<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by OffToAmsterdam:
Looking over the AA site to check out the program and prices for flights. If I understand correctly, you do not get mile for mile points unless you pay full fare. Since your employer has you go on the lowest fare, do you end up only earning 1/2 the miles? And it is STILL better than DL? Really says something about DL.
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AA has two "programs", Q-miles/points and miles.
You can earn elite status just like all the other airlines by flying miles or segments. I fly tons of segments so I am not really sure any more what the mileage tiers are. One flown mile equals one FF mile. I think you earn elite levels as follows: 25k miles/30 segments for Gold, 50k miles/60 segments for Platinum, 100k miles for Executive Platinum.
Or, you can earn Executive Platinum status by earning Q-points. AA awards Q-points based on the class of service you fly. Discount economy earns .5 Q-point per mile flown, full economy earns 1.0 Q-point per mile flown, and premium cabins earn 1.5 Q-points per mile flown. Executive Platinum status can also be achieved by earning 100k Q-points (~66.667 flown miles in premium cabins).
So, with AA, if you are a premium cabin type of person, you will get the recegnition you deserve and get top tier status while having flown less actual miles. Or, if you are like I am and the company makes you fly economy, then you earn your elite status via actual flown miles.
Come on over to AA, you'll never look back.
[This message has been edited by onedog (edited 11-04-2002).]