I recently came into learning about Miles around August and started flying more with AA for work/pleasure. I'm now 24k elite miles from Exec Platinum status and trying to find ways to reach this before end of the year. My points/segments are far from reaching so elite miles the closest. Does anyone have tips how I could do this? I was planning on purchasing the extra elite miles offered but I believe that's only when you're 10k shy of next status, correct? I'm based in Miami currently, and with one upcoming round trip should be about 20k short of Exec Plat. Any help, appreciated!

For 20K miles you can do this. It isn't great, but it could be worse.


Miami (MIA) to Johannesburg (JNB) - Fri, Dec 27
American Airlines Inc. Miami (MIA) to London (LHR) - Fri, Dec 27
American Airlines Inc. 56 Dep: 7:05PM Arr: 8:40AM 8h 35m Boeing 777 Economy (M)
Layover in LHR Sat, Dec 28 9h 20m

American Airlines Inc. London (LHR) to Johannesburg (JNB) - Sat, Dec 28
American Airlines Inc. 6445 Dep: 6:00PM Arr: 6:55AM 10h 55m Boeing 747 Economy (M)
OPERATED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS P.L.C. Sun, Dec 29

Johannesburg (JNB) to Miami (MIA) - Sun, Dec 29
American Airlines Inc. Johannesburg (JNB) to London (LHR) - Sun, Dec 29
American Airlines Inc. 6442 Dep: 10:45PM Arr: 7:50AM 11h 5m Boeing 747 Economy (N)
OPERATED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS P.L.C. Layover in LHR Mon, Dec 30 4h 45m

American Airlines Inc. London (LHR) to Miami (MIA) - Mon, Dec 30
American Airlines Inc. 39 Dep: 12:35PM Arr: 5:35PM 10h 0m Boeing 777 Economy (N)

Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $1,601.00
Total cost for 1 passenger $1,601.00

Thanks for that. One other important note I left out, I'm traveling home for the holidays & NYE so I'll be in Chicago, IL (ORD) from December 23 to January 1st. Apologies for that. I can do any travel this weekend from Miami, FL (but everything was astronomically high for a long run) or anything next weekend (12/27-12/29) from Chicago, IL. Any recommendations on a similar run? The one above looks good if I can do from Chicago.

It works just fine from Chicago for the same price. But leaving from ORD only nets you 19152 miles. Make sure you don't end up ~800 miles short. You might could route through JFK or MIA. if 19152 miles is enough for you then you would be fine with this:

Chicago (ORD) to Johannesburg (JNB) - Fri, Dec 27
American Airlines Inc. Chicago (ORD) to London (LHR) - Fri, Dec 27
American Airlines Inc. 90 Dep: 8:45AM Arr: 10:40PM 7h 55m Boeing 767 Economy (M)
Layover in LHR 19h 20m

American Airlines Inc. London (LHR) to Johannesburg (JNB) - Sat, Dec 28
American Airlines Inc. 6445 Dep: 6:00PM Arr: 6:55AM 10h 55m Boeing 747 Economy (M)
OPERATED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS P.L.C. Sun, Dec 29

Johannesburg (JNB) to Chicago (ORD) - Sun, Dec 29
American Airlines Inc. Johannesburg (JNB) to London (LHR) - Sun, Dec 29
American Airlines Inc. 6442 Dep: 10:45PM Arr: 7:50AM 11h 5m Boeing 747 Economy (N)
OPERATED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS P.L.C. Layover in LHR Mon, Dec 30 2h 25m

American Airlines Inc. London (LHR) to Chicago (ORD) - Mon, Dec 30
American Airlines Inc. 87 Dep: 10:15AM Arr: 1:20PM 9h 5m Boeing 767 Economy (N)

Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $1,601.00
Total cost for 1 passenger $1,601.00

Watch that layover in LHR. There is a better option that leaves ORD at 6:00pm. make sure you get the right option when you book.

If you really MUST earn more than 20,000, drive the 90 miles +/- to Milwaukee and fly from there, 12/27-12/30.

MKE-ORD-LHR-JNB out
JNB-LHR-DFW-MKE back
$1656 ai, for ~21,000 miles (with 500 mi minimum for MKE-ORD)

Plus four days of parking at MKE.