If you travel fairly often and have reached elite level frequent flyer status at some point, you may have experienced the let-down once you lose that status. It’s like your very best friend has just dropped you to the title of semi-friendly acquaintance. And it’s especially frustrating when you’re almost at the point of regaining status but realize that you’ll probably fall short before the end of the year. So what do you do?
For some truly devoted frequent flyers, the key to staying in the elite tier may be an end-of-year mileage run. But what’s the best way to plan a mileage run, and how do you know if it’s worth it? Here are some tips and guidelines for determining whether you should consider a mileage run, and how to plan a successful trip if you do (I recently did my own frantic, same-day mileage run, and documented the experience in this quick video reel).
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- Decide if it’s worth it. Elite status with a frequent flyer program provides multiple benefits, which vary depending on which level you reach. At best, I’m generally at the lowest elite level (if I have any status at all) with my two preferred carriers, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. But even at that lowest elite level, I sometimes get free upgrades to premium economy, business class and even first-class seating. Even when I don’t, I still get free access to better economy seating, earlier boarding and also better treatment from the companies’ affiliated airlines — namely, JetBlue and Aeroméxico, both of which I usually fly a few times a year to Mexico and the Caribbean.
So yes, having elite status is worth it. But what you must decide is whether it’s worth investing your time and money on an end-of-year mileage run. If you’re way off from elite status for the following year, or if you don’t fly that often anyway, it may not be worth the attempt to bump yourself up.
2. Figure out what you’re missing. The credit, points or miles that are missing for elite status can vary, based on your preferred airline and your travel and purchase patterns. Many airlines require not just miles but a certain dollar spend to attain elite status. In my case this year, for example, I already had the right amount of elite qualifying miles with the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program to continue my Silver Medallion status. But I found myself an excruciating $28 short on my Mileage Qualifying Dollars, which can only be accrued by spending money on flights.
If you’re an American Airlines frequent flyer, by the way, be aware that they’ve recently revised their AAdvantage program so you can actually gain status solely through branded credit card purchases, regardless of what you’re spending the money on. I maintained my gold status just by bumping up my spending with my American Airlines branded credit card (actually, it turned out I didn’t even need to, since soon after I reached Million Miler status. More on that in another post).
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3. Determine the most efficient way to reach your goal. A few years ago, I found myself about 1,500 miles short of elite status with American Airlines AAdvantage program. To remedy that, I searched for the furthest destination at the cheapest price (and one that had the cheapest accommodations and ground transportation, to keep my overall costs down). I decided on a trip from New York City to Las Vegas, where I could do an inexpensive overnight stay not far from the airport.
This year, however, I’d already reached my mileage requirement with Delta. What I needed was a $28 spend on flights — an incredibly tiny amount, but there was nothing I could do to fix that, other than buy an airline ticket. Unfortunately, inflation and soaring airfares made it difficult to find anything super cheap, but I found a decent fare for flights to Chicago O’Hare. Chicago also made sense because it’s close enough to my New York City base that I could do a same-day round trip, thus saving me the cost of a Chicago hotel.
In addition, there are lots of daily flights to Chicago from which to choose, so I had multiple options — as well as alternatives in case my first flight were delayed and I missed my return flight. So I booked my trip and set off on my one-day trip for lunch in Chicago.
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4. Travel Appropriately. Early morning flights are generally more likely to leave on time, making it easier to make your next flight. If you’re doing a same-day turnaround like I just did, be sure to pack any medication or other necessities that might be needed should you find yourself stranded overnight. You might want to bring snacks and even an extra shirt, just in case you wind up spending more time on the trip than expected.
As for me, I ended up taking a super-fast, same-day roundtrip between New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Chicago O’Hare on Delta. I purposely spaced out the two flights (opting against taking the first return flight available), to allow for extra time in case my first flight arrived late. It was right on time, however, so I had plenty of time to walk up and down the terminal (great exercise!), see the latest upgrades and expansion at O’Hare airport’s Terminal 5 (which is now Delta’s Chicago home) and have a leisurely lunch (although unfortunately they haven’t opened a full array of dining options yet in the terminal). I made this Instagram reel of my mileage run trip to show what the experience was like.
If all goes well, by the time you complete your own mileage run trip you’ll be secure in your elite status for the following year, and ready to reap the rewards in the coming months.
I’m a travel writer, travel blogger and Mexico travel specialist, and I love sharing travel tips to make your next vacation or business trip better. My new memoir was just published: Prepare for Departure: Notes on a Single Mother, a Misfit Son, Inevitable Mortality and the Enduring Allure of Frequent Flyer Miles. Please click and check it out!
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