Earn Silver Elite status for 2004 by flying two roundtrips before Dec. 31 on America West’s new nonstop coast-to-coast service. Service from LAX to New York/JFK and Boston Logan International has already begun, and service from SFO to New York/JFK begins Dec. 19. You must register for this promotion online at the America West Web site.

America West, of course, has refrained from taking the route of restricting low-fare passengers from earning elite status — a practice which might very well end the fabled “mileage run” for members of other airlines (A mileage run, of course, is the traditional series of quick and cheap flights taken at the end of the year solely for the purpose of earning elite status).

In fact, it would appear America West is taking the exact opposite approach. Through this promotion, your mileage run is limited to just two trips.