Not sure if this really qualifies as MR, but I don't normally do same-day turns. I like to at least see the destination and make it into a mini-vacation.

To make EXP last year, a few good fares and events lined up nicely exactly a year ago this week. A friend was in LAS for a conference, another friend was in SF for a week, there was a cheap J fare SFO-SJU via JFK, and I needed to end up in TN for Thanksgiving. I ended up flying CAE-DFW-LAS, spent a few days there, then took my first ever B6 flight up to SF (for like ~$40). After a long weekend in SF, flew transcon J to JFK, spent most of the day at the T8 AC working, then flew JFK-SJU. Had a fun day in PR, then flew SJU-MIA-BNA, just in time for my wife to drive through and pick me up. On a side note, the Amex Centurion lounge at MIA was a ZOO the day before Thanksgiving -- I've never had to wait for people to leave in order to be admitted into a lounge before.

Couple of weeks after that, a super-cheap fare CLT-HKG took me over the threshold for EXP. I flew CLT-ORD-PVG-HKG-DFW-CLT. Spent two lovely days in HGK and made EXP on my HKG-DFW flight. I got to enjoy the Sakura lounge at NRT and The Bridge at HGK (The Pier was closed for renovations IIRC).

Two nice MRs this year, one to CGK for cheaper than what I've paid for mid-week coach fares to PHL, and one to KUL just a few weeks ago. Missed the SWU clearing on the DFW-HKG flight by 2, but all other TPAC upgrades cleared!

I've really enjoyed the flying (required and not) on AA / oneworld in the past year. They've taken me to LAS, SFO, SJU, WAS, HKG (one of my favorite places to visit), CGK, FCO, ARN, and KUL. With the mixture of paid premium and SWUs, I've enjoyed J in 32T, 77W, and 788. Every domestic upgrade I was eligible for cleared this year, mostly at T+24 (none at T-100), and some came down to the gate, but eventually cleared. I was miraculously spared of any horrendous IROP, and even snagged a VDB (which effectively paid for one of the above trips).

With the revenue-based RDM earnings and EQDs coming next year, I will alas (or fortuitously?) no longer be able to remain loyal to AA. Unless there's a well-priced premium fare available, I will be buying cheapest Y fare to where I need to go. This will, sadly, probably also mean less discretionary travel, which has been a great way to see places I would otherwise never have a chance to, while having fun and earning miles/status.