<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by smilee:
I want to become Executive Platinum. I fly discount coach so will it take me 200,000 miles to achieve this status. It looks like I only get .5 miles on coach fare, and it takes 100,000. Any tips would be appreciated.
Also is there any half off awards. I am an Alaska member, and for 15,000 points, you can purchase a ticket for half price and you get to keep all the miles.</font>
You will have to fly 100,000 actual flight miles one OneWorld or AA, or get 100,000 qualifying points. Even if you fly discounted coach all the time, you only need to fly 100,000 actual flight miles. The qualifying point scenario is for those business class and first class travelers who qualify somewhat on the basis of paying higher fares by getting bonus points toward elite qualification.
The best way to qualify on the cheap is taking a lot of Net SAAver/internet-special fares. Currently you can go to Argentina for $467 including taxes from NYC. With 9 round-trips you will make EXP quickly. Or you can do NYC-LON for $270-$370 per round trip and do that 12-13 times if you get creative with your routings.
For $3500-$4500 you can qualify on the cheap and get all the goodies including 8 VIPOW upgrades (even for international business on AA) which is a huge benefit for the leisure traveler or the business traveler looking to have comfortable leisure travel in his/her off-time.