Mileage Running Explained?
Aug 28, 2014 | 3:16 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,265
As I already suggested to OP: just google the guy's name to find his blog.
For a certain trip he explains how the different legs were booked (cash/miles) and in case of miles, he refers to the FFP. For the last leg, he used miles from the household Avios account of his parents
. There's nothing wrong with a household account, but bragging about (almost) free trips as a student and then use Daddy's miles 
?Indeed to be read with "a big bag of salt".
Sep 2, 2014 | 12:26 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SIN / CGK / DPS / YIA
Programs: SQ KF *S, TK *G, SK EP, Marriott Titanium Lifetime Plat, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 670
Hi insaneTim - I think that you are getting stuck on how can this work financially? Here is an old article that might help explain the concept: http://travelsort.com/blog/flying-fi...-ben-schlappig
Here is also a video that helps to explain it: http://vimeo.com/7167640
In the first article, Ben (One Mile at a Time) was averaging about a $0.01 per mile in cost. Since that article was written, the airlines do not do as many promotions, airfares have risen and the earning rates have changed. Ben mentions flying coast to coast for $250 - this is now closer to $400 to $450 - and if you add segments, they increase the price.
But, you can still do some inexpensive flying. This year, I picked up a EWR-MXP for $186, and JAX-OSL for $486. These are mileage "jogs" - I use cheap fares to determine where I am going to visit.
Here is also a video that helps to explain it: http://vimeo.com/7167640
In the first article, Ben (One Mile at a Time) was averaging about a $0.01 per mile in cost. Since that article was written, the airlines do not do as many promotions, airfares have risen and the earning rates have changed. Ben mentions flying coast to coast for $250 - this is now closer to $400 to $450 - and if you add segments, they increase the price.
But, you can still do some inexpensive flying. This year, I picked up a EWR-MXP for $186, and JAX-OSL for $486. These are mileage "jogs" - I use cheap fares to determine where I am going to visit.
Also check out his Instagram account (linked to on his blog).
Don't think he's doing much mileage running these days (except for his back-to-back-to-back US-Brasil run end of last year on AA).
I have learned alot about MR'ing and award travel on his blog, go check it out to gain more of an inside.
Ben is using alot of points accrued via credit card signups in the US to fund his travels (use points for free flights). He frequently writes on his blog about strategies on how to earn/maximize points through credit card signup bonus, not so valuable for us living outside of the US, as credit card signup bonuses etc. aren't as available here in Europe (somebody correct, just my experience for Germany).
One website to look for pure mileage running fares is The Flight Deal