Even if you’re new to the point-and-mile game, you’ve probably heard the term “miles run”. running mileage is when a traveler makes a flight (or series of flights) for the sole purpose of earning miles.
While it’s debatable whether such efforts are worth it, running mileage can help. won airline elite statusespecially near the end of your eligibility period.
In this post, we will explore “mattress running,” which is the equivalent of hotel mileage. I’ll discuss what they are and what to consider when deciding if you should jog on a mattress.
What exactly is a running mattress?
Let’s start with a quick overview of running on a mattress. In its simplest form, running a mattress is when you book and pay for a hotel room (which you would otherwise not need) to earn rewards or qualify for hotel elite status.
The idea is that the cost of the stay is offset by the benefit of earning extra points. Purists would argue that you don’t use the room during a real mattress run. Instead, you check in and then leave the hotel.
However, many will also say it’s a futon run as long as you won’t book a vacation if that’s not the point or the elite nights you’ll be earning.
While it may sound like a waste, completing a mattress run can make sense for a number of reasons.
Related: Is the hotel’s elite status worth it anymore?
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Running mattress for elite condition
Every year TPG writes a series of articles analyzing the value of the hotel’s elite status with major loyalty programs, including Marriott, Hilton Hotel, Hyatt and IHG. Whether you’re trying to get to the top tier or one of the lower tiers, there’s value to be found at each level.
If you only have a few stays or a few nights short of reaching a certain level of status, it can make sense to find an inexpensive room as the end of the year approaches and the opportunity for you to qualify to achieve closed elite status.
Every TPG hotel condition review has a leap between grades. So, even if you spend a few hundred dollars to get higher status, you can get more than that as you reap the higher benefits all year to come. Hotel loyalty programs offer all sorts of perks that are valuable to elite members, including free breakfasts, suite upgrades, and a better points-earning structure.
For example, you might be about to earn Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite Status. If you have 73 elite-eligible nights at the end of 2022 based on your current booked stays, you only need 2 more nights to achieve Titanium Elite status. You can choose five elite night credits as Benefits of choosing 50 nights to increase you to 78 nights. Or, you can book a two-night stay at the cheapest Marriott hotel near home for 75 nights.
Remember that many Credit card offers elite status (or the ability to achieve elite status through spending) as a privilege. So completing a mattress run isn’t the only way to get to the next level. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers free Platinum Elite status. And Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® card offers free Gold status (and the ability to earn Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year through spending on your card).
Related: Which hotels charge a stay bonus for elite status?
Mattress runs to earn points
If you’re just short of the points needed to redeem a specific (and lucrative) reward, it might make sense to run a mattress to earn the remaining balance.
For example, if the points you earn unlock a bonus night that saves you $500, spending $100 on an unnecessary stay could be a bargain. This is especially true if you fear that reward availability will disappear or that reward prices will increase before you can earn the points you need through traditional methods.
Before you book a running mattress to earn points, though, keep in mind that you may have better options:
- Marriott Bonvoy lets you book a vacation that rewards you when you’re short on points using previous point feature. However, this feature guarantees your room, not the total number of Marriott Bonvoy points claimed.
- Many hotel programs partner with transfer points programs such as Chase the ultimate reward (Hyatt, IHG and Marriott), American Express Membership Rewards (Selection, Hilton and Marriott), capital one (Selection and Wyndham) and Bilt Rewards (Hyatt and IHG). Naturally, this option is not useful if you are looking for elite status. But if you need to increase your points balance to reserve your rewards, transferable points can help.
- If you are thinking of spending $100 on a hotel stay just to earn points, you might consider buy points or order a points and cash conversion instead of.
In short, it doesn’t make sense to order a running mattress to earn points.
Related: How many points will I earn for staying at the hotel? Compare major brands
Running Mattress to Maximize Promotion
It doesn’t make sense to just order a point-run mattress. However, a run on the mattress can make sense when a program offers attractive rewards for nights or stays.
Example: Option Privileges periodically give promotions that you can earn the least 8,000 Choice points per two stays. And Hilton is currently having a promotion for bonus points and double elite night creditscan help you earn Hilton Honors elite status.
Note that many promotions require you to register prior to your stay, and promotions often have some exclusions. Please read the terms carefully before booking a mattress reservation for this purpose.
Related: These promotions will make your next hotel more rewarding
Consider operating a different mattress
This analysis captures only part of the decision-making process when running buffers. There are a few other things you should consider before booking.
Additional out-of-pocket costs
You often have to spend something more than the room rate to complete the mattress run. If you drive to your local hotel, this could be gas for your car. Or it could be an extra meal that you don’t have to pay for at home. You should also take your time into account.
Turn a mattress into a vacation
Most of this story assumes that the vacation is an actual mattress run, done only to earn points or elite status credits.
However, things change a bit if you can turn a running mattress into a real vacation for you, your family or your friends. It’s easier to justify staying at an extra hotel if you can get some extra value out of it (aside from the loyalty program benefits).
I love vacation stays and I often try to combine them with a concert or sports game I’m going to so I don’t have to deal with late-night traffic. It may or may not be economically ideal, but it’s definitely more fun.
You may need to register for your stay
In general, hotel loyalty programs will not award points or elite status credits to confirmed guests who do not show up.
I have been given credit by a hotel for my absence at least once. But know that booking and paying for a single booking may not be enough. You’ll probably need to check-in at the property to earn points and credits for your stay. You can try signing up virtually via the program’s mobile app, but this is never guaranteed to work.
Even the actual registered guests sometimes face problems when running mattress. You’ll find notes in most loyalty program terms and conditions stating you must actually stay at a hotel to stay of an elite standard. For example, Hyatt’s terms and conditions note:
Members must actually check-in and complete the stay for their reservation at a Property to earn points. No points will be awarded for any non-refundable prepayment, cancellation or no-show fee paid by a Member for a reservation that he(s) does not actually use.
So to avoid potential problems, you may want to make it clear that you’ve checked in, used your booking, and completed your stay. Yet another reason to make a stay or rest on your mattress.
bottom line
Running a mattress can be a viable strategy to take advantage of a promotion or earn extra credits for achieving elite status. Especially if you can turn a running pad into a real vacation, it could be well worth it.
However, keep in mind that there are many other options besides jogging on the mattress. For example, you can open a credit card offers elite status as a privilege. Or you can buy or transfer points to top up your account in exchange for profit.
Additional reporting by Ehsan Haque.
