Tips? Although I think this belongs more in the MR section than it does in the Northwest page (see your original post at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...L/004977.html)

1) Check out the primer: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/000027.html

2) Keep an eye out for people posting LAX-XXX in the Mileage Run board

3) Practice, practice, practice. Figure out the cheapest flight o' the day (for me, referenced in your past post, it was Grand Rapids, MI) -- then stick a random city and/or hubs in there -- LAX-MEM-DTW-GRR-DTW-MEM-LAX, $148

4) More practice -- on business flights, go for the gusto. FOr instance, I have to go to New York -- instead of doing the standard LAX-MSP-LGA-MSP-LAX, I'm doing LAX-MEM-CVG-DTW-LGA-DTW-BNA-MEM-LAX. Lot more miles, $5 more dollars.

Hope this helps,