Mileage Run Deals - Critique this AA MR

This is my second MR after doing the first one last month to get the 25k from AA's FLY06 promo. I did EWR-ORD, ORD-MSP and ORD-MCO, giving me a total of 5,296 EQP.

Then I decided to sign up for Plat challenge knowing that I'll be doing a transcon next month (EWR-ORD-PSP). Seems like that one is going to give me around 2,367 EQP so I'll be short by 2,337.

What do you guys think about this one:

Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES 2453 Boeing 757 Passenger(757) Booking Code: O
Departure: PHL Philadelphia 11:35 AM 3HR 35MIN
Arrival: DFW Dallas/ Fort Worth 02:10 PM


Date: 10Apr - Tuesday
Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES 2453 Boeing 757 Passenger(757) Booking Code: O
Departure: DFW Dallas/ Fort Worth 03:05 PM 3HR 15MIN
Arrival: LAX Los Angeles 04:20 PM


Date: 10Apr - Tuesday
Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES
OPERATED BY ALASKA AIRLINES 6827 Boeing 737 Passenger(737) Booking Code: O
Departure: LAX Los Angeles 07:10 PM 2HR 21MIN
Arrival: PDX Portland 09:31 PM


Date: 11Apr - Wednesday
Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES
OPERATED BY ALASKA AIRLINES 6768 Boeing 737 Passenger(737) Booking Code: O
Departure: PDX Portland 09:35 AM 2HR 22MIN
Arrival: LAX Los Angeles 11:57 AM



Date: 11Apr - Wednesday
Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES 2452 Boeing 737-800 Passenger(738) Booking Code: O
Departure: LAX Los Angeles 03:20 PM 3HR 0MIN
Arrival: DFW Dallas/ Fort Worth 08:20 PM



Date: 11Apr - Wednesday
Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES 1346 Boeing 737-800 Passenger(738) Booking Code: O
Departure: DFW Dallas/ Fort Worth 09:00 PM 2HR 55MIN
Arrival: PHL Philadelphia 12:55 AM

Seems like that's the best I could find for that many miles (6,750) to complete the run before 4/16. I'm averaging 0.031, and since I'll be staying over, including a hotel, it comes to 0.039.

The cons are:
1. The trip down to PHL (from NNJ)
2. Week run (I'll be taking two days off)
3. Hotel cost (from Hotwire, a 2.5* hotel for $63)
4. Does it matter/affect that LAX-PDX flights are Alaska operated?

Would you consider it a good run? Any tips/advices are appreciated - it need to be a domestic run though -

Thanks :cool:

Note that this is an O class fare--- meaning you earn only 50% elite credit.

Given that, consider segments, which earn 500 elite points regardless of class of service. Something like, say, LGA-DCA-RDU-xxx-RDU-LGA would give you more than the 2500 you need, and you can likely do it in a day with no hotel.

So are you saying that you signed up for the PLAT challenge AFTER the 5,xxx EQPs?

Plat challenge is 10K EQP so he'd have to be including the original 5K plus the PSP 2.5K to have only 2.5K remaining.

Having just finished a Plat Challenge, I'd suggest the little RJ segments for the 500 points as previously noted. We had a variety of travel we were doing anyway so it wasn't too complicated, but we did add a little bit of extra travel in there. Keeping in mind that RDU-DFW-DEN and RDU-DCA-LGA would get basically the same Q-points on cheap tickets, I think I'd rather take the quick trip up the east coast next time if I need some more Q-points.

So are you saying that you signed up for the PLAT challenge AFTER the 5,xxx EQPs?

I signed up while MRing... of course the miles weren't posted when I called, so the 5k counted towards the challenge.


Plat challenge is 10K EQP so he'd have to be including the original 5K plus the PSP 2.5K to have only 2.5K remaining.

Having just finished a Plat Challenge, I'd suggest the little RJ segments for the 500 points as previously noted. We had a variety of travel we were doing anyway so it wasn't too complicated, but we did add a little bit of extra travel in there. Keeping in mind that RDU-DFW-DEN and RDU-DCA-LGA would get basically the same Q-points on cheap tickets, I think I'd rather take the quick trip up the east coast next time if I need some more Q-points.

I didn't think about the 500 segments since I thought they would be more expensive. I'm getting the PHL-PDX-PHL run for $206.40 all in and as Viajero Joven said, only half counting towards the challenge (EQP 3,375)

Thanks for your tips ^

So if i decide to go with the shorter flights, I will still get 50% of the actual miles if booking in Q, correct? I found LGA-PT-LGA for $78 all in, (booking code is Q) so based on your recommendation, I would need to fly 9 segments to get the 2200 EQP. Is this correct? :confused:

So if i decide to go with the shorter flights, I will still get 50% of the actual miles if booking in Q, correct? I found LGA-PT-LGA for $78 all in, (booking code is Q) so based on your recommendation, I would need to fly 9 segments to get the 2200 EQP. Is this correct? :confused:

The minimum is always 500 EQM on AA, so LGA-PIT-LGA is 1000 EQM and 1000 EQP. segments would do it. Keep in mind that a 700 miles segment gives you 500 EQM not 350.

If you started your challenge in 2007, you get no credit at all for the Alaska flights. This according to the wiki and to the CSR I spoke to yesterday about signing up for a challenge.

The minimum is always 500 EQM on AA

regardless of the booking code? I'm booked on Q



If you started your challenge in 2007, you get no credit at all for the Alaska flights. This according to the wiki and to the CSR I spoke to yesterday about signing up for a challenge.

Yes, I started it on 1/16. Ironic I was reading the AA forums and all FTers swear all Alaska flights count towards EQP :confused: I thought I was going to be fine if going LAX-PDX-LAX with AS... confused :rolleyes:

Yes, I started it on 1/16. Ironic I was reading the AA forums and all FTers swear all Alaska flights count towards EQP :confused: I thought I was going to be fine if going LAX-PDX-LAX with AS... confused :rolleyes:

I noticed a message a few weeks ago on the AA board regarding the rule changes for challenges. EQP/EQM for Alaska flights is true for normal everyday mileage accrual. However, for the challenges, the points must be all on AA metal.

I noticed a message a few weeks ago on the AA board regarding the rule changes for challenges. EQP/EQM for Alaska flights is true for normal everyday mileage accrual. However, for the challenges, the points must be all on AA metal.

Metal yes, but also codeshares too, I believe. AS flight numbers don't count, as mentioned, but a codeshare would.

Metal yes, but also codeshares too, I believe. AS flight numbers don't count, as mentioned, but a codeshare would.

So those two flights would count, aren't they AA flight numbers (codeshare)?

As long as it's an AA code share, with your flight number being AA, it counts for the Challenge. AA metal not required.

See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7041940&postcount=14 for the email you should have received when you started the Challenge.
"For Challenges that start on January 1, 2007 and later, only points earned on American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection flights (including AA codeshare flights operated by other carriers) will count toward Challenges."

So those two flights would count, aren't they AA flight numbers (codeshare)?

Yes, exactly.

for the email you should have received when you started the Challenge.

Thanks! I never received and email, and I asked the CSR and she said no emails will be sent...

If you dee to go the segment route, then yes you can either do a few PITs, or try to do a double/triple connection to somewhere a little farther--- or you could always string together a few cities in a circle trip: I'm thinking something like, say, LGA-PIT, then PIT--xxx--LGA with xxx requiring a connection via a hub. BNA may have potential with connections via DCA, RDU, and/or ORD. Play on ITA for a bit and I expect you'll find something close to the price of the PDX. For me, it's a bit past my bedtime now. :p

So based on your tips, it came down to two options:

Small segments or West Coast Trip:

1. LGA-PTI-LGA and LGA-BOS-DCA-LGA for a total of $239 and 2,500 EQP

2. EWR-BOS-DFW-PHX with return PHX-SEA-DFW-EWR for $206 + hotel, 7,075 total miles and 3,537 EQP.

I thought option 2 would be more interesting, with the chance to overnight in PHX and since I've never been there, it could be fun (hope I can get a decent hotel rate by the airport).

Thanks for your advices! ^

So based on your tips, it came down to two options:

Small segments or West Coast Trip:

1. LGA-PTI-LGA and LGA-BOS-DCA-LGA for a total of $239 and 2,500 EQP

2. EWR-BOS-DFW-PHX with return PHX-SEA-DFW-EWR for $206 + hotel, 7,075 total miles and 3,537 EQP.

I thought option 2 would be more interesting, with the chance to overnight in PHX and since I've never been there, it could be fun (hope I can get a decent hotel rate by the airport).

Thanks for your advices! ^

On VJ suggestion I got the Hilton Airport on priceline for about $50,maybe less.No pts though.

It would probably hep if you were more clear regarding whether you want to take some time off and visit a city, or you would like to do it in one day. If time off is an issue than I would just take a short run.

If you want to do a short run, I'd try a double connection to ORD as the fare is cheap right now. I'm not sure about the routing rules on the fare, but how about LGA-DCA-BOS-ORD