Miles needed for EXP
 

My name is Mike and this is the first time I have seen and used this forum. I have been flying more this year than the last few years and have permanent Platinum status but would like to reach EXP because I have a lot of travel coming up in 2022. I hopefully have a simple question, I need approx. 26,000 EQMs to reach EXP, I am good on EQDs Can someone recommend a RT in Bus or First that would get me there for $1,500 or less. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you in advance, Mike

Welcome to FT. What city are you based in?
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Thank you for the quick response. Right now my home is LAX or DFW.

Is there a class of service multiplier for EQMs? I don't see one in the info

Yes. 2x eqms for most discounted business See .com for the RBCs that get 2x and 3X

some cheap options in comfort:

you can do SAP. SAL or GUA from LAX in business class through MIA for $500-$600usd in business for about half of what you need 13k EQM.

Another option is premium economy to Europe but even a route like LAX-LHR-CAI wont get your full 26K. Only country east of CAI really open is Maldives and You can’t get there for under $1500. LAX-CAI round trip in premium economy is $1100 on BA now. 22K EQM.

also look at PTY, SJU, TGU, LIM and BOG - all in J, from either LAX or DFW and route through MIA.

there may be good domestic J fares from LAX/DFW where you can do a day or two of mileage runs but you’ll have to look those up on google flights.

you won’t find anywhere in real F for that price and the EQM you need.

The other option is to book economy, accept and pay for an upgrade offer in the app, and then the ticket goes to J and earns 3x EQMs. You don’t earn any EQDs on the upgrade amount, but that doesn’t matter for OP.

I’m going to guess that OP could do a couple transcons (plus in-app upgrade offer) for less that OP’s budget.

Do paid upgrades get premium cabin EQM?

Even if they do, I'm quite sure they wouldn't get 3x.

At 2x, the OP would need a 6500-mile flight each way on a RT. Hard to do without going to Asia. Not gonna get that in J for $1500. Maybe $2500 if he's lucky.

No upgrade offer in the app ever change the fare class into full fare J unless you upfare, but that would be way beyond OP's budget

I have gotten dozens of segments upgraded into J for anywhere between $49-$180 by accepting the pop-up upgrade offer in the app.

A bunch of data points here:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...l#post33477800

And here’s a screenshot of my fare class for a flight I upgraded to ATL for $96 by accepting the in-app offer:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1fb774a2c5.png

Mike, I sent you a PM (Private Message).

How about Bogata? You can fly LAX-MIA-BOG-DFW-LAX, all on widebodies in J lie-flats with FLL access in MIA. All for $735 with an overnight in BOG. Earns 15K+ EQM. Twice would get you there in comfor and be under budget.

James


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a4ed97cc36.jpg

Thank you very much, already booked it!