First things first - I've googled, and searched this forum (and google searched this forum - ie 'aadvantage segment definition site:www.flyertalk.com') but have not found a definitive answer on this as yet.

I'm gold right now and just got my notice from AA that I need x,000 miles, x,000 points, or 6 more segments to re-qualify for next year.

I have a roundtrip planned from STL->SAT via DFW, and another direct STL->ORD roundtrip booked.

Say this is my itinerary:
STL-DFW 1141
DFW-SAT 2213

SAT-DFW 1433
DFW-STL 96

Does the above qualify as 4 segments or 2? From my understanding it should count as four due to all flights having different flight numbers and due to the layover in DFW.

And if STL-SAT via DFW is 4 segments, if I combine that with my roundtrip to ORD, I should requalify for Gold without issue, correct?

fourcorrect

That will be six segments so you should requalify without issue.

Awesome - thank you very much. With AA matching WN's fare sale, I wanted to make sure to hop on any deals necessary.

Four segments, no problem at all. You will make Gold (and earn the 25% status bonus miles) on the actual segment you use to cross the Gold threshold.

Not this time, but what you have to watch for is when you buy a flight with a stop - even if it involves a "change of gauge" (aircraft change) and it has the same flight number. E.g. AA 0048 (iirc, no longer exists) SFO-DFW-ZRH - counts as if it were nonstop SFO-ZRH.

And it gets confusing because sometimes AA may use the same flight number outbound and return - but these have not had problems posting separately, from reports here.

AA48 is to CDG (a huge part of my life for several years ). But yes, it appears the SFO-DFW part no longer exists.

Segment universally = one takeoff and one landing. So far, no 1/2 segments logged

Still have AA 289 BOS-PVG, stopover in ORD and change from 738 to 772. Similar for 288 on reverse, and 153/154 BOS-NRT and reverse with an ORD stopover and change from 738 to 772 . BOS and MIA seem to get most of the international aircraft change continuing same flight numbers on AA from what I've seen.

Not under AAdvantage segment counting unfortunately. If I took my aforementioned AA 289 BOS-ORD, then the same flight number ORD-PVG, it counts as one segment as far as AAdvantage is concerned, despite two takeoffs and two landings. It also only awards mileage credit BOS-PVG as though it were nonstop, not BOS-ORD-PVG. I've yet to log any partial flight segments in your definition though either fortunately .

Just wanted to give you a second voice confirming that the above statement is true. Number of take-offs and landings does not factor in to what a "segment" is at AA.

IIRC, you could call and ask them to split it. I flew DTW --> DFW --> LAX once with a single flight number. AA CS did something so they posted separately and as 2 segments.

No, the industry definition isn't related to takeoff/landings. Rather, that would be the definition of legs.

If a flight operates AAA-BBB-CCC-DDD, it has 6 segments:

1. AAA-BBB
2. BBB-CCC
3. CCC-DDD
4. AAA-CCC
5. AAA-DDD
6. BBB-DDD

1, 2 and 3 would also be considered legs of the various segments.

Many AA flights that go to hubs (DFW, ORD etc.) are listed as flights to other cities where both flights have the same flight number. These days these often involve a change of aircraft and gates. If you are trying to get to elite status by racking up segments this is something to pay close attention to.

I did not realize that the miles are computed as if the flight was a non-stop. I will be more careful about avoiding such flights when I can in the future.

I'm flying DBQ-ORD-DCA-ORD-DFW-JAN in a few weeks.

ORD-DCA and DCA-ORD are both flight 1473. We arrive at DCA at 1:20pm and depart at 2:05pm. Should ORD-DCA and DCA-ORD be considered two segments or just one?

"should be" - a matter of debate/opinion.

But it will be one segment in your AA account.

Sorry CPRich, but in this case, as the same flight number is on an out-and-back, adambrock should get credit for two segments. I'm guessing this is because you cannot "fly" ORD-ORD as a single segment in the GDS/AAdvantage systems, unlike again my earlier example BOS-ORD-PVG, as BOS-PVG could be a segment. Also, adambrock's routing appears to have DBQ-DCA and DCA-JAN as separate underlying fares that simply have been combined into one PNR, "possibly" that makes a difference as well.

I can attest from personal experience (on LAX-SJC segment run with the same inbound and outbound flight number) that I got 2 segments from it.

I am pretty confident that AA technically views a segment has "a takeoff and landing".