Pony Soup
Jun 11, 09, 2:58 pm
I recently switched airline programs as a result of a move to the DFW area. Since AA won't match status, I took AAdvantage of its DEQM promo to thrash my way to EXP in just over two weeks.
Member since: May 2009
I signed up for a GLD challenge upon joining so that I could start earning miles toward elite upgrades and then got to booking. First move included a day in Dallas, a quick morning RT to/from SFO the next day, and an overnight TATL DFW-MAD that night. The return flight the next day flew by and I was back home by 9pm.
Miles Flown: 13,351
Status: Gold
Followed this up with an even bolder MR to take me to the top. After signing up for the PLT challenge (so I could start earning 100% bonus), I was ready to go.
AUS - DFW - ORD - DEL - ORD - DFW - SCL - DFW - ORD - DEL - ORD - DFW - AUS
The entire MR was upgraded at booking using 4 eVIPs that were donated by a good friend of mine who already enjoys EXP^^. This MR started out well with each flight on time from AUS to DEL. I cleared PLT status after landing in DEL so I was good to go on the bonus miles from there on out.
Spent 3 days in DEL at the Taj Mahal Hotel (A+, great service), made the trip to Agra to see the real Taj, and spent a day at the hotel pool, which was quite refreshing given the summer heat over there.
The DEL airport is a bit of a mess, but I did my HW here on FT and knew what to expect (thanks everyone). The DEL - ORD segment took us almost straight over the N. Pole and got us there about 30 minutes early. Unfortunately, if you beat Customs to work, you wait on the plane. I wish the crew would have been a little more clear about that as I would have preferred to enjoy that 777 J seat instead os standing in the galley waiting for the door to open with no room to move.
I booked myself on the 777 (2345) to DFW that night so that I could spend the day in Chicago working. Took the train into DT and cranked through a busy day before heading back to ORD for the flight to DFW. The 777 was delayed so I got moved to the earlier flight on the Mad Dog - Thanks AC staff, but the SCL flight was delayed as well so I wish I would have just put myself at risk (missing the SCL would have earned me another day of work time in Dallas). In any event, stopped by the gate for the SCL flight to ask whether or not they thought we would make it out. I was pleasantly surprised to receive meal vouchers at the gate and so we enjoyed a nice dinner in Terminal D. The total cam to $29.75 so we just snuck in under the $30 vouchers^
As I hoped, the rest of the trip back to DEL and then home went pretty well. AA staff & crews provided top notch service the entire time, particulary at the ACs. My single biggest problem was that the IFE on my last DEL - ORD flight went black. I was quite annoyed about this but it let me switch to a book since I was just watching tv shows that weren't really that great anyways.
More important than all of that though, are the stats. Now that everything has posted from that trip, I'll share the run down. Note: this does include a couple hundred AA dining miles!
Program to Date Miles: 106,763 (not bad for ONE month)
YTD EQP: 54,885
YTD EQM: 57,104 (Double these soon, please!!)
YTD EQS: 18
Miles toward Elite Upgrades: 49,344
500 mile upgrades: 16
Time in Air: Chrono froze at 99:59:59 somewhere during the first half of the final DEL - ORD flight, so somewhere around 110 hours.
IFE Movies: Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Confessions of a Shopaholic, He's Just Not That In to You, The International, Bolt, Fool's Gold, Horton Hears a Who, Four Christmases, Marley & Me, Yes Man, Bedtime Stories, Get Smart, The Reader, Kill Shot, New in Town, Hotel for Dogs
IFE TV Shows: The Mentalist (5 episodes), House (1), The Office (1), Friday Night Lights (4), 30 Rock (4)
Got to give AA a big ^ as I only encountered two delays (1 weather - was swiftly rebooked to avoid problems), enjoyed the FL and AC lounges, received great service in J on each flight, and thought they have really improved on their food since my last experience (the DEL-ORD options are the least appealing to me, so FEBO was my friend there). Couldn't have asked for much more than I got. A+.
Now that it's done, I can finally rest.
Member since: May 2009
I signed up for a GLD challenge upon joining so that I could start earning miles toward elite upgrades and then got to booking. First move included a day in Dallas, a quick morning RT to/from SFO the next day, and an overnight TATL DFW-MAD that night. The return flight the next day flew by and I was back home by 9pm.
Miles Flown: 13,351
Status: Gold
Followed this up with an even bolder MR to take me to the top. After signing up for the PLT challenge (so I could start earning 100% bonus), I was ready to go.
AUS - DFW - ORD - DEL - ORD - DFW - SCL - DFW - ORD - DEL - ORD - DFW - AUS
The entire MR was upgraded at booking using 4 eVIPs that were donated by a good friend of mine who already enjoys EXP^^. This MR started out well with each flight on time from AUS to DEL. I cleared PLT status after landing in DEL so I was good to go on the bonus miles from there on out.
Spent 3 days in DEL at the Taj Mahal Hotel (A+, great service), made the trip to Agra to see the real Taj, and spent a day at the hotel pool, which was quite refreshing given the summer heat over there.
The DEL airport is a bit of a mess, but I did my HW here on FT and knew what to expect (thanks everyone). The DEL - ORD segment took us almost straight over the N. Pole and got us there about 30 minutes early. Unfortunately, if you beat Customs to work, you wait on the plane. I wish the crew would have been a little more clear about that as I would have preferred to enjoy that 777 J seat instead os standing in the galley waiting for the door to open with no room to move.
I booked myself on the 777 (2345) to DFW that night so that I could spend the day in Chicago working. Took the train into DT and cranked through a busy day before heading back to ORD for the flight to DFW. The 777 was delayed so I got moved to the earlier flight on the Mad Dog - Thanks AC staff, but the SCL flight was delayed as well so I wish I would have just put myself at risk (missing the SCL would have earned me another day of work time in Dallas). In any event, stopped by the gate for the SCL flight to ask whether or not they thought we would make it out. I was pleasantly surprised to receive meal vouchers at the gate and so we enjoyed a nice dinner in Terminal D. The total cam to $29.75 so we just snuck in under the $30 vouchers^
As I hoped, the rest of the trip back to DEL and then home went pretty well. AA staff & crews provided top notch service the entire time, particulary at the ACs. My single biggest problem was that the IFE on my last DEL - ORD flight went black. I was quite annoyed about this but it let me switch to a book since I was just watching tv shows that weren't really that great anyways.
More important than all of that though, are the stats. Now that everything has posted from that trip, I'll share the run down. Note: this does include a couple hundred AA dining miles!
Program to Date Miles: 106,763 (not bad for ONE month)
YTD EQP: 54,885
YTD EQM: 57,104 (Double these soon, please!!)
YTD EQS: 18
Miles toward Elite Upgrades: 49,344
500 mile upgrades: 16
Time in Air: Chrono froze at 99:59:59 somewhere during the first half of the final DEL - ORD flight, so somewhere around 110 hours.
IFE Movies: Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Confessions of a Shopaholic, He's Just Not That In to You, The International, Bolt, Fool's Gold, Horton Hears a Who, Four Christmases, Marley & Me, Yes Man, Bedtime Stories, Get Smart, The Reader, Kill Shot, New in Town, Hotel for Dogs
IFE TV Shows: The Mentalist (5 episodes), House (1), The Office (1), Friday Night Lights (4), 30 Rock (4)
Got to give AA a big ^ as I only encountered two delays (1 weather - was swiftly rebooked to avoid problems), enjoyed the FL and AC lounges, received great service in J on each flight, and thought they have really improved on their food since my last experience (the DEL-ORD options are the least appealing to me, so FEBO was my friend there). Couldn't have asked for much more than I got. A+.
Now that it's done, I can finally rest.