Do you have the AMEX Platinum card - if so, that will give lounge access if travelling on Virgin Australia

Indeed AA requires only 85k and only genuine taxes to be paid ( unless booking on BA/IB)

2 business class r/t a year on eligible airlines would easily maintain Platinum status on AA ( at 10,000 miles each way from UK, would be 60,000 at 1.5 mile per mile flown ) . For $300 you could fast track to Platinum and have the benefits and bonuses after the 1st oneway journey


If flying ARN-DOH-SYD , this is 10,557 miles approx
EQM one way will be 15,836
4 of these would be 63,344 elite qualifying miles

As a Platinum member, In R or I class
10557 + 6335 = 16,892
Do this 4 times for 67,568 award miles

and in JCD class
10557 + 2640 + 6335 = 19532
Do this 4 times for 78,128 award miles

For EQDs , this would be 20% in R or I class = 10557 * .2 = 2112 , so 4 of these gives 8448 EQDs which easily meets Platinum requirements