AA Base & Bonus Mileage, EQM and EQD Accruage
Mar 18, 2019, 1:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 4
AA Base & Bonus Mileage, EQM and EQD Accruage
Got a question for all the American Airlines frequent fliers. I’m currently Platinum Pro. I fly the JFK - HKG via LAX route 4 times a year. I usually purchase an economy ticket. Regarding accruing Base and bonus Miles, EQD and EQM is more beneficial for me purchase my ticket on Cathay(flying AA or Cathay) or purchase on AA?
A friend of mine who’s EP bought a Premium Economy ticket on Cathay and operated by Cathay from JFK - HKG. I’m Platium Pro and I bought an Economy ticket on AA and operated by AA JFK- LAX-HKG. His base and bonus mileage, EQD and EQM were anywhere from double to five times more than what I received. We both spent roughly around the same amount.
I basically want to know what more beneficial for me considering my status and the type of ticket(Economy) I’m buying when trying to accrue base and bonus miles, EQD, and EQM. Buy on AA or Cathay and if it’s Cathay does it matter if the flights are operated by Cathay or AA?
A friend of mine who’s EP bought a Premium Economy ticket on Cathay and operated by Cathay from JFK - HKG. I’m Platium Pro and I bought an Economy ticket on AA and operated by AA JFK- LAX-HKG. His base and bonus mileage, EQD and EQM were anywhere from double to five times more than what I received. We both spent roughly around the same amount.
I basically want to know what more beneficial for me considering my status and the type of ticket(Economy) I’m buying when trying to accrue base and bonus miles, EQD, and EQM. Buy on AA or Cathay and if it’s Cathay does it matter if the flights are operated by Cathay or AA?
Mar 18, 2019, 2:22 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: SJC (AA PLT 2MM - Marriott LTT - Avis Preferred)
Posts: 2,030
Long-haul premium economy on a partner airline is considered by many a "sweet spot" in earning EQD + EQM, accounting for your friend's faster earning rate.
For your situation (economy), it would be better to stick with AA, where your 4 HKG trips let you easily requalify PPro compared to discounted economy in CX.
For your situation (economy), it would be better to stick with AA, where your 4 HKG trips let you easily requalify PPro compared to discounted economy in CX.
Mar 18, 2019, 2:35 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ay-pacific.jsp is the table you should refer to.
Anything less than Y, B or H for economy on CX earns nothing, whereas PE earns 1.5 EQM and 20% EQDs, which for the distance is probably better than the actual dollars spent.
If JFK-HKG is your usual route then work out what 20% is and use CX PE for fares less than that and AA for fares greater than that.
Anything less than Y, B or H for economy on CX earns nothing, whereas PE earns 1.5 EQM and 20% EQDs, which for the distance is probably better than the actual dollars spent.
If JFK-HKG is your usual route then work out what 20% is and use CX PE for fares less than that and AA for fares greater than that.
Mar 18, 2019, 3:15 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 4
Long-haul premium economy on a partner airline is considered by many a "sweet spot" in earning EQD + EQM, accounting for your friend's faster earning rate.
For your situation (economy), it would be better to stick with AA, where your 4 HKG trips let you easily requalify PPro compared to discounted economy in CX.
For your situation (economy), it would be better to stick with AA, where your 4 HKG trips let you easily requalify PPro compared to discounted economy in CX.
But as a general rule of thumb. If I had a choice of buying an AA operated flight Economy ticket on AA or Cathay assuming the fares are identical, which would accrue more dollars and mileage?
Mar 18, 2019, 3:31 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,481
Not necessarily since those 4 flights won’t automatically help me reach the $9,000 EQD required for Platinum Pro
But as a general rule of thumb. If I had a choice of buying an AA operated flight Economy ticket on AA or Cathay assuming the fares are identical, which would accrue more dollars and mileage?
So booking the CX flight numbers, you would earn 12108 base RDM, 8072 EQM, and
Booking the AA flight numbers would yield 14670 base RDM (PLT Pro), 16144 EQM, and $1630 EQD.
These calculations are always different depending on the exact route, fare class, booking code, total fare $, etc. You really have to do the match for each different scenario and decide what is most beneficial.
Last edited by JJeffrey; Mar 18, 2019 at 5:21 pm
Mar 18, 2019, 5:04 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
I don't think those number are right. JFK-HKG is 8072 each way, giving a 1 EQM score of 16144
An H or B fare on CX will earn 0.5 EQMs and 15% EQDs – giving 8072 EQMs and 2422 EQDs
A Y fare on CX would earn 1 EQM and 20% EQDs – giving 16144 EQMs and 3228 EQDs
A discount PE fare on CX (R, E) earns 1.5 EQMs and 20% EQDs – giving 24216 and 3228 EQDs
Full PE Fare on CX (W) earns 1.5 EQM and 22% EQDs – giving 24216 and 3552 EQDs
Any Y fare on AA (except B) will earn 16144 EQMs and (the fare - taxes) in EQDs (probably in the 1200-1800 range).
A PE fare on AA (P,W) will earn 24216 EQMs and (the fare - taxes) in EQDs (probably in the 1800-2400 range).
Buying the CX flight numbers looks likely to always be a better deal for EQDs and buying the AA flight numbers when buying economy in anything less than H, or when needing EQMs rather than EQDs.
Mar 18, 2019, 5:20 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,481