By Patrick Clarke
At first glance, London native James Mutton’s two-day journey from England to Scotland may seem silly and completely unnecessary, but it turns out there’s a method to his madness.
The Telegraph reported Mutton took not one, but seven flights on British Airways to reach Aberdeen, Scotland, from Gatwick Airport south of London. The trip included stops in Amsterdam, Glasgow and the Shetland Islands, among other destinations.
Rather than taking the 90-plus-minute flight for a little more than $66, the self-proclaimed air miles enthusiast opted for a complicated route that allowed him to score a whopping 13,000 Avios points in the process.
Ultimately, Mutton’s goal was to earn Gold status with Avios.
Currently a Silver Tier member, Mutton is looking to be promoted to Gold Tier, which would open up first-class airport lounges, free spa treatments and hotel upgrades.
“I was heading to Scotland to visit a friend in St Andrews,” he told the Telegraph. “The trip was fun, although part of the enjoyment for me is in the planning of it. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t get something from it.”
Mutton, a geography teacher with summers off, said he became fascinated with Avios points more than two years ago after using the points to pay for a luxury honeymoon for he and his wife.
“I think I’ve used around half a million air miles in that time,” he told the Telegraph. “I just want to go to exciting places in comfort and spend as little money getting there as possible.”
“I also like flying and being in airports, so it is not a chore for me.”
Mutton estimates that if he had to pay cash for the trips he and his wife have been on over the past two-plus years it would have cost more than $33,000.
You can follow Mutton and his points-inspired adventures on his blog misterairmiles.com.
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