rpmkwpw
Aug 4, 01, 5:57 am
... and one of them in First.
So, this is my coup:
A little history
I had Platinum status on AA last year but my flying was down drastically, so I dropped to gold this year. With more flying, and having tasted platinum, it was beginning to hurt. I decided to do the challenge. (Check out FewMiles' excellent site (http://fewmiles.tripod.com/AA/challenge.html#1) for a description of what's required if you're not familiar with it). I needed 10,000 Qualifying points in a short time.
The plan
It started out with only half a plan really: I decided to use two MyPoints certificates for two free domestic R/Ts and see what I could do to maximize the itineraries (and therefore mileage).
These were earned back when MyPoints was very generous with rewards and had to be booked through a special travel agent. Though patient enough, it became clear the agent wasn't going to break her back to find me the circuitous routing I wanted. I headed for my favorite booking sites, the AA timetables, etc. and came up with some itineraries.
I was matching my travel dates and cities to that of my partner's business trips so I wouldn't have to worry about accomodations: The first trip would be a Los Angeles (Sat. out, Sun. back to NYC), the second Chicago (Fri. out, Sun. back in).
Trips 1 & 2
EWR-MIA-ORD-LAX-DFW-LGA - $30 - 3333 QPoints
LGA-DFW-ORD-LGA - $24 - 1695 QPoints
Both trips originally included an extra return segment, but I was rerouted due to weather. The second reroute (ORD-LGA instead of ORD-DFW-LGA) was a bump that earned me a faster, direct flight home, and a $250 voucher I'd use for my fourth trip.
Trip 3 on TW
I'm confirmed in D (First), using those magic "ADUP" upgrades sent to AA AAdvantage members:
JFK-STL-SMF-STL-LGA - $381 - 2,179 QPoints*
* apparently many people have been earning 100% Q points for coach, who knows what this upgraded fare will pick up - perhaps the full 4,250
This is a true mileage run (or status run in my case) since I'm in CA for less than 2 hours: leaving NYC around 6 p.m. and back the next morning around 11.
Trip 4 on AA
Back to the west coast with:
EWR-DFW-SFO-DFW-SFO - $88 (bump voucher applied to fare) - 2,836 QPoints
Short Sweet and Cheap
Total QPoints 10,041, total flown 19,507, total mileage (bonuses, etc.): 26,884. Total spend: $523. The total mileage might be more with the last qualifying flight earning a platinum bonus, but I'm trying not to count too many chickens before they hatch...
The important thing for me is I'll manage to pick up Plat status for little money, in just over a month, all in time for some planned travel later this year. This has been a fairly tough round of travel (and I'm only halfway done), with some amazing adventures (aborted takeoffs, near misses with connections and silly transportation fiascos), but it's also been a true challenge, and a great way to meet new people.
So, this is my coup:
A little history
I had Platinum status on AA last year but my flying was down drastically, so I dropped to gold this year. With more flying, and having tasted platinum, it was beginning to hurt. I decided to do the challenge. (Check out FewMiles' excellent site (http://fewmiles.tripod.com/AA/challenge.html#1) for a description of what's required if you're not familiar with it). I needed 10,000 Qualifying points in a short time.
The plan
It started out with only half a plan really: I decided to use two MyPoints certificates for two free domestic R/Ts and see what I could do to maximize the itineraries (and therefore mileage).
These were earned back when MyPoints was very generous with rewards and had to be booked through a special travel agent. Though patient enough, it became clear the agent wasn't going to break her back to find me the circuitous routing I wanted. I headed for my favorite booking sites, the AA timetables, etc. and came up with some itineraries.
I was matching my travel dates and cities to that of my partner's business trips so I wouldn't have to worry about accomodations: The first trip would be a Los Angeles (Sat. out, Sun. back to NYC), the second Chicago (Fri. out, Sun. back in).
Trips 1 & 2
EWR-MIA-ORD-LAX-DFW-LGA - $30 - 3333 QPoints
LGA-DFW-ORD-LGA - $24 - 1695 QPoints
Both trips originally included an extra return segment, but I was rerouted due to weather. The second reroute (ORD-LGA instead of ORD-DFW-LGA) was a bump that earned me a faster, direct flight home, and a $250 voucher I'd use for my fourth trip.
Trip 3 on TW
I'm confirmed in D (First), using those magic "ADUP" upgrades sent to AA AAdvantage members:
JFK-STL-SMF-STL-LGA - $381 - 2,179 QPoints*
* apparently many people have been earning 100% Q points for coach, who knows what this upgraded fare will pick up - perhaps the full 4,250
This is a true mileage run (or status run in my case) since I'm in CA for less than 2 hours: leaving NYC around 6 p.m. and back the next morning around 11.
Trip 4 on AA
Back to the west coast with:
EWR-DFW-SFO-DFW-SFO - $88 (bump voucher applied to fare) - 2,836 QPoints
Short Sweet and Cheap
Total QPoints 10,041, total flown 19,507, total mileage (bonuses, etc.): 26,884. Total spend: $523. The total mileage might be more with the last qualifying flight earning a platinum bonus, but I'm trying not to count too many chickens before they hatch...
The important thing for me is I'll manage to pick up Plat status for little money, in just over a month, all in time for some planned travel later this year. This has been a fairly tough round of travel (and I'm only halfway done), with some amazing adventures (aborted takeoffs, near misses with connections and silly transportation fiascos), but it's also been a true challenge, and a great way to meet new people.