beznich

Hi, I'm new to all of this and for some strange reason I have this burning desire to gain status at American. I recently moved and that has caused me to have to book flights between CLT-BOS (my clients are all still in Boston) on a regular basis. I have been booking First Class as it's only $500-$550 round trip and have been making connecting flights to both double my EQM (4,000) per RT, and double my EQS (4) per RT, and $500 a flight helps in EQD. I also have the American CC to help with EQM as well. As an IT consultant I can work from just about anywhere I have access to WIFI, so I'm looking for some cheap flights (I'd prefer to stay here in the states) that I could buy to rack up the miles and segments. I have no idea how some of you are finding these so I figured it's best to ask then spend countless hours combing the web trying to do what someone else has already done and is willing to share. When I lived in Boston it was common for people to do the BOS-NYC flights back and forth as they were cheap and quick, I'm thinking either flights like that out of CLT or even longer distance ones. If anyone has any info they would care to share that would be greatly appreciated. I'm willing to fly day/night/weekend/weekday, etc.

Thanks in advance, I appreciate anyone willing to help me take advantage of the system, lol.

baothai27

Hey guys I am a EXP. Wanted to see if I did this itienary, how many eqd's and miles I would earn. Really appreciate the help guys!!

AA DFW to Tokyo Premium Economy
Cathay Pacific Tokyo to HKG - PE
Cathay HKG - Tokyo - PE
AA Tokyo - DFW

Total price is 2400

Thanks

aztimm

It really depends on the marketing carrier for each leg of the itinerary. If they have AA flight numbers, then you'd get EQD similar to that $2400, minus some taxes. If they have CX flight numbers, then you'd get EQD as a percentage of miles.

baothai27

Does it matter if you book the cx through aa? Or is just who operates that flight period. Thanks

Whodunit68

it almost never matters who operates the flight. It's the booking flight number/marketing carrier that matters.

If you fly AA#### flight number but it's operated by CX and want to accumulate AA miles, you will get 1 EQM per mile flown.
If you have flight CX#### flight number but it's operated by AA, you will get EQMs based on the CX chart.
If you get AA### flight number operated by AA, you get 1 EQM per mile flown.
If you get CX### flight number operated by CX, you need the booking class to determine the AA EQMs you will earn.

baothai27

Perfect. Thanks

baothai27

What happens when they have marketed as both. I went through google flights. At the end it has
American Marketed as AA 122, AA 8931, AA 8929, AA 2070 and Cathay Pacific Marketed as CX 7501, CX 873, CX 870, CX 7714

If I wanted to use the cx chart for eqms and eqds for my aa account, I should book it through CX no AA? Is this a right assumption.

aktchi

Yes. To get the CX chart, you must book the CX flight numbers.

StatusChallenged

AA: gunning for EXP this year, currently plat. Starting in New York, going to Africa (likely) for a short vacation, and then a short vacation in LA after that (2-3 days is fine).

Departure Airport(s): JFK/LGA
EQMs or EQSs Needed: n/a
EQDs Needed: 3000-4000
Max Budget: 2000
Available Travel Dates: Would like to leave after 3/11 and return to new york by 3/21
Max # Travel Nights: 3
AA only, or Partners Okay: yes
Have Chinese Visa? (Y/N): no

I saw the JFK->ALG deal, but not seeing for my dates, CAI, or Morocco in PE for around 5 nights, flying to LA from there (roundtrip if needed), and then back to New York. Oneway flights are fine too.

diver858

My wife is a Platinum this year but is hoping to earn her million miler status this year. She only needs 20K more miles. We live in San Diego any mileage run suggestions for her? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

whackedspinach

I signed up for the Gold status match because my SO and I had a trip this month, but unfortunately we had to cancel as my girlfriend was injured. Now I'm going to be about 170 EQD short by the end of the challenge (4/12). I'm looking for the cheapest way to get that amount.

Departure Airport(s): PIT
EQMs or EQSs Needed:N/A
EQDs Needed: 170
Max Budget: $350
Available Travel Dates: 3/16-3/19, 3/30-4/2, 4/6-4/9
Max # Travel Nights: 3
AA only, or Partners Okay: Partners OK, if they earn enough EQD
Have Chinese Visa? (Y/N): Y

Thanks in advance for any help, and let me know if I can provide more info.

Whodunit68

No need for you to pay $350 for 170 EQDs? Flying AA domestic, you just need to spend ~$200 for a trip (base + taxes). Take out taxes and you have 1 EQD per dollar spent. On April 7, you can hit DCA round trip same day (no $ for hotel) and complete this and it works within your dates.b
Same with ORD - I see one for $208 with a base fare
This isn't particularly ideal but the base fare is $176. you're out and back the same day round trip to Charlotte - https://www.aa.com/booking/passenger...%7CQQQQ%7CQQQQ.

Base fare is $176.74 which will likely net you 177 EQDs. Price is $228.90.
Use GF's explore option with AA selected and a to/from date of 4/7 and you can find something with less stops.

CoffeeMan

Hi everyone!

I signed up for a Gold status challenge and am currently $89 EQD short of the $1000 EQD needed by 4/4, so looking for the least expensive way to secure the $89 EQD needed. The ideal run would have me returning back to NYC the same day, but otherwise open to any and all options. Thanks in advance for any help, and let me know if I can provide more info.

Departure Airport(s): NYC (JFK, ERW, LGA)
EQMs or EQSs needed: 0, I have enough EQM to qualify
EQDs Needed: $89
Max Budget: whatever is needed to cover $89 EQD
Available Travel Dates: 3/24-3/29, 4/2-4/4
Max # Travel Nights: 0
AA only (Partners OK, if they earn enough EQD)
Current status: none

n.b.
- One way flights to Albany, NY also an option if cheaper than round trips elsewhere.
- Round trip flights to Ft. Lauderdale can be 1 or more nights if less expensive than most same day options.

RichVan

Here's the deal, pals. I need to fly from YVR to either Lisbon or Porto (OPO) on or around May 5. Plus or minus a day or two. Need to stay there until the 9th or first thing in the AM on the 10th. (I'll train to OPO from LIS if need be, I'm speaking at a conference in Porto.)

Then from there I need to get to Beijing to get there hopefully late on the 10th or first thing on the 11th. From Beijing I'll return back to Vancouver on or around the 14th. Will have Chinese Visa.
This seems like a great way to do a solid PE run on OW in order to max EQD. Happy to do a Cathay run from YVR to HKG then to LHR to get to Portugal or BA from YVR to LHR.

I assume I'll fly from London to PEK direct? Routing through HKG is also possible. I'm even willing to fly back to YVR from OPO/LHR and then hop on a plane to HKG from YVR to get to PEK.

Returning home, I'd honestly prefer to fly PEK-LHR-YVR to maximize miles, but flying back to YVR through HKG is okay as well.
Again, dates to leave and dates to come back are incredibly flexible - just that middle segment from OPO to PEK is set in stone.
A run like that might be pricey in PE, but that's gotta earn some serious EQD and EQM? Anyone able and willing to help me construct some options? Google Flights isn't really helping much, and BA's site isn't working for me to construct this one. OWE/EXP, so I'll have lounge access in London/Hong Kong, don't mind a stupid long layover. Even a day or two layover in London is fine.

Departure Airport(s): YVR
EQMs or EQSs needed: as many as possible
EQDs Needed: as many as possible
Max Budget: within reason
Available Travel Dates: 5/5 through 5/14
Max # Travel Nights: lots
OW partners only to max PE earnings
Current status: EXP

SpammersAreScum

You can fly RT on Apr 03 to any of DC, Chicago, Boston, Charlotte for just over $170.