Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: St. Louis, MO - AA PLT/2.98MM (Lifetime PLT), Delta PM, SPG Gold, AMEX Plat
Programs: TW Elite (RIP), CO OnePass
Posts: 1,923
I used segment runs to qualify for EXP in 2006 and 2007. Best options back then were when Southwest had $39 or $49 one-way fares to cities such as OMA, CLE, OKC, CMH and DTW which AA offered connections in DFW or ORD.
Sadly, you're not going to find fares like that much anymore.
Best option might be to find a fare to the west coast that allows two connections... maybe SAN via ORD or DFW and LAX.
Greg