In 2016, I earned 49,640 redeemable American Airways AAdvantage miles and 23,820 elite qualifying miles on a single $804 round-trip mileage run to Johannesburg. This mileage run was key to incomes top-tier AAdvantage Government Platinum standing that 12 months — however taking this similar mileage run in 2025 can be a lot much less profitable, since I would earn based mostly on fare as a substitute of distance.
Mileage working seems a lot totally different now than it did in 2016 and even just some years in the past. For some airline loyalty applications, the mileage run has died off fully because of modifications in the way you earn rewards and elite standing. However it’s nonetheless a profitable choice for others — and for some particular conditions.
So, let’s focus on mileage runs, together with what they’re, whether or not you must ebook one and the way you’d discover the appropriate one.
What’s a mileage run?
A mileage run is a number of flights you are primarily taking to earn rewards, progress towards qualifying for a better tier of elite standing or each.
Purists would possibly argue {that a} journey is not a mileage run when you truly need to go to the vacation spot and can spend time there, however I imagine it is a mileage run when you primarily booked the journey to earn rewards or standing. In different phrases, it is a mileage run when you would not have booked a visit in any respect if not for the rewards or standing you may earn from taking the journey.
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Must you ebook a mileage run?
Every airline loyalty program has totally different insurance policies concerning incomes rewards and elite standing. Nevertheless, mileage runs are often solely price contemplating for applications the place some of the profitable methods to earn rewards or standing entails flying.
For instance, the accomplice incomes charts for American Airways AAdvantage nonetheless make mileage runs on choose Oneworld companions profitable. Nevertheless, it’s a must to choose the appropriate mixture of service, fare, fare class and routing for a mileage run to make extra sense than utilizing among the different methods to earn Loyalty Factors.
Mileage runs take money and time, so — particularly when you’re working for standing — it is price contemplating whether or not the upper standing might be price the associated fee. It is also price checking whether or not there are different methods you could possibly use earlier than the top of the present qualification interval.
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This is a take a look at a number of of the most well-liked airline elite statuses, together with how one can earn every standing:
Generally, reserving a mileage run actually is the most suitable choice. If booked correctly, a mileage run can show a reasonable technique to get the final bit that you must qualify for a extra useful standing earlier than the top of a qualification interval.
A number of latest promotions, equivalent to JetBlue’s “25 for 25” promotion and Scandinavian Airways’ EuroBonus problem, have additionally inspired some vacationers to go on a mileage run. For Turkish Airways’ problem for 1 million miles, I went on mileage runs for half of the required continents (Asia, Africa and Australia) for the reason that journey I already wanted to ebook to North America, South America and Europe when the promotion launched made going for the 1 million miles worthwhile.
Associated: Why I don’t care about airline elite standing
Tips on how to ebook a mileage run
In the event you’ve determined a mileage run is best for you, the subsequent step is to calculate what you want based mostly on the opposite journey you may take earlier than the top of the qualification interval. It is also a good suggestion to double-check the top of your qualification interval.
Then, the enjoyable of discovering a number of journeys that suit your schedule and provide the metrics you want begins. For the latest Turkish problem, I wanted to seek out Turkish-marketed and -operated flights that began in or transited by way of Istanbul and landed in cities that Turkish outlined as a part of every continent. Even so, it took some time between my schedule and the big variety of potential locations.
I discovered the best-value flights utilizing Google Flights‘ versatile vacation spot function and filters. Google Flights does not supply a technique to get rid of on-line journey companies from search outcomes, so you may must examine the reserving methodology if you would like (or want) to ebook instantly.
Discovering the most effective mileage run turns into rather more difficult if that you must ebook into a selected fare class for elevated incomes charges. The fare class can typically be troublesome to seek out, even when reserving instantly with the airline. Generally, you could ebook with out figuring out the fare class and hope your e-ticket or reserving affirmation exhibits it. Not less than on flights that contact the U.S., you’ll be able to often cancel inside a set time of reserving and get a refund.
Lastly, as tempting because it is perhaps to rapidly flip round at your vacation spot throughout a mileage run, I like to recommend spending no less than 24 hours at any stops. This allows you to rapidly go to the vacation spot and provides you useful time to get well from any delays so you do not miss your onward flights.
Associated: 6 key instruments and tricks to discover the most affordable airfare
Backside line
Some applications supply many alternative methods to earn rewards and elite standing. However in choose applications, mileage runs are nonetheless probably the most profitable technique to earn rewards or attain the subsequent elite standing tier. Simply think about the worth you may get from a mileage run to make sure it justifies the associated fee. Additionally double-check your calculations to make sure the mileage run you are reserving will get you the rewards you need.
