Every year we have an annual team travel challenge designed to showcase the wild and crazy ways you can put miles and points to use. But last year the SAS EuroBonus Millionaire Promo motivated us to spontaneously and opportunistically throw together a second annual challenge, specifically to showcase the SAS EuroBonus Millionaire promo. For this challenge, Greg, Nick, and Stephen spent a grueling ~2 weeks collectively flying over 60 flights in attempt to achieve SAS EuroBonus Millionaire status.
This challenge felt like a whirlwind to us and it probably felt like a whirlwind to all of you too. That’s why we’ve put together a recap video that distills all the madness into one place. Watch the entire recap below, or click the timestamps to navigate to your favorite MMM memories.
Rewatch the entire Million Mile Madness Challenge in one video…
(00:00) – When SAS launched a promotion to earn one million miles by earning or redeeming SAS miles on flights taken with 15 different qualifying SkyTeam airlines, we had to take the opportunity to make this our next team challenge.
(02:34) – Stephen logged 17 hours of travel before any of the other contestants even started flying.
(03:19) – Greg used the BLADE helicopter transfer to get to JFK by helicopter!
(04:20) – In JFK, Nick discovered a mistake in his bookings!
(05:03) – Nick and Greg ended up on the same flight to London, then ran into Stephen on the same flight to Copenhagen!
(05:31) – Stephen introduced the rest of the guys to a Thomas Dambo troll in Copenhagen.
(06:25) – Greg showcased the Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest.
(06:39) – Stephen showcased the Marriott Auditorium Hotel in Madrid where he had a suite.
(07:31) – Nick showcased the Hilton Garden Inn in Bucharest, spending the day at the Therme Bucharest Wellness Center.
(08:26) – At the first live check-in, Greg was in first place, Nick in second, and Stephen in 3rd
(10:42) – For his Paris to Abu Dhabi leg, Greg flew Etihad First Class Apartments!
(11:46) – In Jeddah, connecting onward to Riyadh, Greg barely got through security in time, then ended up on the same flight as Nick from Riyadh to Doha.
(12:48) – Stephen showcased the InterContinental Bucharest (where he’d gotten yet another suite). His plans to site see were foiled by bad weather.
(14:23) – Nick showcased the Hanoi Hilton Garden Inn, and shared how he does laundry in the hotel sink!
(14:50) – Greg showcased the Sheraton Jakarta Airport Hotel, which felt like a resort.
(15:50) – In Bangkok, Greg and Nick ran into each other again, boarding the same Kenya Airways flight to Guangzhou (along with MANY other folks attempting the SAS Eurobonus Millionaire challenge.)
(16:38) – In Medinah, Stephen ran into issues with an erroneous boarding pass. He then realized his flight to Jakarta would mean 10 hours in economy, so he made a last minute decision to book a business class flight instead.
(19:32) – Greg ran into issues with his Vietnam visa showing the wrong dates! Once sorted, he showcased the Sheraton Hanoi West.
(21:25) – Nick had quite a time trying to manage ground transit going from Guangzhou to ShenZen.
(22:36) – At the live check-in #2, Greg was still in first place, Stephen had taken over second place, and Nick was in 3rd
(24:00) – Nick showcased the UrCove ShenZen (a Hyatt property that only exists in China!)
(25:02) – Stephen ran into transit visa confusion in Jakarta.
(26:22) – On his flight to Singapore, Stephen shared an economy hack for thawing out that little butter packet.
(26:59) – Nick left the airport in Taipei to do a language lesson with his local friend.
(28:25) – Stephen visited the butterfly garden in Singapore’s Changi airport.
(29:10) – Greg showcased the the Canopy by Hilton in West Lake Hangzhou. His site seeing was mostly foiled by bad timing and bad weather.
(30:26) – Nick showcased the Ibis Styles Ambassador at Incheon Airport.
(31:05) – Despite a tight connection, Stephen got to eat his favorite dish “Som Tom” in Bangkok Airport
(31:34) – Greg had issues leaving HangZhou because of a little tear in his passport.
(32:18) – Nick showcased the DoubleTree Kuala Lumpur tucked away in a shopping mall.
(33:15) – In Kunming Stephen had a tight connection, but a VIP bus took him right to the gate.
(33:57) – Greg attended a sushi making class in Tokyo and also visited a hedgehog cafe!
(35:18) – Stephen enjoyed Ho Chi Minh with a hot stone massage, Pho, and a furry friend.
(36:42) – Greg had a last minute change of plans, then moved from the Conrad Tokyo to the Hyatt Tiananmen Hills.
(37:20) – Nick visited the pedestrian-only island Gulangyu.
(38:27) – Greg enjoyed the Japan Airlines First Class Lounge in Tokyo Haneda Airport before his Japan Airlines First Class flight.
(39:47) – On board his Japan Airlines First Class flight, Greg was able to purchase the 100 year anniversary Hibiki (only available on JAL first class or ANA first class) to commemorate the Hibiki he’d shared with the whole team on a former challenge “Party of 5”.
(40:57) – For the Final Live Check In, Greg was in first place, Nick had regained second place, and Stephen was in third place.
(42:03) – Stephen made it home and reunited with his dog.
(42:12) – Nick visited the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’An!
(43:18) – Nick showcased the Canopy by Hilton in Xi’An, complete with boxing ring.
(43:55) – Nick got to enjoy Etihad First Class Apartments too!
(44:47) – Before going home, Nick visited the Vienna Christmas Markets.
(46:03) – Nick enjoyed his long layover in Barcelona by grabbing some tapas.
(46:34) – Nick showcased the Hello Sky Hotel in Terminal 4 in Madrid, then finally flew home!
(46:55) – Who won the Million Mile Madness Challenge?
(48:31) – At the annual team meeting in January, the whole team got to enjoy the 100 year anniversary Hibiki.
Conclusion (and spoilers)
In some ways, this challenge isn’t even finished yet. Many folks are still awaiting the official SAS email notice of their successful EuroBonus Millionaire achievement, with SAS continually extending the deadline for working through missing-credit claims. Perhaps appropriately, Greg, who won our Million Mile Madness challenge, is as of yet still the only contestant who got his official notice of EuroBonus Millionaire achievement, but Stephen is nearly there, with all of his 15 qualifying flights now properly credited and his congratulations email sure to follow shortly. For Nick, it remains to be seen.
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