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 Govt Platinum standing that yr — however taking this identical mileage run in 2025 could be a lot much less profitable, since I might earn based mostly on fare as a substitute of distance.
Mileage working appears to be like a lot completely different now than it did in 2016 and even only a few years in the past. For some airline loyalty packages, the mileage run has died off utterly because of modifications in the way you earn rewards and elite standing. However it’s nonetheless a profitable possibility for others — and for some particular conditions.
So, let’s focus on mileage runs, together with what they’re, whether or not you must guide one and the way you’d discover the best 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 the next tier of elite standing or each.
Purists would possibly argue {that a} journey is not a mileage run in the event you truly wish to go to the vacation spot and can spend time there, however I imagine it is a mileage run in the event you primarily booked the journey to earn rewards or standing. In different phrases, it is a mileage run in the event 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 guide a mileage run?
Every airline loyalty program has completely different insurance policies concerning incomes rewards and elite standing. Nevertheless, mileage runs are often solely value contemplating for packages the place one 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 important to decide the best 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 in the event you’re working for standing — it is value contemplating whether or not the upper standing will likely be value the associated fee. It is also value checking whether or not there are different methods you possibly can use earlier than the top of the present qualification interval.
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This is a have a look at a number of of the preferred airline elite statuses, together with the way to earn every standing:
Generally, reserving a mileage run actually is the best choice. If booked correctly, a mileage run can show a cheap technique to get the final bit that you must qualify for a extra worthwhile standing earlier than the top of a qualification interval.
A number of latest promotions, reminiscent of 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) because the journey I already wanted to guide 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
The way to guide 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 search out Turkish-marketed and -operated flights that began in or transited by means 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 characteristic and filters. Google Flights does not supply a technique to get rid of on-line journey companies from search outcomes, so you may have to verify the reserving technique if you would like (or want) to guide instantly.
Discovering one of the best mileage run turns into way more sophisticated if that you must guide into a particular fare class for elevated incomes charges. The fare class can typically be troublesome to search out, even when reserving instantly with the airline. Generally, you should guide with out understanding the fare class and hope your e-ticket or reserving affirmation exhibits it. No less than on flights that contact the U.S., you may often cancel inside a set time of reserving and get a refund.
Lastly, as tempting because it is likely to be to shortly flip round at your vacation spot throughout a mileage run, I like to recommend spending at the very least 24 hours at any stops. This allows you to shortly go to the vacation spot and offers you worthwhile 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 packages supply many various methods to earn rewards and elite standing. However in choose packages, mileage runs are nonetheless essentially the most profitable technique to earn rewards or attain the subsequent elite standing tier. Simply take into account 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.
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