What is a mattress run?

Even if you’re new to the points and miles game, you’ve probably heard the term “mileage run.” A mileage run is when a traveler takes a flight (or series of flights) primarily to earn rewards or airline elite status.

Mattress runs are similar to mileage runs. But instead of taking one or more flights as you would for a mileage run, mattress runs involve spending one or more nights in hotels primarily to earn rewards or hotel elite status. So, here’s what you need to know about mattress runs and when you might want to go on one.

What is a mattress run?

A mattress run is when you book and pay for a hotel room that you don’t need to earn rewards or qualify for hotel elite status. This idea might sound ridiculous, but the cost of the stay may be much lower than the value of the rewards and other benefits you’d obtain through the stay.

In its purest form, you might not even use the room you booked for a mattress run. Instead, you check in and then leave the property. But, as we discuss in this article, there are plenty of reasons you may want to stay in the room you book.

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

Mattress run for elite status

If you’re just a few stays or nights short of a given hotel status level, it can make sense to mattress run as the end of the year approaches and your window to qualify for elite status closes. After all, hotel loyalty programs offer all kinds of valuable perks for elite members.

For example, you might be close to earning Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status. If you’ll have 48 elite-qualifying nights at the end of 2024 based on your currently booked stays, you’d need just two more nights to earn Platinum Elite status. Platinum Elite status offers many useful perks, including breakfast at many Marriott brands, 4 p.m. late checkout and lounge access. In this case, a two-night stay at a Marriott property near your house before the end of the year might be well worth the cost.

Remember that many credit cards provide elite status (or the ability to earn toward elite status through spending) as a perk. So, completing a mattress run isn’t the only way to reach a higher tier. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers complimentary Platinum Elite status, and the World of Hyatt Credit Card lets you earn two tier-qualifying night credits per $5,000 in purchases each calendar year.

Related: When does your hotel elite status expire?

Mattress run to earn points

You might consider mattress running to earn points, especially during a lucrative hotel promotion. However, be sure the value of the points you’ll earn is significantly higher than the cost of your stay.

For example, Choice Privileges periodically offers a promotion where you can earn at least 8,000 Choice points for every two stays. So, if you’ve stayed at a Choice Hotels property once during the promotion period, it could be worth mattress running another stay to get the bonus points.

However, buying points (ideally during a sale) or transferring points is usually more beneficial if you need more rewards for an upcoming booking. The rewards you’ll earn on a mattress run will rarely be worth the cost.

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

Other mattress run considerations

This analysis only captures part of the decision-making process regarding mattress runs. Before booking, you should consider a few other things.

Additional out-of-pocket costs

To complete a mattress run, you usually have to pay for something besides the room rate. If you drive to your local hotel, this might be gas for your car. Or it could be an additional meal you wouldn’t have paid for at home. You may also want to account for your time.

Turning a mattress run into a vacation

You might want to turn your mattress run into an actual vacation for you, your family or your friends. After all, it’s easier to justify an extra hotel stay if you can get some value beyond earning the nights or rewards you seek.

You’ll probably need to check in and stay

Hotel loyalty programs usually won’t award points or elite status credits to confirmed guests who don’t show up, even if the stay is prepaid. As such, you’ll usually need to check in at the property.

Even guests who’ve physically checked in occasionally face issues on mattress runs. You’ll find notes in most hotel loyalty program terms and conditions stating you must physically stay at a property for a stay to be elite-qualifying. For example, the World of Hyatt terms and conditions state, “Members must actually check-in and complete the stay for their reservation at a Point Property to earn points. No points will be awarded for any non-refundable prepaid fees, cancellation fees, or no-show fees paid by a Member for a reservation that they did not actually use.”

So, to avoid issues and ensure your nights and rewards post as expected, you’ll want to make it apparent that you checked in, used your reservation and completed your stay. This provides even more incentive to make a staycation or vacation out of your mattress run.

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

Bottom line

Mattress runs can be a viable strategy for taking advantage of a promotion or earning additional credits toward elite status. Especially if you can convert a mattress run into a staycation or vacation, it may be well worth doing.

However, remember there are many other options besides mattress running. For some tips on earning last-minute elite status with your favorite hotel loyalty program, check out the following stories: