usafltg

Hi everyone,

I'm a current EXP looking to re-up for 2014. I'm looking to travel in November / December (during the week... exclude weekends) and want to maximize the EQM I earn while staying on AA Bare Metal.

I have 5 SWUs left in my account at the moment, and my point of origin would by ORD. Have no desire to stay / tour anywhere.

I was thinking about going to New Zealand and coming back, until I realized that the flights that go there are codeshare and I can't use my SWUs on those flights. So now my question is.... what's the "longest" (i.e. Most amount of EQM I can get) international flight that will remain on AA metal?

I know there's a ORD-DFW-ICN which round-trip is 15,286 miles, and around $900.... but was hoping for something like 30,000 miles R/T or more that remains on AA metal, wouldn't really have to book a hotel (or just stay in the airport), and I could shower up at the Admirals club.

I need aprox 60,000 more EQMs to re-up my EXP status this year (was a bum year for travel, but will be traveling a boat load of domestic early 2014 and some intl middle).

Advance Thanks for the assist! ^

EDIT: Before I get the "I'm wondering if the OP is weighing the cost to EXP..." question... or "free agent" question.... just assume I don't want to lose EXP because I've been EXP for so long and like it, and want to have it reupped by December.

smitty06

Going to the few Asia destinations is going to be as good as it gets unless you can add in some domestic segments. I dont think you will find anything that comes close to approaching 30k. You could also do the 2 runs back to back.

usafltg

Yea that's what I was anticipating. Where do you suggest "APAC" wise? I could do 2 runs back to back, Monday-Friday works for me.

Any suggestions? Appreciate the help!

Sean Hamilton

On what dates is the ORD-DFW-ICN itinerary?

usafltg

Hmmm... somehow this has changed and can't get the same fare I had the other day... odd.

Looks like now you have to do the ORD-SFO for $200 separately.... then you could do the SFO-DFW-ICN, however.... to get the $800 rate, you have to stay for 2 days..... bummer... that's not what I want. Need some quicker turns with no hotel stay if possible.

Is there a 20K Run somewhere?

AeroWesty

The cheapest midweek run I've seen so far from ORD is good ol' MVD.

12,614 miles for $1,295.90 on Tues Nov 12:

ORD-LGA-MIA-MVD-MIA-LGA-ORD

It combines ORD-NYC and NYC-MVD fares for about a 10¢ CPM.

usafltg

Lol, back to MVD again eh? Hmm I wonder how many times I could do that run in a week?

usafltg

Didn't we combine some other stuff in LATAM while I was down there the last time to maximize? I lost the original post we ended up on. I'm wondering if just going between MIA and MVD a couple times during the week might maximize it as well. Haven't checked cost on that yet.

AeroWesty

LOL, for old times sake, here's last year's saga:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milea...in-exp-aa.html

usafltg

Hmm... what about combining the ORD-SFO deal somehow. I was looking at the other post... was trying to figure out a way to maximize the following:

ORD-SFO-LAX-LAS-MIA.... That fare comes out to $426 (is that 9 cents per mile or something?)

In theory, that let's me spend a day on planes on the 18th, and puts me back into Miami on the 19th early in the morning (like 6am ish). Was trying to figure out if I could get to SEA from MIA and back for a reasonable fare to combine it with some MIA-MVD trips because the MIA-MVD leaves late at night both ways, so want to maximize the day on the 19th if possible. Couldn't find a good rate though.... Any good stuff out of MIA that would put me back before a flight to MVD?

EDIT: For clarification - I'm saying i'll be at MIA at about 6:30am on the 19th and won't have a flight from MIA-MVD until about 11pm. Therefore, I'm trying to figure out if there are any good low rates / miles I could take advantage of out of MIA to someplace(s) and back into MIA on the 19th before the MIA-MVD flight at 11pm.

AeroWesty

November or December?

usafltg

November. I was going to do MIA-MVD on the 19th and 20th... maybe 21st as well.