Let me know (please) if I'm thinking this through clearly:
We are both LT Plat, so we can rest on that. Let's say that we're not going to try for EXP again (after like 10 years) in 2019. Then we have OW Sapphire, Business Lounges, etc.
Now, we shoot for BA Silver. 600 Tier Points. Looks like a SFO-MIA or SFO_JFK 2-class business nets 140 Tier Points. So only about 4 of these.
While still Sapphire this also affords AC and FL access on AA domestic flights.
Is it that straightforward, or am I miscalculating?
Cheers.
Also need the minimum 4 BA metal segments in there. Hardly worth it unless you're doing it anyway. Better to get lounge access in another way. I fly mainly international trips so I'm covered even with LT PLT, though I will miss the FC lounges especially at HKG and the QF at LAX. When I have domestic trips, I can use my BE points for day passes, or just hang out at the gate.
The changes were expected. Since AA moved to EQD's for qualifications, my AA spend has trended down.
2016: Total spend $8571 with $6600 on AA;
2017: Total spend $5524 with $1514 on AA (requalified wih 17k+ EQD's
2018 Total spend: $6871 with $2600 on AA (requaified with 12k EQD's
and
2019: Estimated total AA spend of $2000, $1413 already ticketed for PEK-LAX-HKG-PEK and will add another HKG-LAX to use my (last) 4 SWU's until I cross 5MM probably 2020..
There are still inexpensive ways to get 15k EQD's and 150k EQM's with CX and BA PE fares, and one routing that CX offers a decent schedule on, costs $965 RT, and would require only 4.5 RT's (pushing the return into the next year of course,) and generates 112k EQM's and 165k RDM's. I wonder how much rev AA generates from those miles. Total cost of $4421 and no need for SWU's.
I'll be happy with my AA LT PLT and *A Gold (OZ thru 2021.) Expectations in check always.