{"id":9857,"date":"2016-11-05T17:20:22","date_gmt":"2016-11-05T16:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.miles-around.de\/?p=9857"},"modified":"2026-02-19T21:30:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T20:30:33","slug":"mileage-run-aegean-defense-miles-bonus-gold-segments-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.miles-around.de\/en\/trip-reports\/business-class\/mileage-run-aegean-verteidigung-milesbonus-gold-segmente\/","title":{"rendered":"Mileage Run Aegean \u2013 Defending Miles&Bonus Gold Status across Segments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once you have frequent flyer status, you want to defend it every year. I have had Star Alliance Gold status with the Greek airline Aegean Airlines for almost five years now. As we hardly travelled by plane this year due to the birth of our son in January, we had to do a mileage run to extend our status.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Aegean<\/a>
Aegean Airlines Airbus A320-200<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

To maintain the highest status in Miles&Bonus, Aegean Airlines' frequent flyer program, you need 12,000 miles and four segments (flights) with Aegean or Olympic Airlines each year, or 24,000 miles. I laid the groundwork for the renewal last December. At that time, I started with SAS from Stockholm to Chicago<\/a>. This earned me 12,780 miles. So I only needed at least four more flights with Aegean.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Requalification\"<\/a>
missing miles for requalification<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

How do I book a mileage run?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The goal of a mileage run is to accumulate as many frequent flyer miles as possible at the lowest possible cost. Different routings can be compared by calculating the required euro cents per mile. Mileage runs are generally most cost-effective on long-haul flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My booked flights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In April, the online travel agency Flugladen.de* offered a \u20ac25 voucher for flight bookings departing from Germany. This voucher could be used to book the following two flights at a low price:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Munich \u2013 Thessaloniki \u2013 Stuttgart<\/strong> (\u20ac132.58 \u2013 \u20ac25 (voucher) \u2013 \u20ac10 (cashback at qipu<\/a>*) = 97,58\u20ac<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Stuttgart \u2013 Thessaloniki \u2013 Munich<\/strong> (\u20ac75.33 \u2013 \u20ac25 (voucher) \u2013 \u20ac10 (cashback at qipu<\/a>*) = 40,33\u20ac<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The total cost was therefore just \u20ac137.91 for 2,919 status miles. At 4.72 cents per mile, these flight routes weren't exactly a bargain, but they were feasible from Munich within 24 hours and included the required four flights\/segments with Aegean. A hotel in Thessaloniki was also necessary, which should correctly be added to the mileage run costs. To make the whole thing a bit more appealing, I redeemed an upgrade voucher to Business Class for each flight. Every Aegean member receives these four vouchers to requalify for Gold status.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Routing<\/a>
    Routing of booked flights for the mileage run (Source: gcmap.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Mileage Run Aegean \/ Munich \u2013 Thessaloniki \/ A3 501 \/ Business Class<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Together with Robert, with whom I was doing this mileage run, I drove to Munich Airport. After a leisurely champagne breakfast in the Lufthansa Senator Lounge, we were at departure gate G10 within five minutes. There, the Aegean Airbus A320-200 (registration SX-DVU) was already waiting for boarding. Thanks to priority boarding, we were among the first on board and settled into our seats in Business Class. It was about half full, with six of the twelve seats occupied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Aegean<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Airbus<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Captain<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Aegean<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    After taking off from runway 26L, the pilot turned south. A short time later, we flew over Lake Chiemsee and, thanks to perfect weather, had a fantastic view of the partially snow-covered Alps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Munich<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Chiemsee\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"snow-covered<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"snow-covered<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Clouds<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Food in Aegean Airlines Business Class on the flight to Thessaloniki<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    From the menu handed out before departure, I chose the monthly special (lobster tail and shrimp with sun-dried tomatoes and local pasta). Aegean currently offers dishes from a different region of Greece each month. This time it was the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. Unfortunately, all the components of the dish were completely dry. What a shame! The appetizer platter also didn't suit my taste. However, the dessert, the pistachio liqueur Chios Mastiha, and an espresso managed to redeem the meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Menu<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"small<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Lobster<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Dessert,<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Dessert<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Landing in Thessaloniki<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The plane landed in Thessaloniki on time at 1:30 pm. Unfortunately, due to a medical emergency on board, all passengers had to remain seated until the patient was unloaded through the rear left door. Afterwards, we were allowed to leave the aircraft and were taken to the terminal by a separate bus for the business class passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Approach<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Thessaloniki\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Thessaloniki<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Aegean<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Time-lapse of takeoff and landing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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