The Most Embarassing Thing I've Ever Done to Get Miles
Jul 7, 2000, 4:27 pm
#106
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 739
I was going to be about 6000 points (12,000
miles) short of making ExecPlat on AA. With
the help of a friend in the Admirals Club, I
used a $380 (roundtrip) fare to fly
SJC
FW:MIA:ORD:BRU. Yes, I upgraded to B
using miles.
I was ticketed to return immediately on
the same plane via the reverse routing.
-doug
miles) short of making ExecPlat on AA. With
the help of a friend in the Admirals Club, I
used a $380 (roundtrip) fare to fly
SJC
FW:MIA:ORD:BRU. Yes, I upgraded to Busing miles.
I was ticketed to return immediately on
the same plane via the reverse routing.
-doug
Jul 7, 2000, 6:11 pm
#107
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM
Posts: 85,572
Of all these great stories, the most EMBARASSING (not to mention dangerous!)thing done for miles HAS to be eating in Mileage Plus Dining restaurants. I've lived in Chicago for 25 years, eat out often and have never heard of these places.
Jul 7, 2000, 6:31 pm
#108
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Cary, NC, USA - AA Plt 3mm/DL Dia 2mm, Hil/Dia Life, Bonvoy/Titanium Life, Spire
Posts: 3,261
I need your posts to show my wife that I am not as extreme as you folks!
I used to eat at a cheap Mexican eatery when AA had a promotion for bonus dining miles before they implemented a minimum $ charge.
Also used a coupon at the same time and received thousands of bonus miles for $3 lunches.
I've rented a local airport AVIS during the weekend for $15/day to qualify for bonus miles, returned it within an hour, with an excuse that I changed my mind about my trip.
I've made my wife exchange an item she purchased on the 'wrong' credit card.
I've test driven a Buick for miles.
I'm currently eating a lot of Corn Flakes.
I used to eat at a cheap Mexican eatery when AA had a promotion for bonus dining miles before they implemented a minimum $ charge.
Also used a coupon at the same time and received thousands of bonus miles for $3 lunches.
I've rented a local airport AVIS during the weekend for $15/day to qualify for bonus miles, returned it within an hour, with an excuse that I changed my mind about my trip.
I've made my wife exchange an item she purchased on the 'wrong' credit card.
I've test driven a Buick for miles.
I'm currently eating a lot of Corn Flakes.
Jul 7, 2000, 9:47 pm
#109
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: ORD
Posts: 642
To ILuvParis,
There are a couple of Mileage Plus Dining places in Chicago worth trying: Salpicon (very good), Sushi Wabi, Zoom (very cheap, hard to build up miles), Signature Room (maybe for drink and view, not for food).
There are a couple of Mileage Plus Dining places in Chicago worth trying: Salpicon (very good), Sushi Wabi, Zoom (very cheap, hard to build up miles), Signature Room (maybe for drink and view, not for food).
Jul 8, 2000, 8:22 am
#110
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Ormond Beach, FL USA
Programs: Delta Flying Colonel, Lifetime Silver Medallion, Million Miler
Posts: 621
Good to see these threads never die. Mileage run due this year so any ideas on Dl from PBI welcomed.
Jul 8, 2000, 9:31 am
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,233
Outoftown,
You test drove a Buick for miles. (I assume you're referring to Delta's 5000-mile promo of last year.) I didn't test drive the Buick and got the same miles. What I did was to drive up to the dealer in a new BMW (it happened to be mine, but I would have borrowed something similar othewise) and parked it right in front of the showroom window. I went in and showed a sales rep the card. I said I wasn't a serious prospect for a new Buick (since he had just seen me get out of my car, he didn't need a lot of convincing) but did want the miles. Did he really want to waste his time and lose his place in the rotation going for a ride with me? Of course he didn't. He completed the form. I left inside two minutes. The miles showed up soon after.
You test drove a Buick for miles. (I assume you're referring to Delta's 5000-mile promo of last year.) I didn't test drive the Buick and got the same miles. What I did was to drive up to the dealer in a new BMW (it happened to be mine, but I would have borrowed something similar othewise) and parked it right in front of the showroom window. I went in and showed a sales rep the card. I said I wasn't a serious prospect for a new Buick (since he had just seen me get out of my car, he didn't need a lot of convincing) but did want the miles. Did he really want to waste his time and lose his place in the rotation going for a ride with me? Of course he didn't. He completed the form. I left inside two minutes. The miles showed up soon after.
Jul 8, 2000, 12:33 pm
#112
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 24
I took a bus segment to earn 151 miles more than the alternate routing...but I also saved $5.50!
Jul 8, 2000, 2:13 pm
#113
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Programs: AA, UA, WN, HH, Marriott
Posts: 7,290
I had a roundtrip nonrefundable ticket (a lot cheaper than a 1 way) to return home from RDU to SJC and didn't plan to use the return portion back to RDU. I drove 45 minutes to the airport, checked in for the return flight from SJC to RDU, and drove home. Apparently, the check-in procedure triggered the computer to award the miles.
Jul 8, 2000, 5:00 pm
#114
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Ex-BA Gold, now no status at all!
Posts: 357
You are all sick. And I KNOW that i've caught it! I fear that I want no cure 
Robert.
Robert.
Jul 8, 2000, 5:15 pm
#115
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Arizona
Programs: MSP raised, Elite since age 17
Posts: 4,723
I first made Gold on NW at age 17 by making "Pittsburgh Pilgrimages" on a no-advance youth fare NW matched. I did 15,000 miles by flying:
Day 1: MSP-CMH-DTW-PIT PIT-DTW-MKE-MSP
Next day: MSP-IND-DTW-PIT PIT-DTW-MKE-MSP
Next Day: MSP-ORD-DTW-PIT PIT-DTW=MKE-MSP
Next day: MSP-CMH-DTW-PIT PIT-DTW-SFO
Red eye early the next day: SFO-DCA
I got off at the intermediate stop in MSP.
The DTW agent for the PIT flight didn't know what to think after day 2....
My plan didn't phase my parents, though-- they were used to me taking day trips on city bus routes, and this wasn't too much different.
Day 1: MSP-CMH-DTW-PIT PIT-DTW-MKE-MSP
Next day: MSP-IND-DTW-PIT PIT-DTW-MKE-MSP
Next Day: MSP-ORD-DTW-PIT PIT-DTW=MKE-MSP
Next day: MSP-CMH-DTW-PIT PIT-DTW-SFO
Red eye early the next day: SFO-DCA
I got off at the intermediate stop in MSP.
The DTW agent for the PIT flight didn't know what to think after day 2....
My plan didn't phase my parents, though-- they were used to me taking day trips on city bus routes, and this wasn't too much different.
Jul 8, 2000, 9:34 pm
#116
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Wherever you go, there you are
Posts: 641
For all that I ..... and moan about and genuinely loathe NW, I am ashamed every time I have to get on their planes out of my loyalty to CO and my commitment to OnePass.
"'Earned' Elite" - you better believe it.
"'Earned' Elite" - you better believe it.
Jul 14, 2000, 10:12 am
#117
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Southeast Alaska USA
Posts: 5
People who work with me say I have it bad...
My name is Alaska Joe.. and I am a mileage addict! When I travel on company business I find two hotels that offer Alaska Airlines mileage... and alternate daily between the two. My best "score" was in Anchorage this winter. Westmark Hotels was offering triple miles (1500) for each stay, and I double dipped at Hilton on the alternate days and logged 500 miles each check-in. Also I got a voluntary bump and flew from Juneau to Anchorage via Seattle.. with a free ticket woucher in hand and a comp first class upgrade (equals miles + 50%) With my electronic ticket bonus and kiosk check-in bonus and credit card ticket purchase bonus I figure I cleared over 15,000 miles... and you know whay??? I am **** proud of it.... no remorse what-so-ever! LOL
My name is Alaska Joe.. and I am a mileage addict! When I travel on company business I find two hotels that offer Alaska Airlines mileage... and alternate daily between the two. My best "score" was in Anchorage this winter. Westmark Hotels was offering triple miles (1500) for each stay, and I double dipped at Hilton on the alternate days and logged 500 miles each check-in. Also I got a voluntary bump and flew from Juneau to Anchorage via Seattle.. with a free ticket woucher in hand and a comp first class upgrade (equals miles + 50%) With my electronic ticket bonus and kiosk check-in bonus and credit card ticket purchase bonus I figure I cleared over 15,000 miles... and you know whay??? I am **** proud of it.... no remorse what-so-ever! LOL
Jul 15, 2000, 10:43 am
#118
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: madison, wisconsin, usa
Posts: 12
Last year I needed around a 1000 miles to maintain my Silver with NW. Flew a $120 route, ORD-BWI-ORD, on a Saturday, stayed overnight in an airport hotel, returned the next day after, met my family at ORD and we all flew the same route to spend the holidays with my in-laws in Northern Virginia. The unplanned reward - I flew to KUL last March on J class which qualified for a double miles promotion, plus 50% J class bonus plus 50% Silver elite bonus plus 10,000 promotion bonus for flying J class totalling 68,500 miles.
This trip was sponsored by an international organization who prepaid the airfare but their travel agency failed to request the ConnectFirst option. I could have booked the flight myself in the Web for $2000 less, received 5000 online bonus and flew FC. Oh well, I can't complain much for this convergence of these opportunities.
This trip was sponsored by an international organization who prepaid the airfare but their travel agency failed to request the ConnectFirst option. I could have booked the flight myself in the Web for $2000 less, received 5000 online bonus and flew FC. Oh well, I can't complain much for this convergence of these opportunities.
Jul 15, 2000, 7:17 pm
#119
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NEWYORK, NY U.S.A.
Posts: 312
What a relief. I am NOT alone in my addiction to airmiles and hotel points. Did the Marriott 10,000 bonus. PAYOFF>> 2 FREE nites at Renaissance San Francisco,..Nob Hill.. Breakfast VERY expensive.. But good.. VERY NICE HOTEL!.. Did the Skymiles Dining to get the extra 2000 Skymiles needed for 'FREE' BE seat on transcon flight JFK to SAN. I feel better now that I am NOT alone in my "craziness for miles/points". It is funny when ones friends start joking with you. Making remarks such as "Mike are you getting Skymiles for this purchase/dinner?"... LOL Best Regards to all FF's with the affliction. Mike Mahoney
[This message has been edited by MIKE MAHONEY (edited 07-15-2000).]
[This message has been edited by MIKE MAHONEY (edited 07-15-2000).]
[This message has been edited by MIKE MAHONEY (edited 07-15-2000).]
[This message has been edited by MIKE MAHONEY (edited 07-15-2000).]
Jul 18, 2000, 11:04 am
#120
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UA 1K 3MM, UA 1P/1K since mid '80s; CO Bronze/Silver since mid 80's, Austin, Texas
Posts: 1,279
More than ten years ago, just after the Lockerbie incident had tighted security, I lacked a couple hundred miles of making Premier Executive on United. Other obligations held me back from making a mileage run of any sort until December 31.
I was living in LA, so I bought a cheap roundtrip to someplace close (was it SAN?). I checked in with no intentions of actually flying. But they were making ominous announcements about security and baggage being linked with passengers and the like. So I felt compelled to board the plane to be counted as someone who actually made the flight. I sat in a seat that was not mine for a few moments to evade detection if I was missed later. Ten minutes before the door closed I hustled off the plane saying something about a phone call I had to make and that I would be right back (cell phones had yet to become common). I lingered near by until the plane blocked out, telling myself that I was not a criminal, that I had paid for the flight. I suppose that the only thing embarassing about it was that taking a phantom flight was my excitement on New Year's eve.
I had a happy new year as UA gold, and have been Premier Exec ever since. I've done a bit more planning since then so that my mileage runs aren't delayed until December 31.
I was living in LA, so I bought a cheap roundtrip to someplace close (was it SAN?). I checked in with no intentions of actually flying. But they were making ominous announcements about security and baggage being linked with passengers and the like. So I felt compelled to board the plane to be counted as someone who actually made the flight. I sat in a seat that was not mine for a few moments to evade detection if I was missed later. Ten minutes before the door closed I hustled off the plane saying something about a phone call I had to make and that I would be right back (cell phones had yet to become common). I lingered near by until the plane blocked out, telling myself that I was not a criminal, that I had paid for the flight. I suppose that the only thing embarassing about it was that taking a phantom flight was my excitement on New Year's eve.
I had a happy new year as UA gold, and have been Premier Exec ever since. I've done a bit more planning since then so that my mileage runs aren't delayed until December 31.