paradocs-
I did this on the 4th of July sales on AA. I purchased one ticket ORD-SJC with a departure early AM to SJC on 7/4 and a late return to ORD on July 5. I then boaught a different ticket SJC-xORD-MIA the afternoon of July 4th and then a morning MIA-xLAX-SJC on July %th that would get me to SJC in time to catch my SJC-ORD flight from ticket #1. I earned about 9,500 qualifying miles and (with my PLT bonus, double mile bonus for the ORD/SJC legs, booking online and using the Self Service Kiosks to check-in) almost 28,000 total miles!