Last edit by: JDiver
Earning Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD) on AA and partner airlines
Minimum Spend" requirement for each status tier began 1 Jan 2017
Minimum Spend" requirement for each status tier began 1 Jan 2017
In addition to the required EQM or EQS (same as 2016) to earn status in 2017 and onward one must also earn "Elite Qualifying Dollars" / "EQD" spend credit as follows (during the calendar year):
"Starting January 1, 2017, we’ll add Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs) to our earning requirements. Qualify in 1 of 2 ways:
- Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) + Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs)
- Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs) + Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs)
EQDs will be awarded based on:
- Ticket price (base fare plus carrier-imposed fees, excluding any government-imposed taxes and fees) on American-marketed flights
- Flights marketed by oneworld® carriers, "Special Fares" such as some AA Vacations flights, Thank You Points purchased fares, etc. earn EQDs based on a percentage of the flight distance and the fare class purchased
With the addition of EQDs, the rule that 4 segments must be traveled on American or American Eagle during the qualifying year to receive elite status has been eliminated.
NOTE: EQD credit varies for "Special Fares" (e.g. "select flights" included in AAVacations packages), and the chart for those changed on 11 Jan 2017. See here.2019 Status qualification tiers and requirements: link
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aa.com: aa.com is updated to show EQM, EQD and RDM/AW for your convenience when booking and in your account for keeping informed about your accruals.
Another impact of EQD is on upgrade priority within status tiers instead of time of upgrade request (FYI only, not discussion here):
Change to upgrade priority to EQD-based priority
The way your upgrade request is prioritized changed in 2017. You’ll be listed according to the type of upgrade, by your elite status level followed by the number of EQDs earned in the last 12 months. The date of upgrade request will no longer be used except to break ties not resolved by higher priority levels. Applies both upgrade request and airport list if request goes to airport list.
Partners (AS and oneworld): accrual of EQM and EQD as reflected on charts on aa.com.
FAQ
Q. How will AA EQD be calculated?
Yes: Base fare plus carrier imposed fees, e.g. YQ etc. (Status buyup fees will count.)
No: Taxes, government or airport imposed fees, e.g. PSC, APD, TSA, etc. and ancillary fees (see below)
Q. How will flights on other oneworld carriers, AS, and "Special Fares" qualify for EQD?
Partner earning tables are here and special fare table here on aa.com.
Q. Will checked bag fees, seat purchases, LFBU and 500-mile upgrades, buy miles, or other products/service fees count toward earning award miles and EQDs? (AA FAQ)
No, only the base fare paid for your ticket including any carrier-imposed fees will count toward earning award miles and EQDs. Fees for other products or services will not be awarded miles or EQDs, including but not limited to the following: checked (or overweight) baggage fees, Admirals Club® memberships (or passes), Wi-Fi passes, in-flight food and beverage purchases, in-flight entertainment, unaccompanied minor fees, pet travel fees, 500-mile upgrades, mileage upgrade cash co-payments, Mileage Multiplier, BuyMiles, GiftMiles, ShareMiles or other mileage purchases, ticket change fees, ticketing fees, same-day confirmed flight change or standby fees and service charges. (Status buyup fees will count, however.)
Resources:
GLOSSARY:
EQD: Elite Qualifying Dollars (base fare + carrier imposed fees, - government imposed taxes and fees
EQM: Elite Qualifying Miles (accrual depends on fare basis, airline and base miles flown)
EQS: Elite Qualifying Segments (discrete segment marketed as AA)
Platinum Pro: new tier beginning 1/1/17 requiring $9,000 EQD and 75,000 EQM or 90 EQS in one calendar year
Links
Link to FT: JUST THE FACTS: EQD, status tier, other changes announced 6 Jun 2016
Link to AAdvantage Program Updates page on aa.com (including FAQ).
Link to Gary Leff's "View from the Wing" blog article on these changes.
Link to Ben "Lucky" Schlappig's take in "One Mile at a Time" on View From the Boarding Area
GUIDE: Earning EQD / Elite Qualifying Dollars on AA & partner airlines (as of 2019)
#346
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
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#347
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,704
I see. The full fare class is what confused me. Great tip about external FFP, @Dave Noble.
Last edited by italdesign; Aug 15, 2017 at 6:55 pm
#348
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
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#349
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: The Frozen Tundra
Programs: Former AA EXP, DL PM, BAEC Bronze, SPG GOLD, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 159
Yes, in IRROPS (when moved to another carrier or even another AA flight), it's a dice-roll as to how many EQD you'll get.
I periodically go through my activity on AA.com and look for any segments which were posted by Distance (instead of Fare). Sometimes there's a good reason for them to be posted by distance (e.g. AAVacations). I recently asked AAdvantage to correct the posting for 4 past segments. It took them two weeks, but they did correct it eventually.
I periodically go through my activity on AA.com and look for any segments which were posted by Distance (instead of Fare). Sometimes there's a good reason for them to be posted by distance (e.g. AAVacations). I recently asked AAdvantage to correct the posting for 4 past segments. It took them two weeks, but they did correct it eventually.
#350
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA & UK -- AA EXP 3.5MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis President's Club
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You can check it yourself on AA.com. Home page --> My Account --> Activity ... then select the date range you want. It clusters the segments together by ticket. Click on any ticket to see the individual segments. It will show the fare method used to compute miles and EQD for each segment. "Fare" is good. "Distance" or "Other" means that you may have been short-changed.
#351
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Cheers.
#352
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: The Frozen Tundra
Programs: Former AA EXP, DL PM, BAEC Bronze, SPG GOLD, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 159
You can check it yourself on AA.com. Home page --> My Account --> Activity ... then select the date range you want. It clusters the segments together by ticket. Click on any ticket to see the individual segments. It will show the fare method used to compute miles and EQD for each segment. "Fare" is good. "Distance" or "Other" means that you may have been short-changed.
#354
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
If it is AA marketing -- Ie an AA flight number then EQDs will be per $. If it has a JAL flight number EQDs will be per the jal earning chart.
#357
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
Distance-based EQDs are based on the actual distance flown. The 500 mile minimum applies to EQMs only, not even to RDMs.
#358
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA & UK -- AA EXP 3.5MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis President's Club
Posts: 6,411
Very case-dependent. With "Fare" is is never possible to get 1 EQD/$ because there are always. Often closer to about 0.8. With "Distance" of "Other" is is quite easy to get > 1 EQD/$, particularly with premium fares. I'd contend that it's easier to be short-changed with "Fare" than "Distance."
Cheers.
Cheers.
Conclusion: When you write in to get ORC, they always post "something". The "something" is correct about half the time. When it's incorrect and if you're shortchanged and if you wrote it,, AAdvantage will gladly correct it.
#359
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,004
Are EQD's posted at time of ticket purchase or during actual travel time? Below are two examples.
I bought a ticket dfw-lhr in June for November travel $1300
I bought a ticket dfw-pvg a few weeks ago for February 2018 travel $1500
Thanks
I bought a ticket dfw-lhr in June for November travel $1300
I bought a ticket dfw-pvg a few weeks ago for February 2018 travel $1500
Thanks
#360
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
You receive credit for the EQD's at the time of travel.