I agree that "partitioning" a DONEx across multiple qualifying years is a great idea when crediting to AA. Consider that PEY/Y+ fares are normally quite $$ efficient ways of generating EQP (perhaps except from Australia/HKG). In using one or more of those fares as positioning/partitioning, getting to the 100K EQP becomes somewhat more practical. In the day, SIN to Canada/USA on those fares worked quite well for me.

Maybe I'll get a chance to try a xONEx again before the ZAR exchange rate forces re-pricing...

Happy wandering

Fred