Help with Definitions
 

Can anyone help me with exactly what programs mean when they use the terms:

-award points vs award miles ?
- award accruals ?

Thanks

I'm sure with all the wise FTer's out there you'll get the right answer but I'd like to know which program and the context in which the terms were used in.

Welcome to FT http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Sounds to me like you might be referring to AA and it is with programme in mind that I will answer.

You always get at least 1 AAdvantage mile for each mile you fly regardless of class - more for Business or First (yes, I know there are a few exceptions on partner airlines but this is true for AA-metal flights).

Award points are based on class of service flown - 0.5 for discount economy; 1 for economy; 1.25 for business; and 1.5 for first

This means that if you fly mostly paid business or first, you can qualify for status with flying less miles than the full 25k (Gold) or 50K (Platinum).

For example, I fly mostly international business class. Thus far this year I've flown ~24k miles but have ~29k points qualifying me for Gold and on my way to Platinum

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I wish I were 1,000 miles away

The term "award points" is often used with plans that don't use miles as their unit, such as hotel frequent guest programs and a few airline programs. "Award miles" are used with programs that use miles as their unit, including most airline programs. Either refers to the amount of credit you have in the bank toward their award list.

On AA, there are also "qualifying points" (often abbreviated Q-points) and "qualifying miles" (Q-miles). These determine your eligibility for elite status with AA but have no value for awards. 25,000 of either in a calendar year gets you Gold AAdvantage; 50,000, Platinum; and 100,000, Executive Platinum. (You can also earn the lower two levels by flying enough segments.) You get one Q-mile per mile flown, minimum 500 per leg. Q-points are based on the multiplier in the previous post, but with a minimum of 500 rather than the 250 you would calculate as 0.5x500 for a discount coach fare on a short trip.

A given program or person can use any of these to mean anything that it, he or she wants, confusing matters even further. Who said life was easy?

I belive that American also gives out a minimum of 500 Q points per trip as well as 500 miles.

drewman