Last updated on January 20th, 2017 at 01:03 am
I wrote a few weeks ago about how I pulled the trigger for a trip to Milan the day after Thanksgiving with Mrs. Jeffsetter. For those of you who didn’t have a chance to read the article, here’s the rundown of the mileage earning opportunity:
- Alitalia was offering cheap business class fares from the US to Italy through September 30 on travel around Thanksgiving and Christmas. These business class seats were as low as $1,990 round trip to Milan from New York.
- A few days later, I received another note from Alitalia that I would receive a minimum 5,000 mile bonus on Alitalia or Delta each way for traveling from New York to Milan before the end of the year. These promotions were stackable and could lead to significant mileage earning into my Delta Skymiles account.
- Booking the trip in business class also promised at least 12,000 MQM’s for the round trip vacation.
- It provided me a chance to fly two new International Business Class cabins:
After booking the trip on a whim, I solidified our plans by transferring 66,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to my Hyatt account and booking 3 nights at the Park Hyatt Milan, which is TripAdvisor’s #1 Rated Hotel in Milan. I wrote about how this was done in my article about recent points and miles redemptions. We are very excited to spend a long weekend in Milan and I personally can’t wait to photograph the Milan Christmas Markets at night (catch a hint of Christmas in Milan in the above photo).
Exactly How Many Miles Will this Milan Mileage Run Earn?
I estimate that as a Platinum Medallion Delta member, I will earn 48,199 miles for this flight. Here is a breakdown of how I expect that to happen:
- Mileage Flown: 8,042 Miles Earned (4,021 miles each way)
- Class Bonus from Promotion for Alitalia: 13,042 Miles Earned (4,021 X2 + 5,000 Bonus Miles)
- Class Bonus from Promotion for Delta: 7,010 Miles Earned (2,010 + 5,000 Bonus Miles)
- Platinum Medallion Miles Bonus from Delta: 8,042 Miles Earned (100% Bonus for MIles Flown)
- MQMs Earned on Delta: 12,063 MQMs Earned (8,042 Miles Flown + 50% Class Bonus) * Note – This is the part I am not 100% sure of. I received a 50% bonus for Air France Business Class in the past. Could be more, could be less.
Total Miles Earned: 48,199 Miles (12,063 will help me earn elite status on Delta).
Total Spent: $1,990
Total Cost Per Mile: 4.12 cents per mile
While from a pure mileage earning perspective, this is not the most efficient mileage run. Others could earn miles at a much more reasonable rate, but there is one major difference in my mind:
They will be miserable in Coach while I am sipping champagne in Business
Call me a mileage earning snob, but I just value my time and health far too much to take 10 flights across the US in order to earn miles. While I admire others who are able to do this, I would rather pay a little more to be comfortable.
Why I Really Didn’t Spend $2,000 on the Flight
While the amount of cash spent on the flight was nearly $2,000, I value the miles earned at $963.98 (48,199 miles at 2 cents per mile). While others may feel that Skymiles are not worth anywhere near 2 cents per mile, I will only use my Skymiles when I find flights that deliver this value per mile. That means in my case this is the value of the miles earned. It’s actually more than that given how much I value MQMs.
Add it all together and i spent just over $1,000 to spend a magical and luxurious weekend with my wife in Milan (she even bought her own ticket). Doing a mileage run doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, I’m going to find this particular tip to be quite relaxing.
What are your mileage earning preferences? Would you pay more to be comfortable and turn mileage earning into a fun vacation? Or do you go for the challenge of paying as little as humanely possible to earn miles?
How many of you think I’m crazy for earning miles on Delta in the first place?
Photo Credit: Alessio Mesiano via Compfight cc
“While others may feel that Skymiles are not worth anywhere near 2 cents per mile, I will only use my Skymiles when I find flights that deliver this value per mile.”
That’s cool but it’s not a way to value miles. If Skymiles are only redeemed when getting that value, you’ll redeem them very infrequently meaning that they are highly illiquid. It’s good to make yourself feel better about the price you paid. I’m sure you’ll have a great trip.
Thanks “Joe” – It will be an excellent trip. I believe that there are plenty of opportunities to spend Skymiles at that price. Mostly international business class, but sometimes overpriced Domestic flights. It’s maybe 15% of my travel.
Aren’t most cents-per-mile calculations driven on elite qualifying miles, rather than redeemable miles?
For a true mileage run I believe so. Obviously this is some sort of hybrid between mileage run and an actual vacation. I just call it a mileage run because it’s easier to explain.
I hope you have a great trip, but are you sure there is Xmas market in Milan around thanksgiving time?
From what I have read they start December 1st at the latest, but often late November. I will be there after Thanksgiving and into December.
Given that UR are worth 1 cent/point cash back, I think you have to add $660 to the cost of the trip. I’m sure this represents a good value for the Park Hyatt, but it’s not free.
Then by that math I would add $660 and subtract that $2,000 saved on that hotel making it a net positive.
I’ve never done a mileage run but it’s looks like a fun trip. I would rather put the $2k to pay off my mortgage sooner. Have fun!
There are probably many other uses for the money indeed. Paying off my mortgage is not a huge priority for me because of the interest deduction.
Not all Y-class booked mileage runs are miserable. Many peeps who got in on the AA US-PVG /PEK (including the recent PHL-PEK) will use SWU to make the mileage run more tolerable.
That’s a good way to go. I have tried to do this with Delta many times, but the way they price upgradeable fares on International flights usually makes it almost as expensive as just booking business directly. I realize that I should just quit Delta, but that’s difficult living in a hub city.
Germany is more authentic than Milan specially Nuremberg
But make sure your wallet is full. Your wife will go crazy on via de La Spigga.
I have heard great things about Nuremberg as well. Prague had a great Christmas market when I was there two years ago. Hope to visit more in the future.
Can you explain how you double dip Alitalia / Delta? I may go to Milan next month with great economy fares and Delta 6,000 bonus miles (5,000 + 1,000 for economy comfort). But I’d love to be able to do more with it. Thanks!!
Hi Marlene – Since Delta is in Skyteam, any miles earned on an Alitalia flight can be credited to my Skymiles account. If you just enter your Skymiles number on the flights, you’ll get credit. I won’t earn any miles on Alitalia itself.
Thanks for the motivation. I also pulled the trigger, albeit economy comfort. I figure with the promo and my gold medallion bonus, I will pull in just over 23,000 miles from Detroit. Not bad for a long weekend in Milan. Also going at Thanksgiving, so we may bump into you!
That’s great – We should find a place for dinner or drinks while there!
Awesome! I love meeting like-minded people! Most people just don’t understand the value of points / status, etc. We haven’t decided where we are staying officially. Don’t have enough Chase points for the Park Hyatt. I booked a back up at the Sheraton and will wait to see if any deals come up or perhaps throw in a Priceline bid. Send me an email to figure out a drinks location.
I don’t think you’re crazy at all. I booked a trip to Milan for the same dates as you haha. I booked it through Delta though on a B fare for about $1600, which then enabled me to upgrade it with two SWU’s. 150% MQM credit, and 100% mileage bonus. I’ll take it.
Nice work!