The “Mile High Club” mission in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and its remastered version is infamous for its difficulty and high-stakes gameplay. As a bonus epilogue level, “Mile High Club” stands apart from the main campaign, offering a challenging yet exhilarating experience that has become one of the most coveted achievements in gaming. Unlocking the “Mile High Club” achievement, especially on Veteran difficulty, is often regarded as a badge of honor among Call of Duty players.
In this breakdown, we’ll take an in-depth look at the mission itself, its origins, and strategies for beating it on the most challenging difficulty settings to earn the achievement. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or tackling this mission for the first time, understanding the intricacies of “Mile High Club” will help you navigate the chaos, save the hostage, and earn your place in gaming history.
What is “Mile High Club”?
“Mile High Club” is a short, intense mission that can be unlocked after completing the final mission, “Game Over,” in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The mission takes place on a hijacked airplane, where you are tasked with rescuing a VIP hostage and escaping within a strict time limit. Despite being an epilogue, “Mile High Club” has no narrative connection to the rest of the campaign, making it a standalone challenge for players who have finished the main storyline.
In this mission, you play as an operative of the elite Task Force 141. Your objective is to fight your way through the aircraft’s cramped quarters, eliminate a series of enemies, reach the hostage, and escape the plane in a spectacular fashion. The catch? The entire mission is on a timer, with just one minute on Veteran difficulty to reach the hostage and then another 30 seconds to escape.
This mission has no room for error, requiring speed, precision, and strategy to succeed. It’s widely regarded as one of the hardest achievements to unlock in Call of Duty history.
Mission Details: Time Limits and Challenges
The key to “Mile High Club” is the time limit, which varies depending on the difficulty level:
- Recruit Difficulty: 3 minutes
- Regular Difficulty: 2 minutes
- Hardened Difficulty: 1 minute and 45 seconds
- Veteran Difficulty: 1 minute
Most players will focus on the Veteran difficulty for the “Mile High Club” achievement, as this is where the true challenge lies. On Veteran, you have just one minute to storm through the aircraft, battle through waves of enemies, and save the hostage. This unforgiving time limit leaves no room for hesitation.
Once you reach the hostage, the game slows down in a dramatic slow-motion sequence, giving you five seconds to land a precise headshot on the enemy holding the hostage at gunpoint. A leg shot will fail the mission, as a screen prompt will remind you, “True veterans get headshots.”
Origins and Legacy
“Mile High Club” is considered a precursor to the Special Ops missions introduced in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Infinity Ward, the game’s developer, has stated that this mission inspired the concept of bite-sized, high-stakes challenges that would later become a core component of the series.
Despite being a relatively short mission, “Mile High Club” has left a lasting impact on the Call of Duty franchise and gaming culture. The mission’s fast pace, intense firefights, and precise timing make it a true test of skill, and the achievement tied to it is regarded as one of the most difficult and prestigious in the game.
Gameplay Breakdown
To succeed in “Mile High Club,” you must master the fast-paced, close-quarters combat that defines the mission. Here’s a breakdown of each section and tips for handling them:
1. Starting the Assault
You begin the mission by breaching into the aircraft with your squad of Task Force 141 operatives. From the moment you land, you need to move quickly. The plane is divided into multiple sections, and each section is packed with enemies. Your loadout consists of a silenced MP5 submachine gun and a pistol, both of which will be your main tools throughout the mission.
Tip: Don’t stop moving. The tight time limit means you must constantly push forward. Enemies will keep coming, but stopping to engage in prolonged firefights will cost you valuable seconds.
2. Clearing the First Lounge
After entering the plane, you’ll encounter a series of enemies in the main lounge area. Use your flashbangs to disorient them, making it easier to quickly take them down without wasting time. The lounge offers some cover, but be mindful of the tight quarters.
Tip: Use your flashbangs wisely. Flashbangs are your best friend in this mission, especially when storming rooms filled with enemies. A well-timed flashbang can neutralize multiple enemies, allowing you to clear rooms faster.
3. Navigating the Stairs
The stairs leading to the second level of the plane are one of the most dangerous choke points in the mission. Enemies can fire from above, and the narrow space makes it easy to get pinned down.
Tip: Keep low and aim high. Crouching or staying prone will reduce your exposure while giving you a clear line of sight to enemies at the top of the stairs. Use your remaining flashbangs to blind enemies as you move up.
4. Reaching the Hostage
As you reach the second level of the plane, the timer becomes your biggest enemy. The hostage is just ahead, but a series of enemies will try to block your path. The final room before the hostage contains a few stragglers who must be quickly eliminated.
Tip: Keep a spare flashbang for the final room. If you have any remaining flashbangs, use one to disorient the enemies in this area, making it easier to clear the path to the hostage.
5. The Slow-Motion Sequence
Once you reach the hostage, the game slows down, giving you a few seconds to line up a critical shot. The enemy is holding the hostage as a human shield, so you’ll need to aim carefully.
Tip: Aim for the head. On Veteran difficulty, shooting the enemy anywhere but the head will result in a mission failure. Precision is key, and a steady hand will ensure success.
6. The Escape
After rescuing the hostage, you have 30 seconds to reach the breach point and escape the plane. Your squad will guide you toward the exit, and you must follow them quickly to avoid being caught in the explosion.
Tip: Sprint to the breach. At this point, time is of the essence. Ignore any remaining enemies and focus solely on reaching the breach point.
Strategies for Veteran Difficulty
Earning the “Mile High Club” achievement on Veteran difficulty is a notoriously difficult task. Here are some advanced strategies to help you conquer the challenge:
- Memorize Enemy Locations: Enemies spawn in the same locations every time you attempt the mission, so memorizing their positions is crucial. This allows you to pre-fire and eliminate threats before they can react.
- Use Cover Effectively: While speed is important, you’ll still need to use cover to survive. Crouching behind seats and walls will minimize damage while you reload or prepare for the next encounter.
- Reload Strategically: Reloading in the middle of a firefight can waste precious seconds. Always reload during brief lulls in combat, such as after clearing a room or just before moving up the stairs.
- Manage Your Flashbangs: You have a limited number of flashbangs, so don’t waste them. Use them in high-traffic areas or when facing multiple enemies. Flashbangs are especially useful when navigating through tight spaces like the stairs or final room.
- Stay Calm During the Slow-Mo Sequence: The slow-motion hostage sequence is the final hurdle. It’s easy to panic under the pressure of the time limit, but staying calm will help you line up the perfect headshot.
Final Thoughts
“Mile High Club” is more than just a mission—it’s a rite of passage for Call of Duty players. The combination of a strict time limit, challenging enemies, and precise shooting makes it one of the most iconic and difficult achievements in the franchise. Successfully completing it on Veteran difficulty is a testament to a player’s skill, patience, and determination.
For those chasing the “Mile High Club” achievement, perseverance is key. It may take dozens of attempts, but with practice and strategy, you’ll eventually nail that perfect run and unlock one of the most prestigious trophies in Call of Duty history. Good luck!