pushback

This may be more of a Mileage Run forum question, but it is specific to AA so I am posting it here. Feel free to move it if that's the right thing to do.

I want to accumulate 25K AA Points and would like to do it with the best bang for the buck. I was looking at two RTs from SFO to ZRH but maybe there's a better way. Any ideas?

clacko

how many bucks for the 2 trips.....you are wanting eqp's, not eqm's?....good luck....

gemac

Mileage runs are normally on one airline, absent the increasing rare match. Since this is a question about a mileage run, it belongs in the mileage run forum.

JDiver

If this is about AAdvantage Miles, the Mileage Run "regulars" are likely to chime in with more information, so the thread will be issued a ticket to that Forum when we determine that.

pushback

I came up with ~1600 per trip, so I am hoping there's a cheaper way. And yes--looking for eqp.

skunker

When do you need it by and does it need to be on AA metal?

JDiver

Probably not the cheapest, but one of the easiest and fun to boot: Qantas Premium Economy sale fare using LAX-SYD-LAX with some connecting flights ex-SFO. Brutal in Coach, no SWUs of course, but PE in the A380 in particular is survivable to say the least. $1,998 + ~$150 r/t 25 Jun - 7 Aug 2010.

It all depends on how many points you want to earn per mile and spend, of course. Otherwise, see the mileage run tools like FareCompare for FlyerTalk and search for flights, then see if upfaring for a fare class rendering 1 EQP:EQM is reasonable; that may be more reasonable than flying twice as much on a 0.5 : 1.

mikelat

I second the recommendation for checking out FareCompare's flyertalk page. It's too bad you missed out on the SFO-JFK-MIA-MGA R/T in Biz for <$1k. That would have been able to get you a good bit of the way there.

aktchi

Updated!

SFO-JFK-NRT-SIN-NRT-JFK-SFO, 25310 miles, one rt, approx $1500-$2100 (see below).

$1528, booking code N (0.5 EQP/mile), sample dates Sep 7-13 (3 nights in SIN):
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/di...67056&J=3&Q=-3

$2173, booking code H (1 EQP/mile), sample dates Sep 14-21 (4 nights in SIN): http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/di...DFDPYzZUmiMIBE

These ITA links will remain active only for a week or two. The itineraries could be tweaked depending on what you want, eg, less time in SIN, more time, or add other stops. (SIN is interesting enough for a few days. So are HKG, NRT etc if you wish to include stops.)

If this seems too much in one go, you can look at two trips, choose any two from the following destination, making sure the miles/points add up as desired: Europe (DUB, LHR, HEL, BUD, IST, MOW), Far East (NRT), South America (GIG, EZE).

Please note that AA does not allow you to specify a booking code online. You'll have to either call AA or visit the airport to buy your ticket if a specific booking code is desired.

As an EXP, use evips, free upgrades, and lounges whenever you can. Good luck.

pushback

Thank you! That looks like a great solution. I have to see if this needs to be all AA metal or not. I also should have mentioned I can't get away for a mileage run until end of July. That looks like a nice MR!

Blueboys999

Don't the N fares on that itinerary mean just 50% EQP's? The OP says he wants 25k points and would fall well short on that.

aktchi

Thank you. Please do check all of your requirements, e.g., AA metal or just code-shares, and whether you need points rather than miles. You can qualify with points or miles, and in this case miles are cheaper. If you do want 25K points, I have added an "upfared" version to my post #9 above. (A cheaper alternative noted below falls short by about 500 points, so unless you have points coming from other flights, you'd need to either tweak the itinerary or add another MR:

SFO-JFK-HKG-SIN-HKG-JFK-SFO, 24491 miles
$1976, H-code, Sep 14-20 (3 nights in SIN):
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/di...6657&J=18&Q=-2)

---Redacted---

Gardyloo

SFO-JFK-MIA-MGA-MIA-JFK-SFO in I, weekend turnaround, 14,064 EQP/trip, $983 all in. Two of 'em = 28K+ EQP. Do one or more in June and get TRNSN bonus of 25K RDM per trip.

cliffordchan

Any sample date? I can find discount Y fare is over $1000 when route via JFK, but if you could get I fare, pls show me the light! Thanks

Funny thing is on return flight, I fare is actually cheaper than Y fare. Maybe you found cheap outbound I fare as well?

SFO-JFK 2586, I fare 3232.5
JFK-MIA 1090, A fare 1635
MIA-MGA 1014, I fare 1267.5

Total round trip EQP 12270. How can you get 14064 EQP?
I think you used 1.5 times the total miles which is incorrect.

Gardyloo

SFO JFK 8 JUL 1145 1640
JFK MIA 9 JUL 0650 1000
MIA MGA 9 JUL 1110 1145
MGA MIA 11 JUL 1300 1740
MIA JFK 11 JUL 2050 2350
JFK SFO 12 JUL 1055 1410
$983.70, Fare basis IEA14L5K

RT 9380 mi. x 1.5 EQP/Mi = 14,470 EQP. I fares earn 1.5 EQP/mi.