the flown miles required to accumulate 28 million would drop even further.

Still awfully hard to fathom, but not quite as difficult as you painted it.