Silly 'Dillo. Well, given that the genie's out the bottle...

Sample itinerary:

Sat. Nov. 16 UA 366 SFO-SEA 8:57a-11:01a
Sat. Nov. 16 UA 6693 SEA-PDX 12:25p- 1:18p
Sat. Nov. 16 UA 726 PDX-DEN 2:00p- 5:21p
Sat. Nov. 16 UA 6838 DEN-ELP 8:11p- 9:56p
«overnight stay required»
Sun. Nov. 17 UA 5854 ELP-DEN 12:35p- 2:29p
Sun. Nov. 17 UA 329 DEN-SAN 5:15p- 6:29p
Sun. Nov. 17 UA 6194 SAN-LAX 7:45p- 8:32p
Sun. Nov. 17 UA 1008 LAX-SFO 10:00p-11:14p

$177 including all taxes. Fare basis TE14NR8: 14-day advance purchase, must stay over a Saturday, 30-day maximum stay, travel any day through Feb. 5, 2003. Blackout dates Nov. 27, Dec. 20-23, 26-29, Jan. 2.

5129 status miles (3.45¢/status mile). With a 500-mile online booking bonus and 100% 1P/1K Premier bonus, 1.65¢/mile.

The outbound routing is optimal; the return is not, due to scarce "T" inventory on this particular date.

Possible routings look like:

Five segments:

• SFO-PDX-SEA-GEG-DEN-ELP (best)
• SFO-SMF/SNA-LAX-SAN-DEN-ELP
• SFO-SMF/SNA-LAX-ONT-DEN-ELP
• SFO-SAN-LAX-TUS-DEN-ELP
• SFO-SAN-LAX-PHX-DEN-ELP

Four segments:

• SFO-SEA-PDX-DEN-ELP (best)
• SFO-PDX-SEA-DEN-ELP
• SFO-SEA-GEG-DEN-ELP
• SFO-SAN/SBA/SMF/SNA-LAX-DEN-ELP
• SFO-LAX-SAN-DEN-ELP
• SFO-LAX-PHX-DEN-ELP
• SFO-LAX-SLC-DEN-ELP

Three segments:

• SFO-SEA-DEN-ELP (best)
• SFO-PDX-DEN-ELP
• SFO-SBA-DEN-ELP
• SFO-SMF-DEN-ELP
• SFO-LAX-DEN-ELP
• SFO-SAN-DEN-ELP
• SFO-BUR-DEN-ELP
• SFO-SNA-DEN-ELP
• SFO-FAT-DEN-ELP
• SFO-RNO-DEN-ELP
• SF O-PHX-DEN-ELP
• SFO-BOI-DEN-ELP
• SFO-LAS-DEN-ELP
• SFO-SLC-DEN-ELP

Rankings assume present location of DEN. Mileage Plus still uses Stapleton mileage for many city-pairs, so Your Mileage May Vary (i.e. expect to lose ~20 status miles).


[This message has been edited by EPS (edited 10-27-2002).]

I believe that by the time one is truly ready for a mileage run, s/he would already understand the point. Until that time, just keep reading FT. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Several people have made points like this. It's interesting, the variation in job situations. I am hardly able to do ANY work while on an airplane, because my work almost always requires me to be in front of a computer connected to our company's internal network.

Also, in my normal day-to-day environment I get very few phone calls anyway.

I like flying, but not because it enables me to do more work. Just the opposite.

Ed

For me, it's not the cash that is significant (although that's a factor), it's the time. As I've discussed in another thread, I just don't feel I have the TIME to do mileage runs on a regular basis, considering everything else I want or have to do.

Ed


[This message has been edited by suranyi (edited 10-27-2002).]

I'm just a lowly GLD on AA, and I don't think I'll ever fly enough to reach PLT or EXP, but I can tell you that I appreciate the AAdvantages of simple GLD.

Every time I get to LGA at 5 AM and the "normal" line is already 50-75 people deep, and the AA people aren't even at the counter yet, I'm glad to take my GLD self over to the FC check in, which is never more than 2-3 people deep.

Every time I board in group 1 and get my pick of overhead bins, then watch as the poor folks in groups 4 or 5 get on and have to scramble for something out of the way, I'm glad.

And even though my bonus mileage is only 25%, I'm glad for that as well.

I have friends who look at me funny when I tell them that I'm going to Chicago for the day, just so I can get my GLD, but I know its worth it for me.

Just a quick update. I referred my friend to this thread-- the one who will finish 2002 with 90,000+ AA status miles?

Her response?

What a bunch of lunatics!

Even though her case is a 100% CRYSTAL CLEAR example of how a few hundred bucks and a nice weekend in another country would result in a bounty worth, depending on how the resultant benefits are used, thousands of dollars. She is the lunatic, IMHO, but she's laughing at us! And yes, she is very busy, so there is no "right" answer here...I guess?

The point is some people will never, ever be willing to do what we love to do-- even in the rare case where it actually makes sense! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

What a bunch of lunatics!

BTW, she is flying DL in paid-J (although has no choice, company decisions) twice before the end of the year. Could ya' just cry?

Shall I post her email so you guys can "reply" to her derisive aspersions? (just kidding, of course.) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Please tell your friend that this lunatic thanks her and am happy to know she will not be EXP next year.
She is doing us all a favor, just one more person I don't have to compete with for a upgrade award and that many less VIPOW out there to use.

I'll pass it along http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.

Because I want to fly in First and cannot afford to do so 3-4 times a year on a transatlantic/transpacific routing.

I used to do pure mileage runs. They still make sense to me during crunch times though I prefer to space out the minivacations ( beauty is in the eye of the beholder http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif) over the whole year these days.

[This message has been edited by Bourne (edited 10-28-2002).]

We leave tomorrow morning for a two day run SMF/CMH which cost $104 each including all fees. We will be in first or biz class on four of the six flights. In addition to the $204 we will spend $62 hotwire bucks for a bed tomorrow night. That's $270 for 12 segments and almost 23000 miles (with bonus). The primary goal is the 23000 miles for gifting to grandkids so they can come out IAD/SMF a couple times a year. Secondary goals are re-qualifying, getting SWU's, NA's and 500 mile upgrades, clearing check-in at the speed of light, shorter lines for security, being plyed with booze on nearly every flight and generally being treated (most times) like guests instead of necessary nuisances. But if it were nothing more than being able to bring those kids out here seven times in the last two years, sending their Mom and Dad first class IAD/LHR for their 20th, and gifting others with six RT's coast to coast in the last three years, WE'D STILL DO IT!!!

(and we're hardly EVER in a coach seat!!)

I spent the weekend on my first solely domestic mileage run SJC-LAX-IAD-PVD.

I asked myself many times over the 32 hours traveling if it is worth it. I do many cost benefit analyses of flight costs as I am soaring in the air.

Like Papachuck, I keep justifying the trips because the benefits to me and my family are well worth the few weekends away.

Basically if you really want to travel,which I do, then mileage runs let you travel in style most of the time. I calculated for $1,800/year I spend for mileage runs, above what I would spend just doing my leisure travel, (all my flying is leisure), I get 200,000 miles for tickets. I can use these for 2 first class tickets to Europe in the expensive summer months.

The upgrades from certificates earned allow me to travel about 80% of my 100,000+ miles in business and first class. If I just did regular travel flying at low fares then I would fly about 37,000 - 50,000 miles a year and only be able to upgrade about 20% of the flight miles (if that much). I would probably earn enough miles for one coach ticket to Europe/year or one business class ticket every other year.

Bottom line is how much you are willing to spend? The $1,800 is something I can afford and I feel it brings a good return on my travel investment. I enjoy the short trips to different places. The extra airline miles are also good for transfering to Hilton Honors for free hotel nights in the places I fly.

As a teacher I have about 12-14 weeks a year to travel. Mileage runs can be a strain, but they fit well into my overall travel plans of seeing the world. It would have been nice to hang out in New England for a few days, but the time just wasn't there for me at this period of the year. I enjoyed the people I talked with, the food was fantastic, the lights of NYC and Philadelphia, the Fall foliage of late October were little benefits that added to the pleasure of a little trip out of town.

Now I'm really beginning to understand. You guys are simply way out of my league. I've NEVER spent $1,800 in a year on plane tickets! And for you, that's just the extra you spend on runs. On a year when I do what I consider a lot of traveling, I might spend $1,200. That's about all I feel comfortable spending on what is essentially a luxury. I just can't afford it.

Ed

I agree with you Ed. Everyone has a different financial position and job situation. The concept of taking one or maybe two weekend mileage runs is reasonable enough to understand in certain cases; however, when people fly up to or more than 50,000 status miles a year just for the miles and bonuses, then they are in a different league. It may seem reasonable for their own situation, but I think it is unfair to try to justify it to others who don't fit their profile.

Personally, spending $1800 for 200,000 miles is a great return on cash (but probably a lousy return on time), but I doubt most folks get returns anywhere close to that (unless one is selling their VIPOWs and SWUs for miles). Without a triple bonus or getting on a plane every few weekends on a cheap $150 fare across the country, I really don't know how that is possible anymore on UA or AA. Even the cheap JFK-LGB fares on AA only netted about 20,000 miles best-best case on a $200 fare.

Also, for those that say they just like the peace and quiet of being on an airplane, I have news for them. Turn off your phone, TV, and computer at home, and you can get the same peace and quiet at home too for a lot less money and without having to visit the same old place over and over again.

In previous years, $1,200 barely covered my family's four tickets to see the kids' grandparents. They live on the other coast, and we go several times each year. Last year and this year, about $800 has covered each trip.

Frequent business travel and other mileage-mania behavior (like occasional mileage runs) often enables us to redeem first class award tickets instead of purchasing tickets for each trip. An example: A $650 mileage run to SIN used to yield about 79,000 total miles (when AA exchanged upgrades at the old rate). Not so good right now. That's two first class domestic award tickets and a healthy head start toward status for $650. That's $325 for a First class domestic ticket - not a bad price. And the cost - Friday to Sunday in an airplane where the phone doesn't ring, the fax doesn't deliver, and the spouse and kids can do what they prefer (which is probably something I didn't want to do anyway) - is minimal. I wasn't going to bill anyone for that weekend anyway.

Some people like to fritter away their weekend at a NASCAR race - I prefer it on an airplane.

I know people who spend nothing on airfare each year, people who spend what you do, people who spend $5k-$10k, and even some folks who spend $50k and up. Each probably has logical (and maybe not so logical) explanations (rationalizations?) for their level of airline consumption.

But then I know lots of people: who spend lavishly on their hobbies, like big RVs or big ski boats; who smoke two packs a day (adds up to BIG $$$ on an annual basis); who drink way too much; who lease cars for $699 or more each month; who willingly pay $3,000+/mo for rent or house payments, etc. Each person can explain/rationalize why their behavior is not abnormal.

I even know people who give nothing to charity. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

A common trap into which one can fall is incorrectly assuming that all other people in the US (and the rest of the world) are just like themselves - when in fact there are lots of people without two dimes to rub together and lots of multi-jillionaires out there.

Not every other person on FT (or at the airport) is a 9-5 salaryman with only two weeks off each year (some of us only get a week). http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Who cares if they fit the profile? The question was asked, "Why" and we responded. If you ask Donald Trump why he's building another casino, is it "unfair" of him to explain himself to you since you don't have the money to build a casino yourself? Nobody here is saying that flying more than one or two mileage runs is for everyone. Ask a question, get an answer. Unfair? C'mon now...

Aside from the benefits derived from doing mileage runs, I think most people who do them just plain like to fly. It ain't so much about peace and quiet as it is about just being up in an airplane, going somewhere. Just because you may not agree or understand it doesn't mean it's not a valid and enjoyable pursuit for someone else.

You want unfair? Look at your attitude. Bottom line, the question has been asked and answered. If you can't understand or appreciate the answer, just chalk it up to another one of life's mysteries and tango on...


[This message has been edited by Seat 2A (edited 10-29-2002).]