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I’ve done mileage runs before and even considered doing one with my young daughter, who was $25 short of making status on American Airlines. That was years ago, however, and it made sense then. Getting that next-level status would save a ton of money on better seats, upgrades to business class flights to Europe, and more.
But do mileage runs still make sense in 2022, 2023, and beyond? I’m not sure. Let’s unpack that.
What’s a mileage run, and why are they a thing?
Airlines offer status to their frequent fliers. Status means fliers get better seats, cheaper or free upgrades, and other perks. For those who travel a lot, it can make a big difference in the experience.
Traditionally, status has been earned by traveling and calculated through miles traveled, or segments flown. So, if I was 150 miles short, I might hop on a cheap flight to Chicago from Iowa to earn the next-level status. It could make sense depending on what status level I was about to reach.
Some people also like the gamification of the experience and might do a mileage run for that reason. “Up in the Air” includes that concept.
Read next: What companies can offer loyalty programs?
How frequent fliers earn status now
Those were the old days. Today, in 2022 and 2023, airline status can still be earned by flying. But, airlines like American Airlines have also switched to a revenue-based model where fliers earn status points (called Loyalty Points) by flying or spending money with the airline or through a branded credit card.
So, for example, I’ve taken three trips in 2022:
- Cedar Rapids to Honolulu
- Cedar Rapids to Malaga, Spain
- Cedar Rapids to Birmingham, United Kingdom
Those are certainly not short trips, but that’s only three. I’ve also used my American Airlines credit cards for most every purchase I’ve made this year.
I’ve already qualified for Platinum Status, the airline’s third highest. And I should reach Platinum Pro, the airline’s second-highest level.
Credit card spending is playing a big part in that. Fair warning: Always pay off credit cards in total for this to be worthwhile.
Read next: What turns a repeat customer into a loyal customer?
Would I still go on a mileage run with all that in mind?
It’s a math problem and a discussion of goals. If you travel weekly, reaching status matters. If you want status for the annual family trip, spending all that time and money on airplane seats might not make sense. Perhaps, it’s cheaper and takes less time to buy the upgraded seat when you travel just a few times a year.
In addition, using an airline credit card still earns airline points you can use for upgrades or award travel, which could also be used on those occasional trips.
So, it comes back to what’s cheaper and your travel goals. If it’s just a game, those arguments might go out the window, but when we think about the numbers, time, and what we are trying to accomplish, mileage runs make way less sense to me now than they did just a few years ago.