Originally Posted by
msiegel67
I can do a run or two to get 20K QM, but I don't have the money to spend $2400 to get the status. Is there a way around this? Or do you really have to spend $3000 a year to get that status no matter what?
AA currently does not have any spending minimums. The lowest elite level is Gold which is attained at 25,000 miles and offers 100% flight miles plus 25% bonus miles. If you can make it up to 50,000 miles, that comes with 100% flight miles and 100% bonus miles which would offer you a very good return. If you make the 50K tier, that comes with free lounge access on international itineraries.
In terms of AA fares from SFO, right now there are Scandinavia fares out there for $680 through year end, and those would easily bring in 12-13,000 miles towards elite qualification. A few days ago there were $262 Atlanta fares which would bring in about 4,900 miles via ORD. I fly a lot of BOS and DCA trips via DFW when they're around $300 and those are around 5,600 miles RT.
If you wanted to do serious long-haul, SFO-DFW-HKG has been out there a few times in the low $700 range. I'm flying there again in October on a $680 fare. That one is 19,000 miles RT. Do one of these and an east coast trip with around 6,000 miles, and you could have AA gold for around $1,000.