Originally Posted by Emma65
But - here it comes - booking class would be N which I understand earns 25% of the miles and 1Qpoint per mile earned. Does this mean I get 25% of the 1780 in qpoints?
If that is the case I stand no chance of making the gold challenge,
Well essentially, that is correct. You'll get only 445 EQP. (Technicially, you're getting 25% of the MILES, then getting the points on top of that).
Originally Posted by Emma65
I'm also interested in what the benefits of being gold/plat are with advantage. I'm reading the sticky and the AA site and from what I can tell you have to pay a membership fee to get lounge access (which is important to me) regardless of if you are gold/plat. Is this true?
/E
Yes - you either pay a (reduced) fee, or pay (reduced) mileage... no automatic complimentary access for GLD/PLT (well, for PLTs if on an int'l OW itinerary).
But of course, you can always try for EXP ^