I spent $2,700 flying around the world just to keep my airline status. It was worth the hassle.

I spent $2,700 on a "mileage run" that took me halfway around the world and stranded me in Qatar. It was worth it for airline status.

Courtesy of Coby Wayne

I flew more than 100,000 miles last year for my job as an aviation content creator, making airports and airplanes feel almost like a second home.After that much time in the air, a comfortable seat and a quiet airport lounge aren't just loyalty perks; they make my exhausting travel schedules far more bearable.So when British Airways made its Silver status — which gives me free access to dozens of Oneworld Alliance member lounges and free extra-legroom seats — much harder to keep, I had to get creative.What followed was a 13,000-mile, three-day "mileage run" across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the US in July to earn enough qualifying points to hold onto my elite tier.I spent $2,700 and 20,000 points across two airlines, including Qatar Airways and Royal Air Maroc, to make it work.Mileage runs — or flying solely to reach a certain loyalty tier — have become a niche pursuit for frequent flyers as many major airlines shift how status is earned from distance flown to money spent. Still, a clever workaround helped me piece together flights.There were some hiccups: I missed my connection in a conflict zone, which left me with an unexpected 18 hours in Doha, Qatar, and I ran out of clean clothes.