True story.

I booked a one-way flight last Oct. MCO-LGA-ROC on Delta and paid $81.50 for an "L" class fare. Great price for exactly what I needed: a last-minute fare for a one day trip.

The first bonus came when I arrived at MCO. The connection through LGA was late, too late to make my ROC connection. So they rerouted me through CVG and upgraded me to first. This changed my fare class from "L" to "A" (and to "Y" on the ROC portion). I was, needless to say, a very happy kid. Plus, I got a nice healthy breakfast out of the bargain while steerage got zip. Delta also threw in several phone cards for good measure. (I love free long-distance almost as much as bonus miles.)

This story of riches only got better this past week. My $81.50 investment netted me 6,767 miles!!!! I was astounded when I checked my statement online. Is this a record of some kind? It certainly is a personal best for me. Here's how it broke down:

121 -- Amex Skymiles purchase
250 -- web reservation
756 -- re-routed MCO-CVG leg (L to A class)
378 -- class of service bonus for same
756 -- Double Miles promo bonus for same
500 -- re-routed CVG-ROC leg (L to Y class)
500 -- Double Miles promo bonus for same
2,500 -- Match and More promo bonus (which I originally wouldn't have qualified for)
756 -- Match and More promo bonus MCO-CVG (can't explain this)
250 -- Match and More promo bonus CVG-ROC (can't explain this either
---------
6,767 miles
============

I'd love to hear any other tales of great FF miles fortunes.

Essxjay

I won't mention the airline for fear they watch these boards and would take action (not too paranoid, eh?) butmy wife and I flew to Europe in business class on an award ticket in 1997.

Our outbound flights were on the US carrier that issued the award. Our return to the US was on a European partner carrier that issued its own boarding passes. When checking in, I placed our frequent flyer membership cards on the counter because we were status members.

Both of us were quite pleased a month or so later when our statements arrived... dang, now you know it was not UA since their mileage statements never arrive that promptly!!! Anyway, we received mileage for the flight plus the business class bonus plus the elite membership bonus! It ended up being over 14,000 miles for each of us! Our cost: $0.00

for many years (until about 1992 or so) TW would give miles for award travel--happened several times so can't call it a fluke!

I saw a fare (didn't fly it though) on UA for a RT Tampa-Louisville, for $94 RT, which would have been (through ORD) 1012 + 500 miles each way, plus boni, plus, plus

How about AC's current promotion. For $250 U.S. I flew in L class (upgraded to J):
VISA Purchase 370 miles
Calgary-Montreal return: 6676 miles
double miles promo (on base miles) 5340 miles
6 segment bonus 15,000
TOTAL is 27386 miles (so far--I have several similar trips during the 199mine promotion).

Only 6676 status miles, but 27386 miles for a $250 ticket flying in business class all the way is not a bad deal! Gives me almost a free business class trip anywhere in N. America.