A last-minute trip to Mexico to push me over the elite status thresholds for both United Airlines and Hyatt proved to be quite entertaining.
Cabo Mileage Run: A Quick Trip To Baja California For Elite Status
As we approached mid-December, I realized I had a problem. I was one night short of my 60 nights required for World of Hyatt Globalist status and three segments short of the 54 I needed to keep my Premier 1K status on United Airlines.
That meant a mileage + mattress run was required, even though it was certainly not the opportune time (this would not have been necessary if I had taken my New Zealand trip). I’ve shared about the drama and tragedy concurrently unfolding now in my life outside of work and I really did not want to take the time to travel.
But to keep the status I did…especially because I use those benefits to help the very people impacted now.
I looked at flights and it became clear that the easiest trips would be to Las Vegas (LAS) or Los Cabos (SJD) in Baja California. Cabo was cheeper and so was the hotel, so I chose to travel to Mexico for 24 hours.
From Los Angeles (SJD) I would fly nonstop to Cabo, then return the following afternoon via Denver (DEN) to get my three segments necessary. I thought about trying out The Cape, a Thompson Hotel (Hyatt), but the thought of splurging while alone was not appealing, so I used 5,000 points to book a room at the Hyatt Place Los Cabos (versus $150) and prepared to leave the following day.
Business class was sold out from LAX-SJD but my upgrades cleared at booking from SJD-DEN-LAX using PlusPoints, another reason I chose that routing.
The two Cabo flights were quite entertaining…there were mechanical issues, colorful passengers, and dogs…
This was my first time in Baja, California and I quite liked San José del Cabo (I did not actually go to Cabos San Lucas).
Here’s what you can expect in this trip report:
- United Club LAX
- Bad Omen? Wiring Issues Doom My United Next A319 Flight
- United Airlines A319 Economy Class Los Angeles – Los Cabos
- Great Tacos In San José del Cabo
- Great Coffee In San José del Cabo
- Photo Essay: Downtown San José del Cabo
- Hyatt Place Los Cabos
- VIP Lounge Los Cabos International Airport T2 (SJD)
- United Airlines 737-800 United Next Business Class Los Cabos – Denver
- A Sad Meal To End The Year On United Airlines
What a flight from Los Cabos – Denver…what a flight!
Stay tuned and thanks for reading!
In other words, Trip Report: When Magoo Flew
Feisty today. I like it.
We are all slaves to the hamster wheel, but despite that, status can be valuable if you use the benefits
Hope you had authentic Mexican food. Hand made tortillas,mole and chilaquiles.
Yes sir. I certainly did.
I’ve had good luck mattress running in the USA (3,500 points per day) by calling the Hyatt in question and telling the manager what I’m doing (only doing app check-in). No problem doing it several times this year. I know you need the United segments, but FYI for the future.
That’s good to know – I hope I don’t have to do that again this year.
Mattress run? You mean stay at a hotel.
Yeah SJD is my favorite place for warm weather and I have a condo there. Not Cabo San Lucas which seems like a trashy place to party for young people (American college students), But everywhere east of that in the mid-peninsula and San Jose del Cabo which has some pretty nice resorts.
You’re the last person that I thought would realize late in the year to be caught short of nights and PQFs! Best wishes for the New Year!