RTW or 4 mileage runs?
 

I need 48,000 AA Q miles or 56,000 Q points by January 1, 2003 to maintain EXP. My usual response would be 4 mileage runs SEA-Europe, upgrading with VIPOWs for about $2000 usd.

I've been impressed and confused http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif with the OW RTW experts here. I'd appreciate your thoughts on mileage run or RTW given the above information.

Thanks.

Your question is a good one. I maintain my EXP status by doing at least one RTW per year. I actually have 2 RTW ticketed at all times, as I fly different segements based on my needs. Also, these tickets are extremely flexible. Especially in A (FIRST) class.

If your total cost is only $2k for the four SEA-Europe runs, then it's hard to beat that with a RTW in terms of price.

FewMiles..

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Good advice, especially if you can upgrade all 4 mileage runs. Remember that you AA upgrades (VIP's and miles) cannot be used for many non-AA sectors and a RTW in Y is going include some sectors that are not operated by AA, so you will be in the back of the bus for those sectors.

RTW's are great for maintaining status in most OW programs when flown in D and A, but the coach RTW is discount Y class so you get greatly reduced status earning benefits in most programs. A single RTW in A or D, carefully sculptured, can easily retain elite status in most programs, in M (discount Y) you are going to need to really max out the miles (and hours of your bum in a coach seat) to get there.

Also, you might not have to take time off of work if you do 4 transatlantic round-trips, even from Seattle.

Leave SEA on Saturday morning, grab breakfast and shower in the lounge on Sunday morning, leave LHR on Sunday afternoon, come back to SEA Sunday evening.