Dec 2, 2019, 9:39 am
Last edit by: Prospero
Help! I need ....... by a certain date / the end of the year / to (re)qualify.
Earning status:
Link to AAdvantage status requirements page on AA.com
Link to AAdvantage status benefits page on AA.com
If you have not received a buy back offer or would like to see your offer (if any), you can see it by visiting https://elite.aa.com
You must earn the requisite Elite Qualifying Miles or flown Elite Qualifying Segments in one calendar year as well as earning the requisite Elite Qualifying Dollar spend. That earns status for the remainder of the current and the following status years: earn during 2017, status persists through 31 Jan 2019. You must fly to earn; There’s no way to earn EQ instruments for yourself flying someone else or no-showing for a purchased flight.
You must earn the requisite number of Elite Qualifying Dollars. For the thread on EQD, see here.
See FAQ: Earning EQD / Elite Qualifying Dollars on AA and partner airlines (2017 on)
Renewing status:
AA once used to offer "grace" if one was just short of achieving status, particularly if one was reachieving, by earning Elite Qualifying Miles or Segments; that hasn't been the case in recent years. Choices are:
1) Requalifying, but just missing the goal? AA has the buyback / renew / boost program, enabling you to purchase back status if you fall short of requalifying by stipulated levels.
2018 Buyback / Renew / Boost Program for Status year 2019.
NOTES:
Some links to resources and tools:
Use tools available (Google Flights, ITA Matrix by Google, etc.) to find flights for "mileage runs" or "segment runs" to complete status requirements. There are threads (and aa.com pages) that explain how many EQM you earn on AA and partners' flights
Link to Google Flights (put in the origin only, add your restrictions such as airline or alliances)
Link to FT-AA Thread "Using Google Flights for American Airlines flight searches"
Link to Google ITA Matrix (flights and rules finder)
Link to Innosked oneworld interactive network map and timetable
Link to Great Circle Mapper (miles and distance calculations)
Link to FT Mileage Run Deals forum
Link to FT Premium Fare Deals forum
Link to FT Mileage Run Discussion forum
Link to the 2017-18 thread.
For the 2016 thread, please see: ARCHIVE: 2016 "HELP! I need xx EQM / EQP / EQS by end of year" master thread
For 2015, please see: ARCHIVE: 2015 "HELP! I need XXX EQM / EQP / EQS by end of year" thread
The transaction date is what AA counts for account activity purposes, not the posting date.
Be aware of the difference between the kinds of miles we are discussing.
Those concerned about earning of retaining status are seeking Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) and / or Dollars (EQD), Segments (EQS) to earn in the current calendar year. For that or EQ Segments, see 2016 "I'll be short EQM / EQS for status this year?" & related status earning qq
Others are looking for Award or Redeemable Miles (RDM) which can be spent on various awards and earned in various ways - flying, buying, gifting and even using. Your account redeemable (previously occasionally called "prize-eligible" by AA) miles will remain usable for a period of eighteen months after your last account activity - this can be earning miles in any way, flying or even via using your AA-linked credit card, purchasing miles or renting a car with an AA partner, or using miles by gifting them, donating to charity. To prevent your account from lapsing, you must have account activity in the period of 18 months.
The full AAdvantage Terms and Conditions may be read here, including information on earning, spending and reinstatement possibilities for lapsed miles.
A very few of the more popular ways of earning miles, other than actually flying, include:
Earning status:
Link to AAdvantage status requirements page on AA.com
Link to AAdvantage status benefits page on AA.com
If you have not received a buy back offer or would like to see your offer (if any), you can see it by visiting https://elite.aa.com
You must earn the requisite Elite Qualifying Miles or flown Elite Qualifying Segments in one calendar year as well as earning the requisite Elite Qualifying Dollar spend. That earns status for the remainder of the current and the following status years: earn during 2017, status persists through 31 Jan 2019. You must fly to earn; There’s no way to earn EQ instruments for yourself flying someone else or no-showing for a purchased flight.
You must earn the requisite number of Elite Qualifying Dollars. For the thread on EQD, see here.
See FAQ: Earning EQD / Elite Qualifying Dollars on AA and partner airlines (2017 on)
Renewing status:
AA once used to offer "grace" if one was just short of achieving status, particularly if one was reachieving, by earning Elite Qualifying Miles or Segments; that hasn't been the case in recent years. Choices are:
1) Requalifying, but just missing the goal? AA has the buyback / renew / boost program, enabling you to purchase back status if you fall short of requalifying by stipulated levels.
2018 Buyback / Renew / Boost Program for Status year 2019.
NOTES:
- Flights flown as marketed by AA (AA codeshare) earn as if one is flying AA. (It doesn't matter where one purchased the ticketed - the word "marketed" doesn't mean where you purchased the ticket.) But watch those Basic Economy fares!
- Through flights with a single flight number such as MIA-PHX-SFO will count as a single segment and only earn miles as if flown MIA-SFO.
- One no longer must fly at least 4 segments on American Airlines or American Eagle to qualify for AAdvantage status within the qualifying year. (AA marketed / AA codeshares do count for this. This requirement no longer is in effect, but there is a minimum dollar spend requirement -MQD - as well as EQM or EQS.)
- EQMs do not include class-of-service bonus miles, elite bonuses, other participant miles, any other AAdvantage bonus mileage, or miles obtained from BuyMiles, GiftMiles or the offer you get when buying a ticket or checking in.
- If you were involuntarily rerouted losing EQM / EQS, you might want to read FAQ: Involuntary Reroute and Original Routing Credit (ORC) (consolidated)
- Two AAdvantage credit cards award EQM for high annual spenders: Citi Executive card and the Barclaycard Aviator Silver offer EQM at certain spend points, and the latter offers EQD offset. See your current card benefits for the amounts. (These are merely for status purposes, not Million Miler, etc.) Some Barclaycard Aviator cards also award EQD credit.
- AA has introduced new "Basic Fares"; be aware of many restrictions.
Some links to resources and tools:
Use tools available (Google Flights, ITA Matrix by Google, etc.) to find flights for "mileage runs" or "segment runs" to complete status requirements. There are threads (and aa.com pages) that explain how many EQM you earn on AA and partners' flights
Link to Google Flights (put in the origin only, add your restrictions such as airline or alliances)
Link to FT-AA Thread "Using Google Flights for American Airlines flight searches"
Link to Google ITA Matrix (flights and rules finder)
Link to Innosked oneworld interactive network map and timetable
Link to Great Circle Mapper (miles and distance calculations)
Link to FT Mileage Run Deals forum
Link to FT Premium Fare Deals forum
Link to FT Mileage Run Discussion forum
Link to the 2017-18 thread.
For the 2016 thread, please see: ARCHIVE: 2016 "HELP! I need xx EQM / EQP / EQS by end of year" master thread
For 2015, please see: ARCHIVE: 2015 "HELP! I need XXX EQM / EQP / EQS by end of year" thread
The transaction date is what AA counts for account activity purposes, not the posting date.
Be aware of the difference between the kinds of miles we are discussing.
Those concerned about earning of retaining status are seeking Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) and / or Dollars (EQD), Segments (EQS) to earn in the current calendar year. For that or EQ Segments, see 2016 "I'll be short EQM / EQS for status this year?" & related status earning qq
Others are looking for Award or Redeemable Miles (RDM) which can be spent on various awards and earned in various ways - flying, buying, gifting and even using. Your account redeemable (previously occasionally called "prize-eligible" by AA) miles will remain usable for a period of eighteen months after your last account activity - this can be earning miles in any way, flying or even via using your AA-linked credit card, purchasing miles or renting a car with an AA partner, or using miles by gifting them, donating to charity. To prevent your account from lapsing, you must have account activity in the period of 18 months.
AAdvantage members must have mileage earning or redeeming activity once every 18 months in order to retain their miles. If your account has no qualifying activity in any 18-month period, all miles in the account will expire. Qualifying activity extends the expiration date of all unexpired mileage credit in your account for 18 months from the date of the qualifying activity. Qualifying activity is defined as redeeming any AAdvantage award or accruing mileage credit on any eligible American, American Eagle® or AAdvantage airline participant as well as accruing mileage credit with participating hotels, car rental companies, credit cards, telecommunication providers and other service providers offering AAdvantage mileage credit.
A very few of the more popular ways of earning miles, other than actually flying, include:
- using Barclays, CitiBank and American Express cards linked to AAdvantage; see the AA credit cards page here. There are several threads that can be found on this Forum using the Search function.
- in the USA, signing up for AAdvantage Dining here
- shopping via the AA shopping portal - read about and link to portal here (iTunes for a few miles)
- buying, gifting or sharing AA miles - read more here
HELP! I need xx EQ D,M,S / miles by date / EOY - 2019-2020 master thread
Oct 22, 2019, 1:07 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,668
I don't think Level gives any AA miles/EQM.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...nes/iberia.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...nes/iberia.jsp
Oct 22, 2019, 5:09 pm
#32
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
Oct 23, 2019, 3:53 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
Note the schedule has gotten pretty terrible. One flight leaving JFK at 11pm and one return leaving BOS at 7am. As much as the A321T is a great bird, for an hour long flight this would make for a pretty painful MR.
Oct 23, 2019, 9:56 am
#34
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
Oct 30, 2019, 9:42 am
#35
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1
HELP! I need xx EQM / EQD / EQS by date / end of year - 2019-2020 master thread
Hey all,
To get to EP again, I'll need to hit the above. I'm based in DC so flexible in terms of travel. Any help/advice on the cheapest/shortest way to do this would be useful.
To get to EP again, I'll need to hit the above. I'm based in DC so flexible in terms of travel. Any help/advice on the cheapest/shortest way to do this would be useful.
Oct 30, 2019, 10:11 am
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,481
Welcome to FT. From DC, look at a quick DCA-DFW roundtrip in business class (or IAD, if that's more convenient). I see scattered dates in Nov & Dec for ~$550ish where you can do a quick out and back, leave early morning and turn right around and back just after lunch. Would net you around 4700 EQM's in business and the necessary EQD's. I doubt you'll find much easier than that. Use Google Flights to search.
Oct 30, 2019, 6:02 pm
#37
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 121
EQM (16) short for Executive Platinum Status (original routing credit)
Hey there I was able to do a promotion to get Executive status by October 31. I'm 16 EQM short. The main reason was one of my flights was rerouted for weather. Instead of flying MSY to DFW to ORD,. They changed my flight and had me fly MSY to CLT to ORD,. Which was 100 miles less. I was supposed to have a flight today but had a work emergency and got pulled to stay at my office. Anyone have have tips on how I might still be able to make the cut? I can't take a last minute flight. Can't believe it's only 16 miles
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Oct 30, 2019, 6:23 pm
#38
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
Hey there I was able to do a promotion to get Executive status by October 31. I'm 16 EQM short. The main reason was one of my flights was rerouted for weather. Instead of flying MSY to DFW to ORD,. They changed my flight and had me fly MSY to CLT to ORD,. Which was 100 miles less. I was supposed to have a flight today but had a work emergency and got pulled to stay at my office. Anyone have have tips on how I might still be able to make the cut? I can't take a last minute flight. Can't believe it's only 16 miles
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Oct 30, 2019, 6:26 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,247
Nov 13, 2019, 5:11 pm
#41
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: Dividend Miles
Posts: 5
Trying to get to Exec Platinum
Currently at Platinum Pro and need 4500 EQD’s and 20000 EQM’s before the year end to reach Executive Platinum. Any tips from members on how i can maximize my spend to reach this? I am thinking of a couple quick first class turns to Hawaii from Phoenix but first class tickets are $1800 but would yield 11,000 EQM’s. Wondering if there are better routes I can take to get there for less spend. I also have a RT to Boston booked which should help me close the gap.
I have not received a buy up offer from AA.
Thank you!
I have not received a buy up offer from AA.
Thank you!
Nov 13, 2019, 5:17 pm
#42
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Gp over to the Premium Fare deals and take a look for One World Partners in business class or premium economy TATL or TPAC. If you could get one of the AY fares from YYZ to SIN/HKG/BKK, you'd be there and then some. That is just a for instance.
Good Luck and Safe Travels
Good Luck and Safe Travels
Nov 13, 2019, 5:23 pm
#43
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
Your best bet is going to be to book Premium Economy on a OW partner airline somewhere to Asia (ticketed on partner stock). For instance, a RT LAX-HKG on CX in discount Premium Economy would yield you ~2900 EQDs and ~21000 EQMs. You could probably get more out of it for a good price if you add stopovers (on JL, etc.) or play around with the origin and destination.
Nov 13, 2019, 5:34 pm
#44
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
Should you be more interested in traveling domestically, certain AA Vacations packages where the fare class is shown with an asterisk, e.g. "I*", earn RDMs and EQDs according to distance flown times a multiplier, see AA's page on it and the associated FlyerTalk thread.
Otherwise, the sweet spot in terms of dollars seems to be premium economy on partner-marketed flights. As an example, should you book the JAL premium economy fare LAX-TYO-SIN for <$850 roundtrip, you will fly 8775 mi each way, which translates to $3510 EQDs and 26325 EQMs (and 17550 RDMs) per round trip. Just make sure that you book it with JL flight numbers, as AA flight numbers will earn RDMs/EQDs according to how much you actually paid.
The Finnair IFLEX2US fares (and the associated Canada fares) are also pretty good; be aware that you can add domestic segments up to a point using Finnair's gateways (LAX, SFO, NYC, MIA, ORD) for extra miles, e.g. BOS-JFK-LAX-HEL-HKG-SIN RT for $3400. I've taken advantage of that fare, and it's a long flight followed by a (usually) long layover, followed by another long flight. I was ready to get off by the end. You can sometimes route on BA or JAL for extra variety.
Otherwise, the sweet spot in terms of dollars seems to be premium economy on partner-marketed flights. As an example, should you book the JAL premium economy fare LAX-TYO-SIN for <$850 roundtrip, you will fly 8775 mi each way, which translates to $3510 EQDs and 26325 EQMs (and 17550 RDMs) per round trip. Just make sure that you book it with JL flight numbers, as AA flight numbers will earn RDMs/EQDs according to how much you actually paid.
The Finnair IFLEX2US fares (and the associated Canada fares) are also pretty good; be aware that you can add domestic segments up to a point using Finnair's gateways (LAX, SFO, NYC, MIA, ORD) for extra miles, e.g. BOS-JFK-LAX-HEL-HKG-SIN RT for $3400. I've taken advantage of that fare, and it's a long flight followed by a (usually) long layover, followed by another long flight. I was ready to get off by the end. You can sometimes route on BA or JAL for extra variety.
Nov 13, 2019, 5:48 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,492
You probably will.
Investing $4500 to move from Plat Pro to EXP seems a horrible return on investment. That same $4500 would upfare a lot of tickets from Y to J or fund a lot of co-pays on mileage upgrades if you want to roll the dice and not have a confirmed upgrade at time of booking. Those miles+co-pay upgrades are no less likely to clear than your SWUs.
Stop chasing status for the sake of status.
Currently at Platinum Pro and need 4500 EQD’s and 20000 EQM’s before the year end to reach Executive Platinum. Any tips from members on how i can maximize my spend to reach this? I am thinking of a couple quick first class turns to Hawaii from Phoenix but first class tickets are $1800 but would yield 11,000 EQM’s. Wondering if there are better routes I can take to get there for less spend. I also have a RT to Boston booked which should help me close the gap.
Stop chasing status for the sake of status.