Embarking on a Mileage Run

[canyonwalker]

Flying for Fun & Profit #1
SJC Airport. Sun, 28 Dec 2026, 3:30pm.

This afternoon I am embarking on a mileage run. It's a flight taken strictly for earning points snd status. A few weeks ago I saw I was coming up a tiny bit short on my Southwest status chase, so I booked this mileage run.

For this mileage run I booked a quick round-trip to LAX. But I'm not going to Los Angeles, other than spending a few hours on the ground at the airport. I get back on a flight home this evening.

Right now I'm at SJC airport. I arrived here well early for the first flight. I'm taking as few chances as possible with the schedule.

I've been checking the flights for on-time-ness all afternoon. The aircraft for my first flight has been tracking on time and just landed from its previous leg. The homebound flight has been drifting a bit late, probably picking up delays from coming from somewhere in the East, where snow has caused lots of cancellations. That flight being late is okay... I'd only get worried if my outbound were late, because then I might miss the homebound! I planned over 3 hours on the ground between flights, so the chances of that are small... though never zero.

Stay tuned, this should only take a few hours!

Update: the flight to LA was smooth, then I took a piss and I turned myself around... that's what it's al about!

Comments

[morningloryblue]

Oh the mileage runs! I have done them twice. Had breakfast at the United Club at LAX then returned home to LAS.

[canyonwalker]

Twice this year to requalify for 1k or twice in the past?

On this mileage run I planned to sit down for a pizza and a couple of beers while waiting for my return, but then I caught the turnaround flight home on the same aircraft instead.

[morningloryblue]

Twice in years past...during the last couple of years, I hit the 1K requirement easily. I think it's symbolic of the burnout I felt, too. Love the perks, but damned, it was so much hustle and bustle.