follonica2

Am new Plat flyer with AA. Just examined my latest statement and realized there is no way to obtain a breakdown of status points accumulation. Check with service desk, including a supervisor, revealed that this info is not available to the member online. Anywhere. They can accumulate it but can't show the breakdown.

This is like my bank sending me a statement at the end of the month, with just a total figure.

Ridiculous.

Microwave

Help Desk: AA Miles and Points Math

AA Miles and Points Math is a frequent source of confusion, as the View My Miles page on AA.com does not provide a detailed breakdown of miles and points credited for each flight. As our family now includes many members from US Airways Dividend Miles who may be unclear on how different types of accruals are calculated, this Help Desk has been created in the Combined forum to assist members getting answers. The previous AA Miles and Points Math Help Desk thread in the pre-merger AA forum is archived and visible here.

There are three important terms to understand:
*AA uses the term Base Miles (elite status qualifying) and Base Miles in their mileage earning charts now. These are occasionally referred to on FT as "Butt-in-seat" or "BIS" miles. Each elite qualifying mile will also be awarded as a redeemable mile, and other bonus miles may be awarded as well depending on fare, airline and elite status. Only these "base" miles count as elite qualifying miles. Generally elites will earn a minimum "base miles" per segment, so when the minimum kicks in the user will earn extra redeemable and elite qualifying miles to bring him or her up to the minimum for that segment.

AAdvantage members can qualify for annual elite status based on either EQM, EQP or segments. In general, other than by reaching spend thresholds on certain specific AA credit cards, the only way to earn EQM and EQP is by flying (butt-in-seat). Conversely, RDM are miles from all sources (flying, bonuses, credit cards, etc.) and these are the miles that can be redeemed for awards. Note especially that Challenges are based solely on EQP (not EQM), while lifetime status is based on RDM.

A detailed explanation of mileage and point calculations can be found in the wiki page below. The basics are as follows: Passengers fly one Base Mile and earn one EQM (which is also one RDM) for each mile flown on AA; elite members receive a minimum of 500 EQM and 500 RDM per segment on AA or US marketed flights. EQP are calculated as a function of EQM, based on the fare class purchased (not flown). Elites and those purchasing premium fares also receive bonus RDM.

Passengers can also receive EQM, EQP, and RDM on oneworld partners and Alaska Airlines, subject to certain fare restrictions and accrual rules. Passengers on most other partner airlines receive RDM only. N.B. Base miles may be none to a percentage or full flown miles on partners; it is crucial to check partner "miles awarded" charts to determine if, or how many, Base Miles will be granted, whether those miles are elite qualifying, and what multiplier will be applied to EQM to arrive at the number of EQP. Start here.

For flight entries on the View My Miles page, the Mileage column shows actual miles flown while the Bonus column shows elite minimum and bonus RDM lumped together. Some FlyerTalkers maintain their own spreadsheets and save intermediate versions of their AA statements (or YTD values) to ensure that all of their flights post correctly.

Please see the following resources for full details on AA Miles and Points, as well as miles calculations:
The AA Miles and Points Math Help Desk

To assist members with questions about AA Miles and Points that they have not been able to answer on their own using the above resources, the AA Moderator team has established this, the second in a series "Help Desk" threads.

New threads on this topic will be merged into this one and bumped by the moderators as necessary. As such, we do not expect that this thread will develop into a searchable database, but that it will nonetheless provide a valuable resource to members. As well, we may shed / pare down posts from time to time to a trailing thread or similar device.

Our goal is to provide a place where members can feel welcome to post such questions and expect helpful, accurate responses. In this way, we hope to accommodate the needs and desires of both new and veteran members - those who aren't sure they are interpreting the available resources correctly can ask for help without fear of snarky-appearing responses; those who do not wish to participate in such threads are invited and, indeed, encouraged, to ignore this thread.

Please be forewarned: This thread will be subject to heavy moderation. Posts that are incorrect will be subject to deletion without notice - DO NOT POST answers unless you are 100% sure your answer is complete and correct. Posts that are unhelpful or off-topic will also be subject to deletion without notice - DO NOT POST unless you can be friendly, helpful, concise, and salient.

Finally, a few guidelines for members posting queries to this thread:Sincerely,
The AA Moderator Team

RogerD408

AA tracks too many numbers to present simply to the customer. Your bank may only tracks dollars (and maybe reward points) and that's a breeze. AA has MM miles, program miles, EQMs, EQPs, EQSs, RDMs, Bonus miles, and BIS miles. And some are not as straight forward as you would hope (i.e. 500 EQM minimum).

Personally, I use a spreadsheet to track what I have flown and what I am planning on flying. This allows me to see how I should end the year and determine if a MR or two (or more) are needed to keep/make status. I've grown my to include tracking flight/layover times to plan activities (meals, club access, and hotel selections).

I was overwhelmed when first moving to AA. Many travellers will know how they expect to qualify (miles, points, segments) and can focus on that keeping their tracking info as simple as they can.

Welcome to mAAth.

follonica2

Sorry, I don't buy the too many numbers statement. United has just as many numbers and manages to track and clearly present qualifying activity (EQMs there). AA dropped this particular ball. I shudder to think what else I'll find.

And spreadsheets are not everyone's forte. I can and do use them, and it looks like I'll have to here.

I stand by my original statement.

Ridiculous.

RogerD408

I never said it wasn't. Just what it's been and will likely remain. I've been exclusive (pretty much) to AA for going on 20 years so I've adapted.

If you do some searching (both here and Google) you'll probably find an existing sheet that will work for you. I built my own and added to it over time.

follonica2

Actually, a columnar pad and #2 pencil could easily handle tracking the elite points.

But that's not my point, pun semi-intended. Members shouldn't have to do the work themselves. In 2015, it's inexcusable.

So, what other little programming inAAdequacies do I have to look forward to?

PepeBorja

Recently flew US MCO to CLT and my account shows only a 468 mile credit for EQM. Is that the new policy? I thought the 500 mile rules was untouched. What am I missing here?

Description US AIRWAYS 0746 Y MCO CLT
Date 04/16/15
Mileage 468
Bonus 532
Total 1,000

The million miler tab shows same. 468 miles.

Dave Noble

That line does not indicate what the annual EQM earning was

It simply shows base miles, plus the rest displayed as bonus miles

The annual EQM count will have increased by 500

PepeBorja

The million miler tab shows 468.

Is there a link where I can see the earnings like the us air site had where it displayed all 3 amounts at once?

ty97

I flew DFW-AUS (183 miles) earlier this month. My million miler status reflects 183 (actual miles flown) and my Activity reflects 183 mileage plus 817 bonus, for a total of 1000 RDM (500 x 2 since I am AA PLAT).

However, I can assure you that 500 EQMs posted because I track my EQMs as they post.

Assuming you continue to be elite (your profiles lists US Plat so I assume you are now AA PLAT?) you will have received 500 EQM and should see 532 in the 'Bonus' column next to the 468 mileage in your activity.

ty97

Unfortunately no. AA does not itemize EQM (or EQP) accrual anywhere. (Would be nice if they did)

PepeBorja

Profile is outdated. Was Chairman now PLAT EXEC.

I'm in the trust but verify camp. Be nice to see how the needle moves.

So the Million Miler is about real miles flown but get 500 EQM minimum?

I'm on MIA-MCO plan right now. Will take a screen shot of my account now and then when things post.

Many thanks.

ty97

Right, as an AA Elite you will receive the 500 mile EQM minimum. I track all of my expected EQMs in a spreadsheet to make sure they post as expected and that the total is accurate. Hopefully AA will someday rid me of the need to do this

dml105

The true mileage is 468 miles. Therefore, a bonus of 32 miles is required to meet the 500-mile minimum. Add that to your 100% Platinum bonus and you get the 532 Bonus mileage.

I think they break it up like this because the million miler total is based on true miles, not minimum miles.

vasantn

The MM counter does not use the minimum miles, only miles actually flown.

Sadly, no.