Mileage Runs to 75K / oneworld Emerald
#16
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: On a plane or a beach
Programs: Yes
Posts: 3,134
It is all very fluid.
#17
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Fort Worth TX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 475
I am doing my 2nd only mileage run in my long history of flying for OWE. This 2nd run, it's a one time exception and not ego based.
Just make sure that the juice is worth the squeeze for your needs.
Just make sure that the juice is worth the squeeze for your needs.
#18
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: NYC
Programs: AS 75K, DL Platinum
Posts: 631
Honestly this ROI seems pretty bad unless you’re flying bi-weekly or more. Any less and could just pay for the inflight benefits and enjoy superior food/drinks at actual restaurants/bars instead of airport lounges.
#19
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 183
Inspired by OP's post, reflection on recent MR, gunning for 75k
Inspired by OP's post, here's my routing/earnings from my recent MR (almost a month ago), gunning for 75K. Had time to kill and was able to work remote. Based at SFO, but for my MR changed my base to FLL. Flights listed based on day of flight, about 10 days for this MR. Segments that are bolded did not clear upgrade, segments that are italicized were saver fare (trying to bring down the CPM)
1. SFO - LAX - SFO
2. SFO - EWR - SFO
3/4. SFO - LAX - SEA - FLL - LAX - FLL
5. FLL - LAX - FLL
6. FLL - LAX - FLL
7. Break/breather from MR
8. Positioned from MIA - LAX on AA 777, flew AS LAX - FLL
9. FLL - LAX - FLL
10. FLL - LAX - SFO
Most of the flights were booked during the AS friends and family 40% sale.
The flights above netted me 57,116 EQM and 85,415 RDM after bonus. The tickets costed $980.10 for a CPM of 1.716/EQM and 1.147/RDM.
Accounting for Hotel (357), Food (88, bless AMEX lounge and AS lounge for the food), Transportation (157), and Misc (51), the all in cost for this MR is $1,632 for a CPM of 2.858/EQM and 1.910/RDM.
There are more trips planned for the end of the year that should net me enough EQM for MVPG75K which I'm really excited for as its my first time achieving this status. Highest I ever qualified was MVPG, and for that matter this will be the first time I qualify for status organically all on AS metal (years past was mostly from partners and very little AS).
1. SFO - LAX - SFO
2. SFO - EWR - SFO
3/4. SFO - LAX - SEA - FLL - LAX - FLL
5. FLL - LAX - FLL
6. FLL - LAX - FLL
7. Break/breather from MR
8. Positioned from MIA - LAX on AA 777, flew AS LAX - FLL
9. FLL - LAX - FLL
10. FLL - LAX - SFO
Most of the flights were booked during the AS friends and family 40% sale.
The flights above netted me 57,116 EQM and 85,415 RDM after bonus. The tickets costed $980.10 for a CPM of 1.716/EQM and 1.147/RDM.
Accounting for Hotel (357), Food (88, bless AMEX lounge and AS lounge for the food), Transportation (157), and Misc (51), the all in cost for this MR is $1,632 for a CPM of 2.858/EQM and 1.910/RDM.
There are more trips planned for the end of the year that should net me enough EQM for MVPG75K which I'm really excited for as its my first time achieving this status. Highest I ever qualified was MVPG, and for that matter this will be the first time I qualify for status organically all on AS metal (years past was mostly from partners and very little AS).
Last edited by anhuang19; Feb 25, 2021 at 10:16 pm Reason: Formatting, make it a tad neater
#20
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 2,205
Save your money, and use it towards upgraded seating in a premium cabin for when you actually want to go somewhere. That's a lot of money, and time, to be spent to just make future flights slightly more comfortable. Presumably there is a lot of travel planned for 2022, why not just take the uncomfortable flights then and get status naturally? Or if you don't plan on flying that much, then I'm not sure what the point would be to pay so much for status. At 2CPM, it's not even a great rate at buying those miles. Watch for those sales and you can buy an equivalent amount for cheaper.
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: LAX/ONT
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott G, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 518
How was the load on your LAX <-> FLL, were the upgrade list very long? How full was the first/premium class? And how empty were the coach?
This will be my first one world status, and I’m not letting the emerald run away. ( I did challenged AA back then to just get the status for one flight, and lose it after 3 months. So I guess that doesn’t count)
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,721
Save your money, and use it towards upgraded seating in a premium cabin for when you actually want to go somewhere. That's a lot of money, and time, to be spent to just make future flights slightly more comfortable. Presumably there is a lot of travel planned for 2022, why not just take the uncomfortable flights then and get status naturally? Or if you don't plan on flying that much, then I'm not sure what the point would be to pay so much for status. At 2CPM, it's not even a great rate at buying those miles. Watch for those sales and you can buy an equivalent amount for cheaper.
#23
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Save your money, and use it towards upgraded seating in a premium cabin for when you actually want to go somewhere. That's a lot of money, and time, to be spent to just make future flights slightly more comfortable. Presumably there is a lot of travel planned for 2022, why not just take the uncomfortable flights then and get status naturally? Or if you don't plan on flying that much, then I'm not sure what the point would be to pay so much for status. At 2CPM, it's not even a great rate at buying those miles. Watch for those sales and you can buy an equivalent amount for cheaper.
My first "Flying for Fun" day will be March 1st for the inaugural MAX flight and then 3 additional F flights up and down the coast back to SEA. On March 2nd, off to Nashville on a $99 F fare to visit another city I have not been to before. On March 3rd I will be in LAX to complete a PVR-LAX(AS)(flew today)‐MIA(AA)(Flagship J on the 77W, $809 fare) award for 27.5K. The BNA segment was to start an 8 day road trip but the LAX-MIA was essentially a 17.5K J award. I will return to BNA from Miami for a shortened vist. BNA-SEA-PHX on March 10th in paid F with a discount code will add another 8,112 EQM/ 9,255 RDM, more than a 16hr CX PE JFK-HKG at 40% of the cost.
I estimate that I will exceed 200K EQM in 2021 with the carry-over from Jan-April 2020.
James
#24
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 183
I didn’t use my free time to do the calculations too XD. I wish I got the 40% back in December, unfortunately I need to pay a bit more.
How was the load on your LAX <-> FLL, were the upgrade list very long? How full was the first/premium class? And how empty were the coach?
This will be my first one world status, and I’m not letting the emerald run away. ( I did challenged AA back then to just get the status for one flight, and lose it after 3 months. So I guess that doesn’t count)
How was the load on your LAX <-> FLL, were the upgrade list very long? How full was the first/premium class? And how empty were the coach?
This will be my first one world status, and I’m not letting the emerald run away. ( I did challenged AA back then to just get the status for one flight, and lose it after 3 months. So I guess that doesn’t count)
Upgrades cleared for all the flights I was eligible for (sans SEA - FLL redeye, but tbh I would've downgraded anyways to get a whole row to sleep in) at T-24 to T-22. Usually in that windows I was able to reserve a meal, and was able to receive it after voluntarily downgrading at the gate once I found out that the seat next to me wasn't empty.
For the saver fares I booked, I learned the hard way that I should avoid selecting seats ahead as GA sometimes have the liberty to assign you better seats. Though given how light the load is, once onboard FA's usually offered me a empty row for myself, and that's even with weight restrictions!
#26
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA LT PLT; HH Diamond; AS 75K
Posts: 2,877
I’d suggest not having the cheese platter every flight or you’ll need to add a gastroenterology bill to the total cost.
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: LAX/ONT
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott G, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 518
For the saver fares I booked, I learned the hard way that I should avoid selecting seats ahead as GA sometimes have the liberty to assign you better seats. Though given how light the load is, once onboard FA's usually offered me a empty row for myself, and that's even with weight restrictions!
#28
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: PAE
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 49
#29
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,857
I commute between Alaska & Florida, and am frequently flying thru LAX. FLL/LAX is competing on the premium front with Jetblue, and Alaska has made the F, err J cabin, fairly affordable. Especially for the SoFla crowd that will pay $100-$150ish more for a seat up front. I've been seeing a lot of people on the UG list remain there at departure time, and after talking to the FAs, they are 75ks & Golds. For some reason there aren't many MVPs on the FLL/LAX flights.... so its a lot of paid F, err J passengers.
Last edited by UAPremierExec; Feb 26, 2021 at 4:51 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS - MVPG; DL - SM; Marriott, Hilton, SPG - Gold
Posts: 194
Just reading this thread, and knowing there are people out there in the world who not only aren't petrified of leaving their homes, but are actually embracing the idea of a mileage run flight ... well, it just makes my heart happy.
I purchased a couple of MR flights out of Seattle to ensure I retain MVPG in 2022, in addition to my planned flights. I'm now beginning to wonder if I shouldn't be reaching for 75K. Hmmm ...
I purchased a couple of MR flights out of Seattle to ensure I retain MVPG in 2022, in addition to my planned flights. I'm now beginning to wonder if I shouldn't be reaching for 75K. Hmmm ...