ATLhomeCMH From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 770 posts, RR: 4 Posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 3880 times:
I fly primarily on DL, UA, and FL.
I'd like to do a "mileage run" on either DL or UA to get my miles up. Preferably DL, b/c of their codeshare w/ NW and CO (might make things easier). I've seen some A.netters talk about their mileage runs, and how some of them got the fares as low as the cost of a normal RT O&D fare ($200-$300).
If this is the case, what's the best way to go about doing this? Are mileage runs frowned upon by airline staff?
Any comments or suggestions would be much appreciated
"The most terrifying words in the Engligh language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'"-Ronald Reagan
Cumulonimbus From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 3863 times:
Any Major East Coast city to a Major West Coast city is the best way for such a run in my opinion. I.E. IAD lax, Bwi ,SFO Etc. I have seen fares in these markets as low as 150$ with taxes included!! Also these tend to be Busy Routes and can be oversold at times so if you offer up your seat you may walk home with a few free tickets Also!!
Pgh234 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 790 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3797 times:
Coewr From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 273 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3690 times:
Wow...good topic...thanks for those links! Ive always wanted to try a mileage run...is the idea to get the cheapest fare no matter what or go for the longest stretch? for example is taking a cheap fare SEA-IAH better than taking a fare twice as much to go SEA-EWR? I guess what I really want to know from the experienced people here is whats the best bang for the buck so to speak?
WesternA318 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 5395 posts, RR: 25 Reply 4, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 3635 times:
Well,
all of my "mileage runs" have been on TW, CO, and F9. Just depends on where you go, but I always do a 5-day trip and just be on a plane all day long until 10 or 11PM, then spend the night wherever I am! With TW I racked up 324,500 miles one year (1998), On CO every year I always rack up over 300,000 miles yearly now due to work, and on F9 I have just over 128,400 miles. I like doing the runs on CO because of how easy it is to use the multi-city reservation part of their website, and I can add up to 6 city-pairs.
Woohoo! Back to Beirut in Oct '13! (Along with a stop in DOH for 4 days)
Bushcheney2004 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 3602 times:
Coewr, in a mileage run you get as many miles per cent as possible. For example if you fly 5,000 miles for $150, that is not as good as 8,000 for $200. you should typically pay no more than 3 cents per mile. In my example, the first one is 3 cents per mile, while the second one is 25 cents per mile, therefore the second one is better.
B747-437B From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3533 times:
you should typically pay no more than 3 cents per mile
3c/mile is at least 25-50% too much. Airlines allow you to buy miles for a little more than 2c/mile nowadays, so from a pure mileage perspective 3c/mile earned isn't worth it.
Ejmmsu From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1692 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3521 times:
With that thinking, I looked up a flight BNA-ANC on NW. They have a route that goes BNA-DTW-SEA-ANC-SEA-MSP-BNA which has a total mileage of about 7800 miles. With the econmics presented here, this flight should cost no more than $234 dollars at 0.03 per mile.
A flight from JFK-LAX at 5000 miles should cost no more than $150
I doubt you would ever find these kinds of fares.
Maybe the economics of milage runs really doesn't pan out unless you get a rediculous deal.
"If the facts do not conform to the theory, they will have to be disposed of"
B747-437B From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3518 times:
Maybe the economics of milage runs really doesn't pan out unless you get a rediculous deal
A good promotion for double/triple miles is just as good. When you factor in Elite bonuses and discount vouchers you may be eligible for, the 2c/mile barrier is not hard to break at all.
N1120a From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 10, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3513 times:
>A good promotion for double/triple miles is just as good. When you factor in Elite bonuses and discount vouchers you may be eligible for, the 2c/mile barrier is not hard to break at all.<
Aren't mileage runs generally done for elite status anyway? The cheapest possible way to get into the vaunted land of status, or routing to get that last 500-1000 miles you need to keep your status for the year?
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
Ejmmsu From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1692 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3510 times:
A good promotion for double/triple miles is just as good. When you factor in Elite bonuses and discount vouchers you may be eligible for, the 2c/mile barrier is not hard to break at all.
Yes an almost "rediculous deal" because it requires you to be elite and I personally dont see many double or triple miles flights being offered.
"If the facts do not conform to the theory, they will have to be disposed of"
Bushcheney2004 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 3465 times:
AAplatnumflier, thanks it is 2.54 cents per mile.
B747-437B, I think that 3 cents is good if you would get 100% elite bonus, and with Air Alaska get 50,000 miles when flying 75,000 in one year. That is about one cent a mile.
N1120a From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 13, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 3430 times:
>Air Alaska get 50,000 miles when flying 75,000 in one year. That is about one cent a mile.<
The hell is Air Alaska?
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
WesternA318 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 5395 posts, RR: 25 Reply 15, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 3325 times:
Who's Air Alaska?
Woohoo! Back to Beirut in Oct '13! (Along with a stop in DOH for 4 days)
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 770 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
Printer friendly format 
