The Frequent Flier Fanatics

The End Of The Year Means A Last Minute Travel Binge For Some

(CBS)  Some people get status from fancy cars or glamorous country clubs, some get status from dining in hot restaurants, but thousands of Americans get their status like Jenny Zelle does...by sitting on an airplane.

Their status is measured in precious metal…silver, gold, platinum…executive platinum or…United 1K?

"With heavy business travel I decided to concentrate all of my miles on one airline…and get the premier status and the perks that go with it," Zelle told CBS News correspondent Seth Doane.

Those perks include priority check in, bonus miles and free upgrades to first-class.

For road-weary frequent flyers, elite status - earned by collecting enough miles or flight segments - can make traveling much easier.

"I have nightmares about one of my flights being cancelled and being short a segment," said Zelle.

"A nightmare? Really," Doane asked skeptically.

"Oh, I do," Zelle insisted. "I lay awake at night going…now what days do I have open, where can I squeeze in one more flight if I have to?"

This fall though…her nightmare came true! Zelle, a Chicago lawyer, hadn't flown enough to renew her elite status on United…and that called for drastic measures.

"Today," Zelle announced, "we'll be going O'Hare to Des Moines, Des Moines to Denver, Denver to Des Moines to O'Hare."

Yup, a whole day of traveling… just to earn miles. It's called a "mileage run".

Zelle won't even leave the airports she visits. She won't see any of Denver or Des Moines and she doesn't mind that at all.

"Yeah, that's fine. It gets me home in time for dinner."

And that was only one of several mileage runs Zelle has made this year. Including one that took her from Chicago to San Diego to Los Angeles and back all in one day.

Doane also spoke to Randy Peterson who is something of a frequent flier guru who literally wrote the book - well, at least a popular magazine and website - about mileage runs.

"A mileage run is for a frequent flyer who doesn't quite make it at the end of the year", Peterson explained. "They might be a flight short or 3000 miles short and they're just so close and they say you know what, I don't have any more business travel the rest of the year, I'm going to go out and do a mileage run. So what they do is they simply go to the local airport and fly anywhere - they don't really care."

Peterson, the founder of flyertalk.com, estimates that every year hundreds of thousands of travelers make mileage runs.

Flyertalk is an interactive manual of mileage tips and has become its own community where posters help fellow travelers plan flight, find cheap fares and pick routes to gain the most miles.

As a result of frequent flier programs, airlines give away thousands of free flights and upgrades each year.

"There's always a cost when we do any kind of marketing program," said American Airlines' Billy Sanez, "especially the advantage program, but that's the cost of doing business."

Sanez is the director of communications for American Airlines, whose frequent flyer program is the oldest in the country with some 56 million members worldwide. Sanez is a former mileage runner himself.

"When American Airlines started the phenomena of frequent flyer miles programs I don't think that we envisioned having such loyal fans," said Sanez, "but it's great to have such loyalty from our customers that come and fly and fly so much with us."

Michael Feder is one of those loyal American flyers. Feder has been voluntarily sleeping away from home…just to retain his status.

"My assistant in Chicago helped me find inexpensive flights," he explained, "that were short and that we could hop on, go down, either stay the night or turn right around and come back. So I've got six different trips I've got to take just to stay executive platinum."

"And what have these trips been?" Doane asked him.

"They have been…insane!"

Feder didn't know that what he was doing was called a "mileage run", and seemed somewhat reluctant to even talk about it.

"What does your wife think?" Doane asked.

"Ah, she's benefited from a few upgrades over the last coupled of years," Feder told him, "so she sort of gets it, she knows I'm crazy, but she gets it, she understands."

Crazy to some is prudent to others says Flyertalk's Peterson.

"It's no different than in any other things, whether you're a coupon clipper for savings at the supermarket or trying to do different things in other industries out there. But the idea, given that air travel is the way it is today, there is one thing that you can do well for yourself, and that is become an elite member."

And talk about miles isn't limited to airports. Doane checked out a mileage "do" in New York City. These are get togethers that attract people from around the country who fly in, meet up and well…talk about miles!

The one Doane paid a visit to at La Bonne Soupe, a restaurant in New York, pulled in travelers as far as South Carolina and Vegas. Mark Blanchard organized the event.

"Isn't this more than just travel?" Doane asked him, "I mean, there's an intricate knowledge of the insides of the airline industry."

"Exactly," Blanchard agreed. "These people read. They study. They try to learn all the little tricks and ways, 'How can we get the most value out of our money'."

And that makes these folks de facto professors of the skies.

Jay Teadtke told Doane that he has to "dumb it down" when he talks to other people about travel.

"I just, you know, if I'm talking about airports, I say the name of the airport rather than just spout out the three-letter code," Teaktke explained.

Meanwhile, on her layover at D-E-N, before heading back to O-R-D, her stopover in D-S-M having been canceled, Jenny Zelle took a break from travel at United's "Red Carpet Club".

"Is this really fun?" Doane asked her.

"It is fun!" she answered. "That's the thing, you have to go into it with the right frame of mind. You have to expect that things are going to happen, it's just the nature of the beast. Things will go wrong. I still think it's relaxing. Hey, now I'm flying home on a triple-7. It's a great plane. I have two books with me."

With airports packed with holiday travelers, many of us would stay far away in December. But it is the one of the busiest months for mileage runners, the last month to ensure status for the following year.

So while millions of people are desperately trying to get somewhere, thousands more are desperate to go, well, nowhere.

[scklumb]

Too all the people that think this is selfish or being detremental to society. People that do mileage runs are "topping" off there mileage to acheive a certain elite level. You have to understand, these people travel for work, ALOT. They are trying to make there job as convienent and comfortable as possible. How many of you that commented on how terrible this is; have power windows in your car, cruise control, dishwasher, cloths dryer. These are not necessary for living, but makes our lives much easier. How many run 3 miles to the store in your F350 pickup to get a gallon of milk. 99% of flights that leave are NOT full, they have empty seat. Mileage runners grab a seat that is not occupied. I''m sure anyone that was stuck a car 2 hours a day sitting in a 17 inch wide seat, with a 300lbs smelly guy on one side and a lady on the other that will not shut up, would gladly pay to not be put in situations like this.

[platinumthad]

For those saying we are wasting time, money, and energy, they are not the one''s still in the seats from January - December to conduct business. My neighbor and I did a Mileage Run in mid-Dec from ATL - Prague for 2 nights. Flight was $500, which is less than the cost of a normal flight from ATL - LGA. However, almost 10,000 miles and a chance to visit one of the great cities in the world.

[tvgenius]

initaly''s response shows how out-of-touch these people are. How nice that "if nothing else, they speak with (their kids) each evening". It''s too bad the airlines cater so much to business travelers, but that''s what makes it so unbearable for the rest of us. If they didn''t get the free perks, you know their companies sure wouldn''t be footing the bill for them to go first class, they''d be stuck in a window seat across from the lavatory like the rest of us. Sounds like they covet these benefits more than their children.

[lpetersen03]

I know I am on the wrong page however I don''t know how to get on the page where the dead of 2007 where showned. Did Charles mention Don Ho, Joey Bishop and sidney sheldon. I saw this on abc tonight and I can not remember if Charles mention them. If he did not please let him know.
Larry Petersen
Tinton Falls, NJ

[jetranger7]

Well it Sure Sounds like to me, either some of these People are making too much money and are Bored, or they have a way too much time on their hands, if all they have to worry about is their frequent flyer miles and "MILEAGE-RUNS" ! How Silly and Ridlicious, absolutely Ridlicious, to think somebody has that kind of time on their hands, Quite Obviously their from the "Corporate Sector", and have too much time on their hands. These same people often claim they WORK, when actually all they do is "Pretend" to be working, No-Wonder Corporate America is so Fouled up now days, look at the Numb-Skulls they''ve hired, no-doubt because they supposedly have a College Degree, what a Joke, sure didn''t do them any good, their still dumb as a box of Rocks !!!!

[mikerembis]

I shall reiterate and clarify myself for you by quoting another poster, vbnvbnvbn: "These selfish oafs are undoing any good that the rest of us can manage for the environment."

No matter how friendly one may behave while they are traveling, if the travel serves no other purpose than this particular and peculiar selfish frivolity, it is simply sitting on your *** doing nothing but taking up valuable cargo space, wasting fuel and forcing airport security to scrutinize one more passenger when it doesn''t have to happen. That''s how you''re wasting time and being inconsiderate. Shame on you.

[jasondorn]

I thought the "Frequent Flier Fanatics" story was a very interesting topic, but I just don''t understand how the reporter (not a normal Sunday Morning reporter...which might be the problem" never asked about the cost/benefit of making all these flights. Are these people looking for deals are they just taking the most convenient flights; is there any concern about having to spend money on a hotel if a flight is cancelled. While watching this story I just kept waiting for the other side!
BTW, please go HD!!!

[skyehiker]

"So while millions of people are desperately trying to get somewhere, thousands more are desperate to go, well, nowhere." The destination of a mileage run is not a place. The "destination" is simply a better way tom indeed, get somewhere. It''s a way to rise above much that bothers most about air travel. It''s a way to arrive at "somewhere" not needing somewhere to recover from a dozen overnight hours in a middle seat in coach. It allows one to really enjoy the "somewhere" they''re getting to, as well as the journey itself.

[skyehiker]

"So while millions of people are desperately trying to get somewhere, thousands more are desperate to go, well, nowhere." The destination of a mileage run is not a place. The "destination" is simply a better way tom indeed, get somewhere. It''s a way to rise above much that bothers most about air travel. It''s a way to arrive at "somewhere" not needing somewhere to recover from a dozen overnight hours in a middle seat in coach. It allows one to really enjoy the "somewhere" they''re getting to, as well as the journey itself.

[initaly-2009]

Mikerembis %u2013%u201CNot only are they wasting their own lives, but the time and effort of dozens of people who are processing their tickets and securing airline flights by making the line a few minutes longer. It is inconsiderate of the people who truly have a function and a goal for their travel and need to get somewhere%u201D I make my reservations online, check-in online and print my boarding pass I line and never have to interact with any of the airline personnel and unless I have to check a bag which is very infrequently I proceed directly to security. As a frequent flyer I take advantage of the frequent flyer lane then proceed directly to my gate (or airline lounge if one is available). And unless I am called to the podium I don%u2019t interact with the gate agents until boarding time when I present my boarding pass which I printed at home, board the aircraft, stow my luggage and take my seat. How is this %u201Csimply shameful%u201D %u201Cwasting time%u201D and or %u201Cinconsiderate%u201D?

[initaly-2009]

For Keithle1 and %u201CI hate flying.%u201D %u2013 I agree that flying is not as much fun as it was 10, 20 or even 30 years ago (yes I am that old), but I made the best of it because I had to travel for work. I travel much less now and do miss the flights even with the congestion, smaller aircraft and the TSA.

Regarding %u201CI assume she''''s single. A mother with little sn''''t got the time (or energy) for such nonsense.%u201D I have many female colleagues with families and they do not do MRs just for the sake of it. They do, when time permits, bring something back for their children. If nothing else, they speak with them each evening.

When one has traveled extensively and at times paying much higher ticket prices, the little perks that are earned such as upgrades, priority boarding and or reduced cost or free access to airline lounges are very much coveted. The difference in personal space in first or business class seats allow one to work if necessary or just relax between meetings.

While my children are out of the house I did miss my wife on these trips and she has experienced the fruits of all my traveling with upgrades when flying with me.

Yes, MRs are crazy and the folks who do MRs may be as crazy, BUT, we also enjoy the benefits that our loyalty has earned us and love and covet these benefits like another child.

[initaly-2009]

Hello drfred2022,

You can find more about MRs at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/. You will be able to browse the postings and will have to register (which is free and easy) to post questions. Enjoy!

[keithle1]

The woman I saw on TV was going here & there & back in one day. She wakes up in the middle of the night thinking about this stuff. Truly insane. She''s spending money on all of these tickets just to get the upgrades to first class. Doesn''t even leave the airport. I assume she''s single. A mother with little sn''t got the time (or energy) for such nonsense. Get a life, people. I hate flying.

[drfred2022]

I didn''t THINK I was alone. I am so happy to find a group that does (did) what I did. I had a freind who did a cross country to retain status and then I looked and saw I was short a trip and did the same. How can I find out more about the tricks of the trade.?

[mikerembis]

This is simply shameful. To have such a vacant life as to waste it sitting on airplanes just to sit on more airplanes, albeit the concept of having a better seat. These people should consider something akin to addiction counseling. Not only are they wasting their own lives, but the time and effort of dozens of people who are processing their tickets and securing airline flights by making the line a few minutes longer. It is inconsiderate of the people who truly have a function and a goal for their travel and need to get somewhere.