We’re Doing a Mileage Run
Last week, we were at a holiday party. We overheard a friend across the room say: “I know someone who’s flying to Vegas just to get miles. Can you believe that?”
We turned to each other. I said “Oh boy – if that guy only knew what we have brewing.” We guzzled our drinks.
Aside from our love of traveling deliriously, we are overwhelmingly motivated to do a mileage run (MR) this year (more on that specific motivation in a later post). For now – let’s just say that most travel enthusiasts will agree that miles are your friend, regardless of the motivation for earning them.
Let’s start with some MR basics.
In talking with a lot of people – both travel nuts and infrequent travelers – we learned that many aren’t crystal clear on just what a MR is. According to Wikipedia, a MR is defined as follows:
A mileage run is an airline trip designed and taken solely to gain maximum frequent flyer miles, points or status.
Simple enough. If you ever visit Flyer Talk, you’ll see that many savvy travelers are fervent MR fanatics. On Flyer Talk’s travel forums, it’s apparent that many responders will do nearly anything and go almost anywhere to earn miles – especially if the price is right. The often followed equation seems to be:
cheap airfare + long distance = perfect MR
Our take on what makes a good MR.
A couple ground rules we operate with:
- We probably wouldn’t visit a place we have no interest in for the sole purpose of a MR. It just seems so tough to justify and too mindless even for us as travel junkies. We have plenty of potential MR destinations on our “dream” travel list.
- We’re not the type of guys who are likely to jump on an absurd multiple leg, sleep-at-the-airport type scheme in order to rack up miles. We recently read about a person who flew from Miami to six destinations across Europe. All of this travel occurred on consecutive days, sleeping only at airports and seeing nothing. No thanks.
Here’s what we will do:
- We have no problem with spontaneous. Post 9/11, we found a last minute air/hotel uber-deal to Paris. It came to about $900 for both of us. We jumped on it.
- Although we love new destinations, we are happy (thrilled, actually!) to re-visit a place that we love. All the better if the price is right and the miles are good. We are still kicking ourselves for not immediately booking a $396 (round trip) Seattle —> Buenos Aires trip about a year ago. Stupid.
Each of those examples does not, alone, constitute a MR, but they give you an idea of what we dig. Bottom line… Here’s the equation that works best for us:
cheap airfare to awesome destination + long distance with no rush = perfect NVR MR
Our upcoming NVR MR.
A while back we started plotting our vision for 2011. We quickly framed some plans for a couple of our core NVR pillars: 1) growing our virtual business and 2) giving back.Things got complicated when talk turned to travel. In our initial planning, we realized there are a couple destinations we need to hit early in the year (commitments). Other than that, we were wide open (and, honestly, just happy to be making some sort of loose plan).
Doing research, we noticed some incredible deals to locations on that dream travel list mentioned earlier. Things started to fall into place such that it began to look like our best bet would be a multi-leg journey that combines our travel commitments and some dream list destinations AND, by default, doubles as a de facto MR.
We hope to have the details nailed down in a couple of weeks. At this point, two things are pretty certain:
- We’re going to earn renew our airline “elite” status with this one adventure
- Our friend from the party will probably have a heart attack when he hears about it.
Stay tuned.
What’s your take on mileage runs? Have you done one?
You guys are so awesome! I love this! I never thought about doing a mileage run because I thought it was cost prohibitive but it looks like I should re-evaluate my stance on MRs. Off to the Continental website I go…..doot-to-do….
Yes, head over to Continental’s site and shoot off an e-mail if you need any tips from us.
I don’t have airline miles but oddly enough I am at a higher tier for the rail in Canada thanks to a boyfriend who lived an hour away and I made a few milege runs at the end of the year.
I get this!! Elite status really makes a difference. It’s hard for me to get miles because I fly so often with on my husband’s miles — meaning I don’t get mileage credit. But I get to enjoy his status when we travel together. Our trips to Europe in Dec 2009 and Dec 2010 were planned for those particular dates in order to keep elite status. Of course, we had a wonderful time, too! I do know someone who did a MR to Denver from San Francisco and returned same day.
Can’t wait to hear the details of MR adventure!
Elite status does make a difference, Cathy. We’re saving that topic for an entirely different post.
I don’t fly enough to try and collect miles. To be honest I don’t even know HOW to collect miles or anything like that. I have heard how amazing it is but I just dont get it or understand it so don’t bother with it. I neve fly with the same airline, I always just book what ever is the cheapest and go. Am I really missing out of something?
With all of the flying you’ll be doing, you may want to consider accumulating miles, Jaime. Add this topic to the list of things we need to discuss.
I also don’t fly enough to stock up on miles.. in fact, the thought of flying specifically to get miles boggles me. Props to you guys for finding a way to get the most for your money!
First of all, I’m kicking you too for passing up that opportunity to visit Buenos Aires for $396!
Two of my friends travel this way (with mileage runs) all the time. We all thought they were crazy but I guess it is semi-common. If they’re going to the Caribbean from San Diego, they travel via Canada or something ridiculous like that!
Let me make it worse…. I realized I was remembering incorrectly. It was $119 one way – $238 round trip. *breathing into paper bag*
Keep us posted on this NVR Guys.
Problem down here is we just don’t have the choice of carriers competing against each other on as many popular routes as for someone in North America or Europe.
But I get the point.
Yes, the best MR routes usually involve destinations where there is some competition. We have it pretty good using Seattle as a home base.
Awesome! I’ve never heard of a Mileage Run before its a great idea haha.
Glad we could turn you on to the idea. Stay tuned. We’re hammering out the details now.
this is awesome! can’t wait to hear more about your milage run!
I don’t have a clue either what a MR is. Now I understand a bit better. Must give this serious thought. Thanks for enlightening me.
I agree with Inka. Don’t really know much about this, but I should look into it a bit more. I’m like Jaime in that I don’t fly that often, but when I do, it’s all about finding the cheapest airfare to get there, regardless of carrier. Unfortunately for us we live in a city (St. Louis) with a horrible airport that is not a hub.
Stayed tuned as we get into this more, Adam. We’re finalizing the details and then will share more.
First… a kick to you guys for passing on BA. Second… Your MR ideas are pretty cool.
I’ve managed to accumulate enough miles to get a couple international flights, but I still don’t fly enough to achieve elite status. I’m planning to do a challenge certain airlines offer (if you fly X amount of miles within X amount of time they immediately upgrade you), but I’m waiting to do it during my RTW since I know I’ll be traveling often, and it’s an one time offer.
Even though I have bought a few miles to complete an international round trip, I haven’t been able to find a “spectacular” deal (like BA… arghh!) that makes me jump right away. I gotta pay more attention to Flyer Talk. Been ignoring it for a while.
Yes! Those “challenges” sound very cool. We know peeps who have done that.
BTW – Did you see what I wrote to Michael (above) … I realized I was remembering incorrectly. It was $119 one way – $238 round trip.
I’ve never heard of a Mileage run, but you’ve peaked my curiosity. Do tell! Don’t keep us in suspense!
I’m totally behind on getting air miles… I’ve never heard of this MR and I kick myself every day for not having any air miles plan for my RTW
Haha this sounds great! How do you get started though? Is there something you have to sign up for? We’re going on a rtw in Feb and it would be great if we could earn some miles with this!
@ Laurel – More info will be coming soon as we solidify things.
@ Lindsay – I hear you. We had totally given up on accumulating miles and started up again not too long ago. It really can be helpful.
@ Jozef – Be sure to sign up for the mileage program associated with whatever airline(s) you plan to fly. We are part of Alaska Air’s program but also earn miles on their partner airlines (American, Delta, etc.)
Why have I never heard of this?!
I may have to look for some cheap deals so I can rack up my miles. Do you guys have a favorite airline for miles? I have a ton with Alaska, only because I had a credit card, but I find they don’t go most places that I want to use my miles for.
Alaska Air actually has a great mileage plan. Based in Seattle, it”s a no-brainer for us. Remember, too, that you can get miles from all of their partner airlines. Check ‘em out.
Where’s the run to? I’m one of those crazy multi city MR people. I’ll take like a 6 leg flight instead of a direct just for the extra miles.
Figured you would, Matt
We’re still hammering out the details. We’ve given ourselves about a week and a half more to finalize it.
Now this is really cool! Never thought about a MR before. This post inspired me to start looking into our QANTAS frequent flyer program to see how we could best use it. Well what a surprise when we discovered Craig had enough points for a return flight to Johannesburg or Honolulu. We thought he had used all his points. We haven’t been accruing them as we were getting free flights with Delta for 2 years as Craig worked for them.
Super excited. Now for some travel planning.
Woohoo! I love seeing all these peeps interested in accumulating miles and doing mileage runs.
I’m not in this league – most of my destinations are reached by bus or in our trusty Fiat Seicento (look it up – it’s the world’s greatest car).
Great post! I love your explanation of MR as it was informative and entertaining. A few weeks ago, a friend of mine flew to Philadelphia, had a 40 minute layover, and flew back – all to get a mileage upgrade! He did get a great deal as well. However, your idea sounds a lot more fun! Good luck with your trips and will have to see where you end up!
@ Robin *laughing*
@ Thanks, Jeremy – glad you liked it!
i heard about mileage runs for the first time fairly recently from my pal @theflyingpinto who created/hosts the podcast @thecrewlounge. it was a whole new world to me and it’s AMAZING the distances some MR enthusiasts will go to!
i’m so excited to see what you two have up your sleeves! i have to say, i’m relieved to hear that you wouldn’t go to some place you’re not interested in just to do it. the greenie in me hopes that folks who do this often are buying carbon off-sets for their flights or flying with an airline that builds them into purchase prices. i’m sure whatever you’ve got cookin’ is going to be incredible. can’t wait!
We hear you about the offsets, Lorna – great point.
Sounds great guys. I had to drop my Thai Airways miles card as their service turned horrible and my miles were never being recorded and the insisted on sending everything by snail mail to correct the missed miles. I’m embarrassed to say how many miles I lost in 2009/10 due to them.
Starting all over with United but already up to 30,000 miles
I’ve never done a MR BUT I would never be upset going on a trip anwhere
Aww, that sucks, Todd. Same sorta thing happened to one of us with Delta. Long story, but we ended up having to wave goodbye to several thousand miles.
Man, I am so behind on this! I kind of collect miles, but not very well. I’m soooo disorganized!
Good luck!
Towards the end of 2010 I realized I was only going to be 800 miles short of gold status on Delta so I ended up booking a day trip to Charlotte & had lunch with @AndiPerullo & @kirsten_al which was really fun. I’ve heard of people needing to get from Germany to Florida & flying the long way around the world to get the miles. Can’t wait to hear what your plan is.
Great post guys. I also started researching miles, status and programs a month or two back. Quite complicated getting into all the specifics, but I can’t believe some of the stories I’ve read and the possible outcomes when you know your stuff (upgrades, status, award flights etc).
Not sure if you know about the pudding man – wish that deal would come around again. One guy basically bought $3,000 worth of chocolate pudding and got 1 MILLION miles out of it! And to top it off, he was able to claim an $800 tax refund because he donated all the pudding to charity! Ha!
Some people may not know what a million miles can get you… but it’s a good goal to aim for: status for LIFE as well as basically first class for the rest of your life!