DO check the Wiki and the page brp referred you to, Jen. You can earn anything from full EQM to next to nothing - BA transatlantic nothing, minimal token miles between UK and Spain on discounted economy fares. A (30%) percentage of the miles flown on IB on many economy fares, full miles on most AA fares whether on AA or as an AA codeshare on whoever is operating the flight (read the caveats about O and Q fares.)

As to your post, if you don't earn EQM, you will not earn any EQ Points - which are earned on a basis of your EQM and fare paid (from 0.5 to 1.5 EQP per EQM on AA fares.)

Once you get a handle on these, you'll be able to better strategize your status maintenance / increase- and FlyerTalk can be a big help in this.

As to distances, DFW-MIA-MAD r/t = ~11090 mi (on AA or AA codeshare on IB)
via ORD, 10006 mi (AA codeshare on IB)
via JFK, 9959 mi (AA codeshare on IB)
via SJU, 12267 mi (AA makes a codeshare on IB)
via MEX, 13155 mi (IB between MEX and MAD, so you have to be aware of the fare class)

etc. Ideally, you can find longer / more segments and less money to make your travel and status goal... Some flyertalkers would do DFW-LAX-SEA-ORD... if they could.