In 2016, I earned 49,640 redeemable American Airlines 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 12 months — however taking this similar mileage run in 2025 can be a lot much less profitable, since I might earn primarily based on fare as an alternative of distance.
Mileage operating seems a lot totally different now than it did in 2016 and even only a few years in the past. For some airline loyalty programs, the mileage run has died off fully resulting from 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 talk about mileage runs, together with what they’re, whether or not it is best to e book one and the way you’d discover the fitting 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 for those who really need to go to the vacation spot and can spend time there, however I imagine it is a mileage run for those who primarily booked the journey to earn rewards or standing. In different phrases, it is a mileage run for those who would not have booked a visit in any respect if not for the rewards or standing you will earn from taking the journey.
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Do you have to e book a mileage run?
Every airline loyalty program has totally different insurance policies relating to incomes rewards and elite standing. Nonetheless, mileage runs are normally solely value contemplating for packages the place one of the vital profitable methods to earn rewards or standing includes flying.
For instance, the accomplice incomes charts for American Airways AAdvantage nonetheless make mileage runs on choose Oneworld companions profitable. Nonetheless, you need to choose the fitting mixture of provider, fare, fare class and routing for a mileage run to make extra sense than utilizing a few of the different ways to earn Loyalty Points.
Mileage runs take money and time, so — particularly for those who’re operating for standing — it is value contemplating whether or not the upper standing shall be value the fee. It is also value checking whether or not there are different methods you might use earlier than the tip of the present qualification interval.
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Here is a have a look at a number of of the most well-liked airline elite statuses, together with the right way to earn every standing:
Typically, reserving a mileage run actually is the most suitable choice. If booked correctly, a mileage run can show an affordable strategy to get the final bit you might want to qualify for a extra useful standing earlier than the tip of a qualification interval.
A number of latest promotions, comparable to JetBlue’s “25 for 25” promotion and Scandinavian Airlines’ EuroBonus challenge, have additionally inspired some vacationers to go on a mileage run. For Turkish Airlines’ challenge 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 e book to North America, South America and Europe when the promotion launched made going for the 1 million miles worthwhile.
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Methods to e book a mileage run
In case you’ve determined a mileage run is best for you, the subsequent step is to calculate what you want primarily based on the opposite journey you will take earlier than the tip of the qualification interval. It is also a good suggestion to double-check the tip 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 via 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 strategy to get rid of online travel agencies from search outcomes, so you will have to verify the reserving methodology if you need (or want) to e book instantly.
Discovering the most effective mileage run turns into far more difficult if you might want to e book into a particular fare class for elevated incomes charges. The fare class can typically be tough to search out, even when reserving instantly with the airline. Typically, you should e book with out figuring out the fare class and hope your e-ticket or reserving affirmation reveals it. At the very least on flights that contact the U.S., you possibly can normally cancel within a set time of booking 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 least 24 hours at any stops. This allows you to shortly go to the vacation spot and provides you useful time to recover from any delays so you do not miss your onward flights.
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Backside line
Some packages supply many various methods to earn rewards and elite standing. However in choose packages, mileage runs are nonetheless probably the most profitable strategy to earn rewards or attain the subsequent elite standing tier. Simply think about the worth you will get from a mileage run to make sure it justifies the 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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