Every year airline frequent flyer programs reset back to zero with the exception of Delta Air Lines which allows elite flyers to rollover qualifying miles past the achieved status level. Usually due to numerous circumstances throughout the year, many travelers find themselves short of an expected elite level.
To overcome this issue, savvy flyers identify flight options that have very quick return while accumulating enough qualifying miles, and pricing out very low in regards to the ratio known as cents per mile. Ideally a mileage run should cost less than 5 cents per mile, be completed in a day or overnight, and be completed with the intention of earning miles for elite status.
If you need help finding and booking an a cheap mileage run, you can have Juicy Miles book your next mileage run for you, through their fast and easy process.
An example could be a frequent business traveler who annually flies 78,000 qualifying miles, however this year ends up with 65,000 qualifying miles. In this situation, frequent flyers often evaluate factors such as status level and benefits. Additional considerations include how many miles they need to earn, and time and financial commitments.
If they determine that achieving a select elite status is worth it, they will purchase a ticket that essentially goes no-where because upon arriving at a destination they will quickly return to the origination. One such option is JFK-LAX-JFK in a single day which earns a little shy of 5,000 qualifying miles and can be found for prices as low as $250.
Generally, you find that mileage runs are done by travelers who are trying to reach high tiered elite status such as American Airlines’ Executive Platinum or Delta Air Lines’ Diamond Medallion where the value of benefits is substantial, and many consider worth the effort and cost to make a mileage run. However, airlines has changed the requirements over the past few years making it more difficult to achieve elite status by requiring a spend requirement in addition to qualifying miles.
For example, United Airlines requires that passengers earn $12,000 on fares in addition to flying 100,000 miles annually to hit their 1K status. It’s usually towards the end of the year when travelers have a full picture of their remaining travel and can make an appropriate decision about complete a mileage run.
Over the years many travelers have begun to rethink the mileage run due to numerous factors including what they perceive as devalued benefits, difficult status requirements, and limited mileage run opportunities. A notable mileage run for Delta passengers has always been a US to Singapore (SIN) via Tokyo (NRT) earning anywhere from 18,000 to 25,000 qualifying miles for as little as $700, but taking almost 60+ hours to complete assuming an immediate return.
See our related mileage run posts:
Book Cheap Mileage Runs Here: Let Juicy Miles book your next mileage run for you, through this fast and easy process.
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My name is Carlo and I have some questions. I have always thought of doing an international mileage run such as New York to Singapore without leaving the airport and coming right back. Such as the one you described on Delta, I believe the Delta flight arrive in Singapore at 11 pm or midnight and leaves at 6 am the next morning. Can a person do them without exit customs and remain in the transit area, or do you have to exit customer and recheck in and catch the next? For example I have heard of people who have left the U.S. to Tokyo or Singapore, jumped on another airline and came back tot eh U.S. I heard that on one of these blogs, I don’t understand it, because you have to enter a country and turn around and leave again. I have thought of flying form U.S. to Mexico city to eat at some restaurants at the airport that are beyond security, but I don’t think that can be done because I will have to first enter Mexico, turn around go through security again, then go tot he restaurants. So you couldn’t do it on an aircraft quick turn. Just wondered about this for a long time. Thank you very much.
Carlos
Carlos, you can do SIngapore and back without leaving the airport!!