We found a”SkyTeam sampler” airline business class mileage run to Amsterdam (AMS)!
READ: How We’re Now Calculating Mileage Run Returns With the New SkyMiles Program and Inflated Airfares
Tijuana (TIJ) to Amsterdam (AMS)
You’ll purchase this SkyTeam business class trip from KLM’s Mexican website and pay in Mexico pesos. Make sure to use a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. (Here are some examples.) We found a departure date of Monday, December 2, with a Thursday, December 5 return. But use this Google Flights link to play around with the dates.
It’s a deep-discounted “Z” class fare that earns 30% of the distance flown in Delta when you credit the trip to your Delta SkyMiles account.
This trip departs from Tijuana International Airport (TIJ), which is pretty much at the United States-Mexico border. It’s very close to San Diego. (We’ll get to more details in just a minute.) You fly in Aeromexico business class (like US domestic first class) to Mexico City (MEX). From there, you’ll enjoy business class on an Air France flight to Paris (CDG). Then you take a quick KLM hop to Amsterdam (AMS) in European business class; that’s basically coach with an open middle seat.
You have two nights to enjoy Amsterdam (I’m sure you can find something to do) or take a train somewhere else in the area. Then you fly KLM business class back to MEX before an Aeromexico trip to TIJ. The current itinerary gets you back around midnight. I’d get a ride back to San Diego (or somewhere thereabouts) to stay overnight.
Here are the estimated earnings:
- $4,368 MQD for US $2191.28 airfare (MEX 41,623)
- 14,560 flown miles toward Delta Million Miler status
- 29,120 redeemable SkyMiles before any applicable Medallion bonuses
You’ll purchase the trip from KLM’s Mexican website and pay in Mexico pesos. Make sure to use a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. (Here are some examples.)
“TIJUANA?!”
Tijuana?! you may say. How far is that from the United States?! How do I get there?! And no way am I going into that city!
Calm down. You’re not going into the city.
It’s about 23 miles from San Diego International Airport to the Cross Border Express pedestrian bridge that takes you into the Tijuana airport. (You don’t have to actually enter the streets of Tijuana. Just the airport.) The Lyft prices from SAN to CBX ranged from $50 to $60 when I checked while writing this post. You clear USA to Mexico immigration at CBX — and don’t need to deal with it in Mexico City.
Marilee Blair put together this great video about how to use CBX.
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Chris, what would you say the reasonable total dollar value is of all Diamond Medallion’s benefits? Not just the incremental value from Platinum. Thanks.
In my opinion, it depends on the person. If you usually buy Delta One, the savings can be tens of thousands of dollars with Global Upgrade Certificates. Same thing with Regional Upgrade Certificates if you routinely buy First Class.
There are also some items you can’t really put a value on until you need to: improved service, getting the occasional Porsche ride during a tight connection (time is money!), etc.
Do GUCs and RUCs clear at booking or at some point in time prior to departure?
If inventory is available, you can clear at the time of booking. Otherwise, it’s up to day of departure.
Thanks.