What is a mattress run?

Even if you happen to’re new to the factors and miles sport, you have most likely heard the time period “mileage run.” A mileage run is when a traveler takes a flight (or sequence of flights) primarily to earn rewards or airline elite standing.

Mattress runs are just like mileage runs. However as an alternative of taking a number of flights as you’d for a mileage run, mattress runs contain spending a number of nights in inns primarily to earn rewards or hotel elite status. So, here is what it’s good to find out about mattress runs and whenever you would possibly wish to go on one.

What’s a mattress run?

A mattress run is whenever you ebook and pay for a resort room that you simply needn’t earn rewards or qualify for resort elite standing. This concept would possibly sound ridiculous, however the price of the keep could also be a lot decrease than the worth of the rewards and different advantages you’d acquire by way of the keep.

In its purest kind, you won’t even use the room you booked for a mattress run. As an alternative, you examine in after which go away the property. However, as we talk about on this article, there are many causes it’s possible you’ll wish to keep within the room you ebook.

Associated: Last-minute tips for locking in hotel elite status before the end of year

Mattress run for elite standing

In the event you’re only a few stays or nights wanting a given resort standing degree, it might make sense to mattress run as the tip of the 12 months approaches and your window to qualify for elite standing closes. In spite of everything, resort loyalty applications provide all types of precious perks for elite members.

For instance, you could be near incomes Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status. In the event you’ll have 48 elite-qualifying nights on the finish of 2024 primarily based in your at the moment booked stays, you’d want simply two extra nights to earn Platinum Elite standing. Platinum Elite standing gives many helpful perks, together with breakfast at many Marriott brands, 4 p.m. late checkout and lounge entry. On this case, a two-night keep at a Marriott property close to your home earlier than the tip of the 12 months could be effectively price the fee.

Do not forget that many credit cards provide elite status (or the power to earn towards elite standing by way of spending) as a perk. So, finishing a mattress run is not the one option to attain the next tier. For instance, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card gives complimentary Platinum Elite standing, and the World of Hyatt Credit Card allows you to earn two tier-qualifying evening credit per $5,000 in purchases every calendar 12 months.

Associated: When does your hotel elite status expire?

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You would possibly take into account mattress operating to earn factors, particularly throughout a profitable hotel promotion. Nevertheless, make certain the worth of the factors you will earn is considerably greater than the price of your keep.

For instance, Alternative Privileges periodically gives a promotion the place you may earn not less than 8,000 Choice points for every two stays. So, if you happen to’ve stayed at a Alternative Resorts property as soon as throughout the promotion interval, it could possibly be price mattress operating one other keep to get the bonus factors.

Nevertheless, buying points (ideally throughout a sale) or transferring points is often extra helpful if you happen to want extra rewards for an upcoming reserving. The rewards you will earn on a mattress run will hardly ever be price the fee.

Associated: How and why you should maximize your hotel stays by using multiple loyalty programs

Different mattress run concerns

This evaluation solely captures a part of the decision-making course of concerning mattress runs. Earlier than reserving, you need to take into account just a few different issues.

Further out-of-pocket prices

To finish a mattress run, you often need to pay for one thing apart from the room fee. In the event you drive to your native resort, this could be gasoline in your automobile. Or it could possibly be an extra meal you would not have paid for at residence. You might also wish to account in your time.

Turning a mattress run right into a trip

You would possibly wish to flip your mattress run into an precise trip for you, your loved ones or your folks. In spite of everything, it is simpler to justify an additional resort keep if you may get some worth past incomes the nights or rewards you search.

You will most likely have to examine in and keep

Lodge loyalty applications often will not award factors or elite standing credit to confirmed company who do not present up, even when the keep is pay as you go. As such, you will often have to examine in on the property.

Even company who’ve bodily checked in occasionally face issues on mattress runs. You will discover notes in most resort loyalty program phrases and circumstances stating you have to bodily keep at a property for a keep to be elite-qualifying. For instance, the World of Hyatt terms and conditions state, “Members should really check-in and full the keep for his or her reservation at a Level Property to earn factors. No factors will likely be awarded for any non-refundable pay as you go charges, cancellation charges, or no-show charges paid by a Member for a reservation that they didn’t really use.”

So, to keep away from points and guarantee your nights and rewards put up as anticipated, you will wish to make it obvious that you simply checked in, used your reservation and accomplished your keep. This offers much more incentive to make a staycation or trip out of your mattress run.

Associated: Breakfast, upgrades and more: 9 TPG staffers reveal their favorite elite status perks