Sooo, what job doesn't give you work experience while you are getting paid? I know we take the jobs we can find, but that attitude is killing us. Why should major airlines pay a lot if they are providing experience you are going to use when you apply to Fed Ex or UPS? Why should Fed Ex pay a lot if it's experience you'll use to apply as a Boeing test pilot? You are not being "paid" in flight hours and no one should ever tell you that. If they do, you need to kindly correct them.

If you can work the flight so you get the 50 miles, great. A student being able to do 4 approaches in succession is pretty amazing and probably doesn't last for long (because if they can do it, they are ready for their checkride). But yep, you can be creative and often get the distance. Two students is a way it might work out. Volunteering to take any and all XCs is another good way. This can really tax you and cut into your "off time", but it's one of those things that is worth it. Mine took more than 1500 hours, I'll say that much.