dp555

here's my schedule, which started today with a grand total of 0 miles in my AAdvantage account (I used to be a United person).

Miles posted below reflect DEQM

4/16 DCA-MIA 1842
4/22 MIA MSY (Jazzfest, woohoo!) 1348
5/5 MSY ORD BOS 3401
5/6 BOS LAX RT 10422
5/7 BOS LAX RT 10422
5/9 BOS LAX RT 10422
5/10 BOS LAX RT 10422
5/11 BOS LAX OGG 10160
5/19 OGG LAX BOS 10160

By my calculations, that gives me... 68,600. I guess I need to add two more of these BOS-LAX runs... also going one way EWR-DUB for $166 at the end of May for another ~6000 miles. I really want to get EXP done before DEQM ends.

Ready2Go

BOS-LAX RT will yield 10,444 with DBEQM.

dp555

Thx ReadyToGo, those numbers are all using the mileage calculator from WebFlyer.com-do you know a more reliable site?

rabble

I you're doing that many runs you might as well do the platinum challenge so you get PLT a little faster and then start earning double miles.

Ready2Go

No; I just fly to BOS a lot, and I know AA credits it as 2611. (I also know it credits LAX-OGG as 2486, so your BOS-LAX-OGG with DBEQM will be 10,194 EQM each way.)

dp555

Thanks for the suggestion.. would others agree with this? I was under the impression that it didn't make sense because the initial miles to complete the challenge wouldn't clear fast enough to make a difference on the miles from later flights.

Also, all these transcon flights are in Q, which only rates at .5 points per mile... so by my calculations, it would take 4 transcons to reach the 10,000.

You obviously can't apply past flights to challenges, so yesterday's DCA-MIA is out.

MIA-MSY is Q. (~330 points)
MSY-ORD-BOS is in G (1700 points)

So in my case, I have 2000 points lined up before I get to Boston. I would then need to wait until my third transcon flight (May 8th) to have enough qualifying points for the platinum challenge... but they wouldn't post until later, so I wouldn't enjoy the benefits until the 12th (or possibly later).

Any thoughts?

dp555

every little bit helps

vxmike

I think a PLT Challenge makes sense. Originally I had thought no b/c I incorrectly assumed each flight would earn 2x EQM "real time" and would get me to PLT almost as quickly as a challenge with 2x EQM versus .5x Q-Points.

Now I think that assumption is wrong, so a PLT challenge makes sense. I do believe the PLT mileage bonus begins accruing on the final flight which earns you the challenge.

best

DNP---amazing runs !

dp555

Just added 5/8 into their too... that's gonna be a long stretch in the back of the bus =)

Any suggestions on going for the platinum challenge?

gemac

I wouldn't bother. If you have no flights prior to what is listed (and I assume you don't), and if all these flights are in deep discount fare classes, then you would satisfy the challenge on 5/7. Your Platinum status would likely post between your 5/11 run and your 5/19 run, so 5/19 and the domestic portion of your DUB flight would be the only benefit. There is a slight chance that Platinum status would post the night before your 5/11 run, but chances of getting upgrades that morning are fairly small. There is also a substantial chance that if you did this, your upgrade requests for 5/19 and the domestic part of the DUB flight would not clear. In that case, you would have spent $150 for one day's lounge access on your DUB flight, which you could buy for $50.

Six straight days flying over 5000 BIS miles per day is a lot. Prepare to be fairly tired and to have gotten over the "I love to fly" syndrome at least temporarily.

dp555

I'm thoroughly anticipating hating the flying... That's what the 10 days in Hawaii is for!

SFO777

Try finding reasonable discounted First Class (A) fares and you can meet the challenge in a couple of days. Check the "airports within 90 miles" box.

I'm running SAN-SJC-DFW-FLL-DFW-SJC-SAN this week for 8,924 EQP at only $866. Even less from ONT but I need the short backtracking AE flights to get me over the top.

That will get my PLT back for better seat selection and periodic UGs on my marathon LAX/SFO-BOS EXP runs the next three weeks.

best

Have you called AA to sign up for it?

Harbinger

AA.com is probably a good start.