apodo77

I joined MP in June 2005 and currently have 378,094 miles on AS.

Moving to FL in June so will never come close to the million mile mark.

Impressive for anyone who does it on AS metal.

slopeboy40

Roger that.

Seattlenerd

I hit Million Mile Flyer status a year ago this month and was actually in F on an upgraded seat out of EWR (a rarity). However, that flight was 3.5 hours late due to weather in Newark, so I would have been happy to have ANY seat.

It's a nice milestone, and because of AS' transcons, there are more Million Mile Flyers than you might think, increasing quite a bit in the last year alone. Even though it's all on AS metal.

ou81two

It's nice given that you get the security line benefit. Generally though, once you're not traveling enough to be an elite the status doesn't matter as much. It's nice of them to do and all. It's just not that big of a deal.

On a side note, in terms of the guy not being in F, that's not part of the benefit and it's not like they'd kick someone out of F when they noticed he was hitting that milestone.

dave1013

The MVPG change fee waiver is a big deal, so I beg to differ on that specific aspect. If that ever goes away - it would be bad.

Seattlenerd

Can I "+1" this a million times?

ANC

No but I would think you would know you are going to hit a million on the particular flight, and if F was available Id be sure I was in it even if I had to purchase it at full fare, just to celebrate my feat

ou81two

Quite likely it wasn't or they'd have given it to him. They can't program the system to upgrade someone because of this and if it's not a published benefit, then the person who should have gotten the upgrade and didn't would be slighted. They did a good job taking care of him. People saying they should have upgraded the guy likely don't get how the system works.

On something like United, you have a lot of seats up front empty usually. AS's mileage plan is great so that doesn't happen on them that much.

Sagemo

How many AS million milers are there?

Seattlenerd

It's in the hundreds.

Seat 2A

I log my flights, so based upon route distances only (not counting miles spent in holding patterns or off-route diversions) I know exactly when I've crossed certain mileage thresholds.

I logged my 1000th flight AND passed one million miles flown on United both during the same week (but on different flights) back in 1997. The million mile total included free or award mileage flights as well. I sent United's PR man Joe Hopkins an update in advance with all United flights from my flightlog highlighted. My 1000th flight was to come on an early morning Anchorage to San Francisco flight. The millionth mile came four days later on a PDX-DEN flight. Here's what United did:

I was met at the counter by UA's Anchorage Sales Rep

I was presented a nice leather carry-on bag and upgraded

I was escorted down to the gate where two large decorated cakes and two urns of coffee awaited

A small announcement was made regarding my "accomplishment", I was thanked and presented with a nice plaque. Then we all enjoyed coffee and cake.

As we pushed back from the gate, the gate agents and ground staff assembled on the tarmac to wave goodbye to us

I know, I know, this probably sounds dreamlike by today's standards but it's all true. It was a very kind gesture by United and one that, while neither expected nor necessary, was very much appreciated.

Two years ago I logged my millionth mile on Alaska. As with United, that total included award as well as revenue flights. I dropped Alaska's sales department a note detailing the flights and thanking them for some great flights over the first million miles. While nothing happened on the flight (AUS-SEA already upgraded) I did later receive a nice letter. We'll see what happens when I finally cross one million revenue miles - at present I'm still a couple hundred thousand away.

Next year I'll pass 5 million total miles flown on all airlines. I think I sneak a few minis of Woodford Reserve on board to celebrate

slopeboy40

Far different from my experience. I knew which flight I would be on for my millionth mile but I did not let AS know. I guess I kinda thought/hoped they would know. They didn't.

Shortly after that flight I was contacted via email by someone at AS thanking me for my loyalty and asking when I might be able to come to Seattle as they have a gift for me. At the time I was living in Tampa so "coming to Seattle" wasn't going to happen but I did let her know the next time I would be "passing through Seattle" and would be in the boardroom for a couple of hours. She said that would be great and would meet me there.

As that day approached she emailed me again and let me know that something had come up and she wouldn't make it but she would leave my gift with the concierge in the boardroom and to just ask them for it. OK, I guess making a MM isn't that big a deal after all.

I get to the boardroom and ask about my gift and surprise surprise they have no idea what I am talking about. Boy do I feel stupid.

So I emailed back and she apologized profusely (I don't recall her excuse) and wanted to know where she could just send my gift to get it to me. A few days later FedEx left my model airplane and luggage tags at my door step.

And that was my welcome to the million miler club.

Seattlenerd

Being an AS Million Mile Flyer is no longer as rare as it used to be. The AS staff used to be able to meet recipients at the gate and give them their model planes (if they were landing in SEA), and that was what happened to me a year ago this month. My luggage tags followed in the mail.

I'm told that since then, in just a year, the number of Million Mile Flyers has more than doubled. Blame/credit the growth of transcons. While the total may only number in the hundreds, they're being minted at a very fast rate, compared to a year ago.

PDX973

Wow that's really disappointing!

slopeboy40

Speaking with someone "in the know" at the Russell Wilson event last week, I asked that very question and was shocked to learn that they are churning out 200 to 300 million milers per month now. They do not have a 2MM level established but it is an open item.