Kinglobjaw's Blog

To be honest I am quite afraid of something. In 2007 I have traveled much less and I need to find a way to catch up on EQM’s (Elite Qualifying Miles) in the US Airways Dividend Miles program.

Mileage run- a concept that is often executed by frequent travelers during the months of October, November and December. It is traveling for no purpose. Wait! There is one purpose, to earn miles. Not just any kind of miles, but special elite qualifying ones that make you a VIP with your carrier of choice.

So here is my EQM situation. I need about 20,000 EQM’s. I never attain status by segments. I may have about 5,000EQM worth of travel in December, so that leaves me with a 15,000 EQM gap. Since US Airways is part of Star Alliance, I can also utilize United and Air Canada services should my mileage run remain in North America. However most of you know me better than that! It’ll definitely be on US Airways!

Let me be blunt, only one routing will work so far and that is LAX-SJU. I am finding same day return fares for early December at around $336 round trip including all taxes and fees. Depending on how I route, I may be able to squeeze in up to 10,000 EQM’s on the roundtrip.

Short segments are helpful to get maximum EQM’s- most airlines will give you 500 miles for them, and the flight itself won’t get you too far from your originating city(for those confused at this point, let me be clear- it is a good thing). For example, one of my potential routings offered: LAX-SFO-PHL-SJU, meaning I would be flying United on my first leg and I would be receive 500 miles towards status. LAX-SFO doesn’t take me any bit closer to PHL, so aside from paying just a few more dollars for taxes and fees, it’s like I get 500 free elite qualifying. Short hops are very helpful, given that the fare will permit it without charging you extra fare aside from taxes.

Staying near the $336 price on the LAX-SJU round trip, the following routing seems to offer a good amount of EQMs:

LAX-LAS-PHX-PHL-SJU-PHL-DCA-CLT-DFW-LAS-LAX.

All flights are mainline and US Airways operated. Big plus! No RJ’s and all flights are eligible for complimentary upgrades (space permitting), but since I’m a Chairman’s there shouldn’t be any problems. The EQM miles I would get for this snazzy trip? 9715. Not bad at all!

Some people also do ”mattress runs” to attain a required amount of nights or stays at a hotel. This is for the purpose of achieving or retaining an elite level in their hotel rewads program. 29 more nights at a Marriott hotel? Thanks, but no thanks! 69 per night(cheapest Courtyard I could find) X 29 would be about $2000. And thats prior to taxes! 3 or 4 nights? Sure, why not! 29? Nope!

Here’s wishing everyone a good 7 more weeks of 2007 mileage and mattress running!

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark