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I Flew Frontier Flights I Didn't Need to Hit a Threshold That Didn't Get Me Anything

JT Genter
JT Genter
Contributor
JT is a location-independent digital nomad traveling 250,000+ miles each year with his wife Katie.
Dec. 26, 2018
•
5 min read
Frontier Sunny the Collared Lizard JT's Christmas Eve mileage run
I Flew Frontier Flights I Didn't Need to Hit a Threshold That Didn't Get Me Anything
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Since leaving my accounting job in September 2016 up until mid-December 2018, I'd flown 624,998 miles -- including 309,306 miles in economy and another 73,955 miles in premium economy -- on 46 different airlines.

For most people, that'd already be way too much flying. However, I found an "issue" when counting up my miles for 2018. So, I tossed it out to the internet:

OK, maybe the choices were a little skewed. Unfazed by the multiple choice options, some TPG readers made their opinions heard:

Others reached out to check if hitting 300k would get me any additional status or benefits:

Sure enough, I'd already hit almost exactly 150,000 American Airlines Elite Qualifying Miles -- and taken an unnecessary connection to do so. That threshold automatically came with two extra systemwide upgrades, but I'll have a choice between three options if I hit the threshold next year.

But, flying 1,700 more miles to hit 300,000 butt-in-seat miles for 2018 wouldn't get me anything besides bragging rights. While the silent majority of voters voted for me to take the extra flights, the logical part of my brain said it was dumb to spend extra money just to hit this arbitrary threshold.

However, my editor salivated at the story (this story you're reading). And, as someone who feels more at home in the sky than on the ground, it didn't take much arm-twisting to convince me to take a look at my options. I was planning to go from Atlanta to Birmingham, AL to celebrate Christmas with my family. Katie and I had already secured a one-way car rental on Christmas Eve for just $85 through AutoSlash (side note: AutoSlash is an absolute game-changer for those seeking one-way trips.)

However, the last-minute flights from Atlanta-Denver and Denver-Birmingham were a reasonable $284 total on Frontier -- cheaper than the $399 nonstop Delta flights from Atlanta-Birmingham -- before bag fees. At 2,278 combined flight miles, it'd get me over 300,000 direct flight miles for the year. So, we booked my first flights on Frontier. This would add Frontier as my 28th airline of 2018 and 64th airline since I started logging my flights on OpenFlights.

As I was getting on the plane though, doubt set in. What if weather or mechanical issues meant that this ridiculous trip would mean I'd miss Christmas Eve with my family? Thankfully everything worked out and the Frontier flight from Denver to Birmingham even landed early.

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Now that I've reached this arbitrary 300,000-mile threshold and I'm done flying for the year, let's take a look back at my stats for the year.

  • Direct flight miles: 300,570
  • Airlines: 28
  • Airports: 68
  • Countries: 27
  • Unique routes: 104
  • Aircraft types flown: 30
  • Most-flown aircraft type: Boeing 737-800 (24 segments)
  • Most-flown airports: Atlanta (ATL), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Charlotte (CLT) -- 18 segments each
  • Most-flown airline: American Airlines (75 segments)
Bingo: An American Airlines (my most-flown airline) 737-800 (my most-flown aircraft) first class seat for a flight from Atlanta to Dallas (two of my most-flown cities).

Do I regret taking these unnecessary Frontier flights to hit the 300,000-mile threshold? Not at all. Do I still feel like it was an absurd thing to do? Absolutely. Do I plan to hit 300,000 miles again in 2019? Probably not. That was a ton of flying -- especially with 210,950 of those miles in economy, premium economy or domestic first class. That said, I never set out to hit 300k miles in 2018, so I guess we will have to see what happens.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
3XEarn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2XEarn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
1XEarn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

  • Intro Offer
    You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit
    Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.