# Need help - how to do frequent flier mileage runs **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 30, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638 "2010-09-30T18:34:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/1 "2010-09-30T18:34:03Z")
So, it is once again getting toward the end of the year, and once again, I am a couple thousand miles short of making it to the next level of eliteness (god, that sounds snobby) for my United frequent flier program. I have a fairly flexible schedule, so I’m looking to make a mileage run at low cost to maintain my current status. I’ve seen the Flier Talk forum in which people sometimes post good mileage runs from various airports, but I’ve also read about various techniques to use all the different search engines to maximize the miles earned on a trip. However, the descriptions I’ve read seem painfully vague on how to find specific itineraries. For example, if I flew direct from DC to San Francisco and back, I’d probably be a little short of what I need. However, if I flew hub to hub for about the same price, as some claim is possible, a Washington-Chicago-LA-SF-Seattle-Chicago-DC trip would surely push me over the top. I just don’t know how to search for such an itinerary. Can anyone give me, or point me toward, a method to find the best value mileage runs? ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/2 "2010-09-30T19:05:19Z")
Does United have a program where you can just buy your way in? I recall a few years ago I was short just like 40-100 miles or so on Alaska and I paid like $50 to get the miles needed. You had to be within a certain distance in order to buy it but at least I didn’t have to take a trip. Not sure if they still do that, nor if United does. But worth asking depending on how close you are. As to multiple stops, I believe most airlines have that option on their websites. Isn’t there a direct or multiple city option? Good luck on it, I agree with you if you are that close you might as well take advantage of it as it makes getting on the plane a hell of a lot easier! ---
**Author:** ![cuberdon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/45deac/32.png) [@cuberdon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuberdon)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/3 "2010-09-30T19:17:25Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > So, it is once again getting toward the end of the year, and once again, I am a couple thousand miles short of making it to the next level of eliteness (god, that sounds snobby) for my United frequent flier program. > > I have a fairly flexible schedule, so I’m looking to make a mileage run at low cost to maintain my current status. I’ve seen the Flier Talk forum in which people sometimes post good mileage runs from various airports, but I’ve also read about various techniques to use all the different search engines to maximize the miles earned on a trip. However, the descriptions I’ve read seem painfully vague on how to find specific itineraries. > > For example, if I flew direct from DC to San Francisco and back, I’d probably be a little short of what I need. However, if I flew hub to hub for about the same price, as some claim is possible, a Washington-Chicago-LA-SF-Seattle-Chicago-DC trip would surely push me over the top. I just don’t know how to search for such an itinerary. > > Can anyone give me, or point me toward, a method to find the best value mileage runs? [United.com](http://United.com) has a multicity option. You can add multiple legs to a trip. I just tried your itinerary with each flight on a subsequent day and the total was $822 including taxes and fees. Note, this was leaving the default flight for each leg selected and with no attempt to get the cheapest fare, so there may be ways to bring that price down. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/4 "2010-09-30T20:05:16Z")
Are the days of being able to call an airline and say “I need x thousand miles. What’s the cheapest trip I can take leaving from ABC to make it?” over? ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Monk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/2acd7d/32.png) [@Electric\_Monk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Monk)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/5 "2010-09-30T22:38:25Z")
I’ve found [You searched for flyertalk.html - FareCompare](http://www.farecompare.com/search/flyertalk.html) to be a big help. You can check for the cheapest fare on any date and filter by airline. Then click on the fare schedule and see all the stops. ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/6 "2010-10-01T03:44:22Z")
Try [http://matrix.itasoftware.com](http://matrix.itasoftware.com). Its an airfare search software firm that makes their search engine available for free. Some of the Flyertalk folks mentioned it. I haven’t used it in a while. But its helpful for multicity mileage runs. There is also a mileage calculator called Flying Fish that helps give you an idea of how many miles you need. Not sure where to find the link. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/7 "2010-10-01T04:09:02Z")
> [@Hakuna\_Matata](#): > > Does United have a program where you can just buy your way in? I recall a few years ago I was short just like 40-100 miles or so on Alaska and I paid like $50 to get the miles needed. You had to be within a certain distance in order to buy it but at least I didn’t have to take a trip. Not sure if they still do that, nor if United does. But worth asking depending on how close you are. They do. I used it last year to preserve my Premier status. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/8 "2010-10-01T06:41:39Z")
Out of curiosity, are you aiming for 1k, Premier Exec, or Premier? ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/9 "2010-10-01T11:41:04Z")
Is it just points you need or status credits as well? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/10 "2010-10-01T12:07:55Z")
Obviously it’s not simple, or it wouldn’t be allowed 😉 I really suggest spending heaps of time on FlyerTalk. The information you get for free on that site is worth its weight in gold. By being involved in FlyerTalk I went from a perpetually **one** world Ruby (lowest elite level) to Emerald (top level) for a few years. It’s not a magic bullet though; when our company was taken over and we had a much stricter flying policy I gradually slipped back down to Ruby and will be dirt next year. Coincidentally, I leave for my last status trip (from Oz to the US) in about 9 hours. That’s life - sometimes it just can’t be done. In your case though, if you are close you really should be spending a lot of time reading FlyerTalk. Generally they are a nice bunch of people too, although being a **one** world person I don’t know what the United forum is like. By the way, it doesn’t sound snobby at all. There are very tangible benefits in increasing your status, so it would be silly not to do a mileage/status credit run if it is within reach. I’ve done many out and back runs on weekends to push me over a top tier barrier. Of course these have been on round the world tickets where additional flights are a nominal charge, but the principal remains. Good luck. You will probably thank yourself next year when you are enjoying the benefits. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/11 "2010-10-01T13:01:50Z")
> [@Electric\_Monk](#): > > I’ve found [http://www.farecompare.com/search/flyertalk.html](http://www.farecompare.com/search/flyertalk.html) to be a big help. That is pretty helpful. I’m going to play around with that. > [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Out of curiosity, are you aiming for 1k, Premier Exec, or Premier? Premier Exec. I almost had 1k two years ago, but other than having more priority for upgrades, it didn’t seem to be that much of an improvement over PR. > [@Cicero](#): > > Is it just points you need or status credits as well? Elite qualifying miles, so actual butt-in-seat miles. Credit card bonuses and the like don’t count. > [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > I really suggest spending heaps of time on FlyerTalk. The information you get for free on that site is worth its weight in gold. > > There are very tangible benefits in increasing your status, so it would be silly not to do a mileage/status credit run if it is within reach. Yeah, I’m going to start spending more time there. And my status saved my Christmas last year: a cab I called to take me to the airport on Dec 24 never showed up, despite repeated assurances it was on the way. Finally I jumped in my car, sped to the airport, and got to the ticket counter minutes before check in for my flight would close. It being Christmas Eve, there were 500 people in line, but nobody in the Premier Exec line. Got my ticket, checked my bag, and went to the security line. Again, 500 people in line. Went to the elite line (whatever that’s called), and got through security in about 2 minutes. Total time getting checked in and getting through security at 6am on Dec 24: less than 7 minutes. Priceless. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/12 "2010-10-01T15:48:21Z")
I would look at **Electric Monk’s** FareCompare link and sort the results by PPM (price per mile) to identify some possible destinations that yield high miles at a low price. Then search for those flights on United’s site or other travel sites and sort by # of stops, if you can. Hopefully, you’re going to see flights to the same destination with more stops at almost the same price that will maximize your miles. It’s definitely a hit or miss game. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/13 "2010-10-02T22:55:06Z")
FYI, 1K is pretty decent now. I get upgraded to First Class on about 75% or more of my flights. Does make it tougher to deal with coach, though. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-how-to-do-frequent-flier-mileage-runs/555638/14 "2010-10-03T00:11:26Z")
I second the recommendation to read the boards at FlyerTalk. Those people are experts on mileage runs, elite levels, etc.