Making final mileage runs

[chrisinhouston]

Seems a bit strange to be back up in the air flying after completing 9366 miles from Melbourne to Houston on Saturday and but here we go again. It's also weird enough that the while the trip started at noon and ended at 8pm it lasted 26 hours due to flying easterly over the international date line.

My wife needed 300 miles to reach the 100,000 mile mark to put her in what United calls 1K status and I needed 800 miles to make 75,000 or Platinum so we booked flights to Austin. We flew together yesterday and I fly solo today. Funny to get off of a jet, wait 30 minutes to reboard and fly back home.

In frequent flyer terms this is what is known as a mileage run. No more flying for awhile after today!

[Chocolatl]

What are the perks of 1K status?

[ZenGum]

Sore bum, DVT, indigestion.

[chrisinhouston]

Originally Posted by Chocolatl

What are the perks of 1K status?

Sorry, was busy and didn't see this. The perks for UA are usually much better chances at domestic upgrades overall, but with some cities that see a lot of frequent flyers with status it is diminished. Also, if things are done right on flights with meals, 1K's get first choice and serving. You also get 6 system wide upgrades, essentially vouchers for ups to business/first from W class coach tickets. On the trips we just did to and from Australia I got W class coach tickets for around $2400 RT but used the upgrade that got me the same seat my wife bought for $11,000 or so. You also get 2 domestic upgrade certificates to cash in on any coach fair class. Looks like we may be flying to Hawaii around January 15th or so. There is a Chevron refinery there my wife needs to visit. May get to use the domestic upgrades for that flight and pick up 8000 miles or so.

[BigV]

you sound like quite the globetrotter Chris. Speaking for myself, I can endure a great deal of deprivation and discomfort (assuming I had a pressurized, temperature controlled space) for $330/hour.

[richlevy]

You know after Up in the Air came out, I wonder if any frequent fliers started asking to have planes named after them.

Natalie Keener: Hungry much?
Ryan Bingham: Our business expense allots forty dollars each for dinner. I plan on grabbing as many miles as I can.
Natalie Keener: Okay, you got to fill me in on the miles thing. What is that about? You're talking about, like, frequent flyer miles?
Ryan Bingham: You really want to know?
Natalie Keener: I'm dying to know.
Ryan Bingham: I don't spend a nickel, if I can help it, unless it somehow profits my mileage account.
Natalie Keener: So, what are you saving up for? Hawaii? South of France?
Ryan Bingham: It's not like that. The miles are the goal.
Natalie Keener: That's it? You're saving just to save?
Ryan Bingham: Let's just say that I have a number in mind and I haven't hit it yet.
Natalie Keener: That's a little abstract. What's the target?
Ryan Bingham: I'd rather not...
Natalie Keener: Is it a secret target?
Ryan Bingham: It's ten million miles.
Natalie Keener: Okay. Isn't ten million just a number?
Ryan Bingham: Pi's just a number.
Natalie Keener: Well, we all need a hobby. No, I- I- I don't mean to belittle your collection. I get it. It sounds cool.
Ryan Bingham: I'd be the seventh person to do it. More people have walked on the moon.
Natalie Keener: Do they throw you a parade?
Ryan Bingham: You get lifetime executive status. You get to meet the chief pilot, Maynard Finch.
Natalie Keener: Wow.
Ryan Bingham: And they put your name on the side of a plane.
Natalie Keener: Men get such hardons from putting their names on things. You guys don't grow up. It's like you need to pee on everything.