Mileage Run Discussion - I need 36k on AA to renew PLT

Hi folks, I need 36k to requalify for PLT. It has to be on OW.

I have no more up coming trips. I have my own biz so time is not a factor. I just can't be away for too long but I can leave on any day of the week.

I will be leaving from jfk/lga. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

Being that far away, you might be better off waiting for the (almost) inevitable buyback offer in January. You can search for it, but I think that for platinum with less than 40k EQMs, it's around $700 (give or take)?

Hi folks, I need 36k to requalify for PLT. It has to be on OW.

I have no more up coming trips. I have my own biz so time is not a factor. I just can't be away for too long but I can leave on any day of the week.

I will be leaving from jfk/lga. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

You have until Dec. 31 to requalify, correct? Seems like plenty of time. Am I missing something?

you are correct but I was searching for any suggestions anyone might have. I rather get it done with now vs. waiting towards the end of the year. Thanks.

The buyback won't be an option for me as I just re-purchased it for this year. I just love having the perks of PLT so want to requalify.

Thanks.

I just saw an e-mail from CX offering JFK-HKG for $880 ai. At 16,112 miles that's about .05cpm, and if you can handle it, same day turns are available. It's in Q, but I don't know if that gets you your AA EQM. Good luck, buying it might be both cheaper and easier than two of those 32 hour adventures, but it's not nearly as good a story!

Unfortunately I am not willing to do JFK-HKG in Y. I do it twice a year in F. I have done it in Y before and just can't handle it.

There is a blogger who does these long-winded MRs. I think he searches on ITA and looks at long trips that maximizes the miles at the same ticket price. Out of JFK, I would try to do a few transcon flights, connecting first through another east coast city (e.g. BOS, RDU or MIA) and then connecting at ORD or DFW and then adding a SFO-LAX at the end for extra miles. You probably need to do at least 4-5 of these RT MR to get your 36K EQM.

max budget?

i would wait til sept/oct & hope for a 2x eqm promo & perhaps lower fares....

There is a blogger who does these long-winded MRs. I think he searches on ITA and looks at long trips that maximizes the miles at the same ticket price. Out of JFK, I would try to do a few transcon flights, connecting first through another east coast city (e.g. BOS, RDU or MIA) and then connecting at ORD or DFW and then adding a SFO-LAX at the end for extra miles. You probably need to do at least 4-5 of these RT MR to get your 36K EQM.

If the OP does not want to do long hauls in Y then its seven transcons adding a city in such as SFO or BOS. Or the OP could do four LGA/DFW/ANC. Either way the OP is going to be spending some big bucks for just PLT.

Unfortunately I am not willing to do JFK-HKG in Y. I do it twice a year in F. I have done it in Y before and just can't handle it.

JFK - HKG X2 in F will give you approximately 48,336 points. (caluculated using actual mileage plus 1.5 points per mile flown if booked in A or F). You claim you need 36K miles, which means you've earned 14K EQMs thus far in 2012. Something isn't adding up.

using AA miles.

JFK - HKG X2 in F will give you approximately 48,336 points. (caluculated using actual mileage plus 1.5 points per mile flown if booked in A or F). You claim you need 36K miles, which means you've earned 14K EQMs thus far in 2012. Something isn't adding up.

I appreciate it.

You might want to do a cost-benefit analysis here. For 14k miles of real flying, you could probably buy most of the perks that PLT gets you for less than 36k of mileage runs would cost. That being said, I wouldn't discourage you as long as you enjoy the pursuit!

Being that far away, you might be better off waiting for the (almost) inevitable buyback offer in January. You can search for it, but I think that for platinum with less than 40k EQMs, it's around $700 (give or take)?

I wouldn't wait for and hope for a buy-back. I'd look for flights to ensure I get there instead of waiting/wondering if a buy-back will be offered. What if AA doesn't offer a buy-back this year? Or if they do but the reuirements are above the OPs EQM/EQP. The only way to be sure is to hit the requirements of the program.

I wouldn't wait for and hope for a buy-back. I'd look for flights to ensure I get there instead of waiting/wondering if a buy-back will be offered. What if AA doesn't offer a buy-back this year? Or if they do but the reuirements are above the OPs EQM/EQP. The only way to be sure is to hit the requirements of the program.

Well, for the OP buyback is not an option. But from your perspective I'd feel like in the rare chance a buyback is not offered as it has for many years now, I'd rather fly 36k miles in early 2013 to put me within spitting distance of PLT for two years than do it now for just one year.

why not get downgraded to gold then do a plat challenge?

You can get a quick 10,000 EQMs with the Citi Elite MC. If you own your own business, I suspect charging $40,000 over the rest of the year is manageable. Then you only have to fly 26,000

I just saw an e-mail from CX offering JFK-HKG for $880 ai. At 16,112 miles that's about .05cpm, and if you can handle it, same day turns are available. It's in Q, but I don't know if that gets you your AA EQM. Good luck, buying it might be both cheaper and easier than two of those 32 hour adventures, but it's not nearly as good a story!
Is it possible to connect at HKG without going through their customs and passport control?

I just saw an e-mail from CX offering JFK-HKG for $880 ai. At 16,112 miles that's about .05cpm, and if you can handle it, same day turns are available. It's in Q, but I don't know if that gets you your AA EQM. Good luck, buying it might be both cheaper and easier than two of those 32 hour adventures, but it's not nearly as good a story!

Q under a CX code will earn zero miles credited to AAdvantage.

Is it possible to connect at HKG without going through their customs and passport control?

yes. its just a quick security re-screen. Plane door to lounge was sub 15 minutes.

Summer is not a good time to look for great fares. There will be better opportunities in Sep-Nov. Then Dec gets expensive all over again.

However, I would consider waiting till January-February. Then fares should be low and the status will last one year longer.

February is a particularly good time to do international MRs: fares are reasonable and SWUs are easy to find. :)

I can't believe you are considering flying one and a half times around the world just to get mid-tier status with AA.

I know that the Canadian Amex Plat will give you mid-tier status on CX for a $699 annual fee (less $200 in airline fee rebates). Would that help?

Hi folks, I need 36k to requalify for PLT. It has to be on OW.

I have no more up coming trips. I have my own biz so time is not a factor. I just can't be away for too long but I can leave on any day of the week.

I will be leaving from jfk/lga. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

If your heart is set on having PLT status, and you have no issue with flying 36K miles out of pocket this year, why not just wait until 1 January and 50K of runs in Jan-Feb of 2013?

Then you will have status for all of 2013 ans 2014.

[QUOTE=wireless_999;18900674]I don't see why you want Plat if you only fly 14K miles per year. The big differences between Gold and Plat are 100% bonus redeemable miles instead of 25% and lounge access on international itineraries. The extra 75% RDM only brings in 10,500 RDM. You can buy that many miles for under $300. If your international flights are on award F tickets, the lounge access isn't doing anything for you. Why not just drop to Gold?

You might want to do a cost-benefit analysis here. For 14k miles of real flying, you could probably buy most of the perks that PLT gets you for less than 36k of mileage runs would cost. That being said, I wouldn't discourage you as long as you enjoy the pursuit!

I second this. What are the exact PLT perks that you are going to be getting some value of when you fly?

1. I agree with gemac. :eek: A 'good' MR rate is 4 cpm. 36,000*$.04 = $1440. Will you really get more than $1440 worth of perks by being plat?

2. I agree with mathlete. If you really have no other flying this year and need to do 36k worth of MRs, do 50k next Jan/Feb when there will be cheap flights NYC-Europe and you will requalify for 2 years.

3. If you are not persuaded by the excellent advice on this thread, there are a lot of cheap AA transcons listed right now on the MR Deals forum for flights in Sept-Dec. Snag some of those while they are $220 or so. BOS-DFW-SJC is 6000 miles for $222 on many dates, with same day turns available. That's 3.7 cpm.

Well, for the OP buyback is not an option. But from your perspective I'd feel like in the rare chance a buyback is not offered as it has for many years now, I'd rather fly 36k miles in early 2013 to put me within spitting distance of PLT for two years than do it now for just one year.

Good point there on waiting. I'd support that :D