Glossary
Mileage Run
Definition: A mileage run is a flight taken primarily to earn frequent flyer miles or qualifying segments to achieve or maintain elite status, rather than for the destination itself.
Mileage runners carefully calculate the cost per mile or segment of various routings to find the most efficient way to earn the miles needed for their desired elite status tier. These flights are typically booked close to the end of the loyalty year when a member is close to a status threshold.
A classic mileage run might involve a long-distance routing with connections to maximise the distance flown for the lowest fare. For example, flying from New York to Singapore via Tokyo might earn significantly more miles than a direct routing, and could be cheaper on certain airlines.
While mileage running was more common when programmes were purely distance-based, many airlines have shifted to revenue-based earning. However, the concept remains relevant for programmes that still reward distance (many non-US airlines) and for earning qualifying segments. Business class consolidator fares from BookMyBusinessClass can be an efficient mileage run option, earning premium miles at discounted prices.