Originally Posted by
jkuok
Thanks so the "Base Miles (elite qualifying)" is just RDM before the March changes kick in?
No. As I understand base miles (a base measure used to calculate other AAdvantage benefits):
Currently, base miles are actual miles flown ("butt in seat"); they are usually EQM as well, as we currently earn one EQM per base mile. Base miles are merely mileposts, and EQM, RDM including bonus miles are calculated as percentages of base miles (rather than EQM, which occasionally have been greater than 1:1 during some promos and offers.
Base miles will remain a base for calculating 0.5 to 3.0 EQM per base mile, and RDM will be calculated on dollars spent - including airline imposed fees, a clouding fees and government imposed fees such as ag inspection, TSA, etc.
But - currently, EQM are also Redeemable and accrue for awards. It appears to me the EQM of the future will no longer do so, and will in effect replace EQP as milestones used in determining status only.
I believe the EQP promo this year was somewhat of a prototype trial, if you will, leading up to next year's use of EQM as a measure with no redeemable value. In essence, in my eyes, EQP merely get renamed EQM and the EQM we have today are going away.