In frequent flyer circles there are things called a mileage run or a status run. For the uninitiated, a mileage run is generally to take a lot of flights in a short period of time to bank a lot of miles in one go.
A status run or a tier point run is essentially the same thing. This is where a person takes a lot of flights in a short period of time with the goal of achieving a particular elite level in an airlines frequent flyer programme. Is it safe though?
Give Me An Example Status Run
As it is easier to earn lower levels of elite status with airlines, most of the runs are designed to earn the highest level in a programme. From a zero base, this means a fair number of flights need to be taken at once.
It is not uncommon for there to be eight to ten flights in a row. The reason it is called a run is that each flight is back to back and there may only be one short overnight stop along the way.
An example would be flying from London to Dublin, then to London again, on to New York, across to Los Angeles, to Honolulu and back the same way. This earns quite a lot of miles and a good set of tier points.
Even writing it down sounds pretty tiring. The good thing about it is that most running in this way is done in premium cabins so it is less uncomfortable than it could be. The question is, what are the health implications of this?
A Comment On Health
Clearly everyone has different levels of health and one would assume someone doing a run would be fit enough to handle the constant travel. Radiation levels won’t be a problem because it is still less flying than airline crew do in a month.
What about things like DVT though? Sitting in a pressurised environment in a seat for a few days on end must increase the risk here. Also, with no proper bed or sleep, it must be very taxing on the body. That is before you even think about the circadian clock.
Overall Thoughts
I have never really been on a status run or a mileage run before. I’ve certainly chosen to fly to a destination by a circuitous route to maximise my status but never a run per se. I find doing four flights back to back quite tiring, so eight or ten must be hardcore.
I’d love to hear from anyone who has done a mileage run or status run. What are your thoughts on this? How do you keep healthy while doing it? Anyone had a health scare from doing one of these?
Thanks for reading and I look forward to your comments below.
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[…] Is a frequent flyer status or mileage run bad for the health? – I think so. Human bodies are not designed to sit in cramped quarters in a seated position for long periods of time. If you’re on a long flight, drink lots of water to stay hydrated and, if nothing else, it will force you to get up and walk to the bathroom every so often. That little bit of blood flow will help immensely. While you’re waiting, do a few stretches… even if people give you weird looks. […]
I think so. Human bodies are not designed to sit in cramped quarters in a seated position for long periods of time. If you’re on a long flight, drink lots of water to stay hydrated and, if nothing else, it will force you to get up and walk to the bathroom every so often. That little bit of blood flow will help immensely. While you’re waiting, do a few stretches… even if people give you weird looks.
Oh I hear you on this! I always get up and stretch in a doorway from time to time when I am flying on a long haul flight. It’s not normal to sit upright in a seat for hours on end. Better to be safe than sorry, I say!
Last year, I was committed to hitting my “Million Miler” status on United, with its great benefits. I was concerned that they’d remove the partner-match (i.e. my husband gets the same status as I do, even 1k), and the minimum Gold level status for life (AA and DL only give far-less appealing silver level for life at 1 million). They haven’t changed their comparatively generous benefits (yet) but I am sure they will. Anyway, I digress. I purchased two round-trips from SFO-San Juan via EWR. I found roundtrip first class fares that were actually lower for SFO-EWR-SJU for less than… Read more »
I hear you on all of the above. The high level status certainly does make the year of travel a lot more civilised. I no longer have Emerald status in oneworld and I do notice the difference, just with the little things really. It’s far more fun being at the top than in the middle, that’s for sure. Still, I can’t really complain! For an expensive hobby, it’s actually not bad. I also really enjoy finding really good deals that I just can’t go past booking that net me lots of points. Luckily I like flying otherwise it would be… Read more »
Interesting. Will that work check in online, check out online and still get stay/points credit? Only at SPG hotels? I wanted to try that @marriott hotel lst year but it didn’t work. If this works @SPG I can just book the cheapest hotel somewhere in the USA and still get stay/point. (live in Europe) Does this really work,
what is the trick?
Hi Eric. Of course I can’t give advice on all hotels. But as a general guideline, sure that you select a property where you can use your mobile phone app to check in, get a mobile-app room key (many Starwoods are offering that now), and can check out the next day on your app. I have done this successfully at Sheraton Four Points (SPG) and Doubletree (Hilton) near SFO. I wish there was a way to do a national search “cheapest Starwood hotel room night” or similar, it would make life a lot easier for this trick. But I do… Read more »
starting from close to zero and mileage running to pretty much any status is a self-torture, especially if it involves literally flights-to-nowhere (i.e. same-day roundtrip to Podunkville, Middle America and never leaving the terminal). The DVT part of it largely comes into play when it’s longer than 6 hours or so, and becomes a serious issue at 10+ hours. a better way is to incorporate them into your regular flying (e.g. pay a tiny premium if it’s more EQM-optimal or take a slight detour), and if you’re forced to make a mileage running trip, do it to some place fun… Read more »
I hear you on that, I also incorporate these things into regular trips. It makes the trip a little more fun, if longer, and saves me travelling for no reason at all. Not that I have done much of it, but I’ve certainly re-routed myself when it’s a choice between not getting my status or renewing. With hotels I’m not really one for holding any status with any of them. I think once I got to the Hilton level above nothing and I stayed in a place in Dublin to get the one extra night I needed. I actually stayed… Read more »