Originally Posted by zohyeahz

Departure Airport: RIC (Although I could go to DCA, IAD, or BWI pretty easily)
Miles Needed: 4100
Required Spend or Budget: $300
Available Travel Dates: Pretty flexible - most days are fine except end of October
Required Metal or Codeshares okay: Codeshares okay

Originally Posted by zohyeahz

Wow! That was quick! Thank you But wondering if this is an attempt to get me not to vote hahaha

Originally Posted by zoqfotpik

Probably more than enough you would need, you can do NYC-FAI/ANC for $2,300. Books in F so it earns 3x EQMs. Something like JFK-PHX-SEA-FAI r/t with next day turn would earn ~28,700 EQMs (8 cpm). Plenty of options on AA.com.

https://goo.gl/flights/6t7s

Originally Posted by jbeckett

Here are four day trips that will net 20000 miles for a little under $1000.
JFK-PHX-RNO-LAX-JFK day trip on 11/15 is $238, 5612 miles.
JFK-LAS-LAX-JFK day trip on 11/16 is $260, 4946 miles.
JFK-PHX-JFK day trip on 12/3 is $231, 4300 miles
JFK-PHX-RNO-LAX-JFK day trip on 12/13 is $246, 5612 miles.

https://www.google.com/flights/?f=0#...c=b;a=ONEWORLD

Originally Posted by azepine00

Not gonna "travel the world in business class" on status alone

But if status is the goal, seeking out higher eqm fares is prob more efficient that routing... the idea of suffering through longer routes in coach sounds painful to me..

I hope op becomes ummmm more realistic with his plans..

Originally Posted by mikelat

OP - you're not going to get to free business class flights around the world through mileage running. On AA you only get Award miles based on the amount you spend, not the flight distance.

These days award miles come a lot quicker with credit cards than with flying. If you can't get a credit card then you're going to be at a disadvantage in trying to get award miles and flights.

As much as it's disappointing, right now is far from the best time to attain status and miles. For many of the benefits from status, you can just spend a bit extra per trip and get just about the same perks.

On AA, Executive Platinum is just not worth it any more. With award miles based on spend the act of flying to China or Europe just to get miles does not help any more. Those $595 US-PVG flights don't get you any more Award miles than a $595 JFK-BOS flight.

You have 4836 Award miles. A business class ticket to Europe will cost you at least 115000 miles. Thats 110k more that you need to earn. With EXP, that would be 10k spend. With no status it'll cost more. Compare that to getting 2 credit cards with a 50k sign up bonus. Much less time involved. I realize the CCs are not an option for you. But, I would not recommend mileage running as a way to get Award miles. Definitely not if you're trying to go for the low cost model.

You may have been sold on free travel for nothing by the Bloggers. Unfortunately, that's a dream. It's jut not going to happen.

Originally Posted by CuppedUp

Departure Airport: LAX
Miles Needed: ~34000
Required Spend or Budget: Open
Available Travel Dates:
12/1 - 12/4
12/8 - 12/11
12/15 - 12/18

I've found the LAX - DFW - HKG trip for approx $750. I'll need to do this twice in a weekend to get to roughly 32k EQM.

Currently at 38k EQM on AA. With weekly travel adding approx 4k EQM a week i'll need roughly 34k EQM to hit EXP.

If there are any options in J to Asia that can accomplish this with less wear and tear on the back, ill gladly take it. Any help will be much appreciated.

Originally Posted by jbeckett

No visa is needed for U.S. citizens to enter Indonesia.

Your plan is OK. On the outbound direction, you are taking a risk that the ORD-DFW flight gets to DFW in time for you to make the outgoing flight - presumably you are planning to travel to DFW the previous day and spend the night there. If your flight is cancelled to DFW or somehow you don't make it to DFW on time, AA does not owe you anything.

With respect to skipping the last flight, the only warning that I have heard from others is that if AA cancels your flight from NRT-ORD, it could put you on a NRT-DFW flight. Then you'd need to find your own way back to ORD.

You have to decide whether these risks are worth the lower cost of the MR.

Originally Posted by jbeckett

Look at UIO and PTY from LAX in business, sample attached. There are lengthy threads on both of these in the premium fares deal forum.
https://www.google.com/flights/?f=0#...sc=b;a=AA;eo=e

Originally Posted by mdd100

What is the cheapest way you can think to hit another 45-50k miles before 12/31? I have no problem positioning to DFW Its about $60.

Originally Posted by jbeckett

CGK is best because it is farthest. Cheapest departure is from LGA but positioning cost might make it not worthwhile. Other cities that might be worth looking at are SIN, KUL, BKK, and HKG, but if you can find something in the $600s to CGK that is as good as it will get. Also consider PVG and PEK if you have a visa for China.
https://www.google.com/flights/?f=0#...GA1AA1169;a=AA

Originally Posted by jbeckett

If you have a China visa, PVG from BOS is around $673 some Fridays, for example out 11/11 return 11/13. PEK from BOS some Fridays, return Monday is $493. 15000+ miles.
https://www.google.com/flights/?f=0#...167;a=ONEWORLD
https://www.google.com/flights/?f=0#...224;a=ONEWORLD

BOS-LAX-ANC-SEA-PHX-BOS out 12/9 return 12/10 is $476, 9780 miles. Similar available other days.
BOS-PHX-SJC-LAX-BOS day trip 11/12 is $268, 5818 miles. Same or similar available 12/3, 12/10.
https://www.google.com/flights/?f=0#...2341;a=AA;eo=e
https://www.google.com/flights/?f=0#...1360;a=AA;eo=e

Originally Posted by redct

That PVG run looks lovely, but unfortunately I don't have a visa. Should probably get one at some point... time to see if there's anything out of NYC or PHL to a non-China location.