Due to some last minute business trips, I just realized I am only 12454 (6227 each way) EQM away from making EXP, something I have never been able to do.

So, I'm ready to do a mileage run, even if it means leaving in the AM and doing a red-eye back without any stay! I've looked around and the best deal I could find was this:

Depart SMF (my home airport)-->switch planes in DFW--->Arrive CDG 12/27
Leave CDG on 12/28 (2 hours after arriving!)--->DFW (stay overnight)--->Leave SMF on 12/29 for $1194.54 USD (before tax)

This would get me a little more than the 12,454 EQMs I need.

However, I've seen the FT experts out there and I have a feeling you can help me do better. So, can anyone give me some alternate/better/cheaper ideas?

More information --- I can't fly any earlier than 12/19, and I would prefer not to fly on 12/24 or 12/25.

Thanks so much in advance!

SMF-DFW-FRA-ORD-TUL-DFW-SMF on the 26th returning on the 28th nets ~13000 miles for $958 all in

Thanks for the input, much appreciated.

Well, I did it!

I'll be flying SMF-DFW-FRA-DFW-SMF and doing it in less than 36 hours. I'll leave at 6AM and return at 6PM the following day, with no overnights or stay-overs, a true MR!

I found a flight, that while more expensive, has an instant upgrade to first and business on the return and I'll use an eVIP (from my reaching 2MM) to upgrade the outbound.

It definitely feels like I'm doing something insane (I am, aren't I!?!) , but I have to say that I've been coveting EXP for a looooooong time and it's finally within sight.

Thanks to everyone on FT, you've been a big help and dare I say encouragement.

Do a search in the AA forum on the FRA AAdmirals Club. If you're not a member, no worries---as an AA Platinum, you'd be able to use it in between your flights. It was THE pitstop for a lot of FRA MR's last winter. It's landside, upstairs from AA's gates, across the catwalk from the Sheraton hotel. (if you're heading out of security & immigration, you could pretty much just follow the signs to the Sheraton hotel that's at the airport, if you start walking across a "catwalk/skybridge" over to a Sheraton hotel, you've gone too far...turn around & its behind you).

Showers (sign up at the desk, first thing when you enter), decent expresso, internet, some basic snacks, and awesome staff that are definitely clued in to mileage running.

can't speak for Frankfurt but it would have been a shame to fly to Paris and not leave CDG.

good luck and enjoy being EXP