Flying to a random destination because the flight is cheap
Jan 25, 2011 | 7:11 am
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 13,595
I did used to call my travel agent and say 'what have you got leaving tonight / tomorrow morning' and ended up in some lovely places with gorgeous hotels (5*) for peanuts! Flights etc are much cheaper in Europe (when I used to do this), would love to be able to do something similar these days, but a flight anywhere from YYZ is silly expensive!
Jan 25, 2011 | 10:13 am
#33
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Nope.
First mileage runs earn miles.
Second on many mileage runs people don't even leave the airport, or if they do it is for a very short period of time. These are trips for a couple of days.
There are places I would take a mileage run to if it was just out and back for a great price that I would not go to if I had to stay a day or two.
First mileage runs earn miles.
Second on many mileage runs people don't even leave the airport, or if they do it is for a very short period of time. These are trips for a couple of days.
There are places I would take a mileage run to if it was just out and back for a great price that I would not go to if I had to stay a day or two.
Jan 25, 2011 | 10:34 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: BA Gold; AA Lfe Time PLT ; Marriott Titanium, LFT GLD
Posts: 1,276
Perhaps after I retire I would do this.
At the moment... no way.
My time is limited and I want to:
1) requalify for EXP each year on AA because that makes my required business travel bearable for my 6' 2" frame.
2) accumulate miles for future award travel
At the moment... no way.
My time is limited and I want to:
1) requalify for EXP each year on AA because that makes my required business travel bearable for my 6' 2" frame.
2) accumulate miles for future award travel
Jan 25, 2011 | 10:46 am
#35
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Also, you can already do something similar to this with airlines' "next weekend" fare sale emails. It's perhaps not as exciting as finding out where you're going at the airport, but you'll at least have some choice in the matter. And sometimes genuinely great deals come up (e.g. the email I got this morning from AA, LAX-HNL $300 roundtrip for next weekend)!
Jan 25, 2011 | 7:20 pm
#36
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
I think a factor is price, but the other factor is whether its worth it to travel there as well.. as evidently demonstrated in this thread.
Jan 28, 2011 | 2:59 pm
#37
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,856
My brother and his wife do this. They got in on the Jetblue $10 deal last year and went to Boston. They had so much fun that since they've gone to Providence and will be in Denver next month (they're based outside Baltimore) when they find deals they like.
Personally I've only done it once (I flew a cheap Independence Air flight to IAD because I wanted to try the airline). Other than that, I will only go to cities I want to see and only on my preferred carriers unless the deal is too good to pass up.
Personally I've only done it once (I flew a cheap Independence Air flight to IAD because I wanted to try the airline). Other than that, I will only go to cities I want to see and only on my preferred carriers unless the deal is too good to pass up.