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)
#481
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: NYC
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 28
Question - If I fly a route that is under 500 miles as AA Platinum, but fly on a first class fare with 2X EQM, do I earn a minimum of 1000 EQM since elites get the 500 mile rounding up? Or do I just earn 2X EQM.
Which would be correct:
A) 300 miles in first = 600 EQM
B) 300 miles in first = 1000 EQM
Which would be correct:
A) 300 miles in first = 600 EQM
B) 300 miles in first = 1000 EQM
#482
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
Question - If I fly a route that is under 500 miles as AA Platinum, but fly on a first class fare with 2X EQM, do I earn a minimum of 1000 EQM since elites get the 500 mile rounding up? Or do I just earn 2X EQM.
Which would be correct:
A) 300 miles in first = 600 EQM
B) 300 miles in first = 1000 EQM
Which would be correct:
A) 300 miles in first = 600 EQM
B) 300 miles in first = 1000 EQM
From https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...p#mileagebonus
Originally Posted by AA
AAdvantage® members have a base of 500 EQMs for flights under 500 miles on American, oneworld® airlines and Alaska Airlines. To calculate final EQMs earned, the multiplier for airline and booking code flown is applied to this base.
#483
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: NYC
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 28
(b) 1000 will be earned if it is a 1st class fare that earns at the rate of 2x
From https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...p#mileagebonus
From https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...p#mileagebonus
#484
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 19
Ok, I am 1000 EQD short for Platinum. I'm currently in NY and willing to do as needed to get those remaining EQD, but preferably for less than a ~$1300 flight will cost me. Over the next two weekends I'd be willing to do a flight run to support this. Open to any suggestions, thanks!
#485
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Ok, I am 1000 EQD short for Platinum. I'm currently in NY and willing to do as needed to get those remaining EQD, but preferably for less than a ~$1300 flight will cost me. Over the next two weekends I'd be willing to do a flight run to support this. Open to any suggestions, thanks!
#486
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 375
Check this thread for some MR options.
#487
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 19
Check this thread for some MR options.
#488
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 78
I was rebooked from JL to NH. Do I still get the EQDs?
Hello
I was flying ORD-NRT-PEK-NRT-ORD
4 legs, AA, JL, JL, AA
There was an delay in the return JL flight and AA switched me to NH.
Will I still get EQDs for that portion of the trip?
I was flying ORD-NRT-PEK-NRT-ORD
4 legs, AA, JL, JL, AA
There was an delay in the return JL flight and AA switched me to NH.
Will I still get EQDs for that portion of the trip?
#489
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SMF
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 77
You might have to contact AA and explain the situation. I don't think that the miles/EQD will post automatically. On the positive side you can credit the miles for your NH flight (which was probably purchased on full Y fare) to a Star Alliance FFP.
#490
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,781
The operative term is probably "original routing credit," right?
#493
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
#494
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: Alaska mvp G, AA Exec Plat, Marriott/SPG platinum, United Silver, Delta Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 165
help
Hey guys .. I am $573 EQD short of platinum for next year... is there ever any way to get more EQD or is it only the amount you spent... I was reading some site about your status or booking code could increase your EQD.. special rates?? Any help would be great ! thanks
#495
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 375
Hey guys .. I am $573 EQD short of platinum for next year... is there ever any way to get more EQD or is it only the amount you spent... I was reading some site about your status or booking code could increase your EQD.. special rates?? Any help would be great ! thanks