Here's a simple question - instead of actually flying a mileage run - why can't I book the flight I want - not fly - forfeit all fees I paid and get the miles - this would still give the airline the same revenue but I wouldn't have to fly just to get the MQM's.

You can. Some people gather their miles this way.


I fly because I am addicted, and I have a problem. Hey, admittance is the first step, right?



BTW: This will most likely be moved to the "Mileage Run Discussion" section. Just a heads up.

What's the fun in that?

Do you have to call and tell them that you don't want the unused fee but credit the miles?

How does that work?

Are you saying book a mileage run and then not fly it but still earn miles? If so, that's not possible. The airlines don't give you the miles unless you fly.

Yup. That's why they call them BIS miles.

Most of the answers above are nonsense.

One reason you must get your butt into the seat is so that folks don't simply scan fares and buy the cheapest from anywhere to anywhere to collect the miles. Do you think any airline wants to sell me every $149 transcon seat they have thus allowing me to buy miles and status for next to nothing?

Here's an example, in the above scenario I buy 100K RDM and 1K status on UA for $2500. But after reaching 2P I got a 25% RDM bonus, and after reaching 1P I got a 100% RDM bonus. So I really have more like 175K RDM.

So, now for $2500 I have enough RDM for 2 C class tickets to Europe plus change and 6 SWUs (not to mention CR1s, 500 milers, etc.). Net value maybe $10,000 without leaving my computer.

Now do you understand why you need to fly to earn miles?

If I'm paying whatever fare - why does they airline care if I am in the seat or not - it gives them more room to put on the standbys and oversold - and they aren't losing any revenue for it - they are potentially making more yet losing absolutely nothing if I'm not on-board but I have paid for it.

If I book a MR....I want to fly it so I can get DBCFREE and travel credits for more MRs!!



Halothane

Other than elite qualifying miles you might get from trading RDM you earn in some credit card programs, you won't get miles unless you put your BIS.

what airline and what fare code? do you have any examples?

dont believe this is possible .........

You are trying to apply logic vs the rules that are in place. By your reasoning, a one way fare should always be half of a round trip fare.

So you think the scenario I set forth above would make sense, i.e., be logical, for an airline?

No, I am only saying I can see why a noob like the OP would see it that way. No way if I were an airline or hotel would I award status to people who reserved a seat or a room but didn't fly or check in. It would result in too many elites and anger the true elites who were BIS or BIB.