Not me. 260 flights (~60% of total) and 160k flown miles (~30% of total) in economy for me last year.

Hi, Folks

Just need some advise to choose which FFP to reach/maintain the elite status.

Home Base: TPE (Taipei)

Most travelling routes: TPE-HKG by CX in J class, once or twice per month

Other routes in a calender year:

TPE-NRT, could be by CX or JL, twice a year in J or Y class
TPE-SIN (via HKG) by CX or Jetstar Asia (3K, direct flight), once a year in J or Y class
TPE-PVG (via HKG) by CX or KA in J/Y class, once a year in J or Y class
TPE-United States (LAX or SFO) by CX or AA, once a year in J or Y class

I am thinking about CX / QF / AA or even Skyteam/StarAlliance FFP.

Here's my idea:
- most of my friends suggest me stay in CX MPC to remain the Silver.

- QF seems like quite easy to reach Gold/OW Sapphire, but I needs to fly by Jetstar Asia (3K) twice a year to match the minimum requirement of four eligible QF(s) flights per year, it might be a problem.

- Maybe I can take a AA Challenge and paid USD$150 fees to sign up for a Platinum challenge to get AA elite status quickly.

EX: TPE to LAX itinerary
I can purchase AA business class (1.5xEQP) or eligible economy sub-class (1xEQP) and fly non-direct flights (ex: TPE-NRT-SFO-LAX) to make sure to get the maximum EQP, but not sure that AA code-share flights eligible or not??

EX:

TPE-LAX-TPE Code-Share/Operated by Eva Airways
-or-
TPE-NRT-TPE Code-Share/Operated by Japan Airlines
NRT-LAX-NRT Operated by American Airlines
-or-
TPE-SFO-TPE Code-Share/Operated by Eva Airways
SFO-LAX-SFO Operated by American Airlines
-or-
TPE-NRT-TPE Code-Share/Operated by Japan Airlines
NRT-SFO-NRT Code-Share/Operated by Japan Airlines
SFO-LAX-SFO Operated by American Airlines

When I reach the AA Platinum, I can get extra 100% bouns miles when flying CX, so would it be easier to let me maintain the OW elite status in the future?

Thanks in advance for your all kind reply and suggestions! :D

Bonus miles can only be redeemed for awards and do not qualify you for Elite status :(

(updated)

I think the ex-TPE fare for AA/BR code-share are very expensive in Y. AA's GSA (台灣中國運通) only promotes TPE-NRT-USA.

Oh by the way, you can only earn AAdvantage miles for CX's Y/B/H classes if you fly economy. On the other hand, you earn Asia Miles / MPO Club Miles for almost all subclasses on AA that earns miles on AAdvantage.

As per Platinum membership guide and website info,

100% Mileage Bonus
Your miles add up twice as fast since you’ll receive a 100%
mileage bonus on the base or guaranteed minimum miles for
eligible flights on American Airlines, American Eagle,
AmericanConnection and select airline partners. For complete
details please visit aa.com/elitestatusbonus.

aa.com/elitestatusbonus

As an elite-status member you earn an elite status mileage bonus on the base or guaranteed minimum miles for each eligible flight on the carriers listed below:
* American Airlines (including codeshare flights booked as an AA flight number)
* American Eagle®
* AmericanConnection®
* Alaska Airlines
* Cathay Pacific Airways
* Dragonair (Effective November 1, 2007)
* Finnair
* Iberia
* LAN 1
* Qantas Airways
* Royal Jordanian Airlines

Elite Level Elite Status Bonus
AAdvantage Executive Platinum® 100%
AAdvantage Platinum® 100%
AAdvantage Gold® 25%

I think it shoube be qualify for remain elite status when I reach AA Platinum, right?

(Sorry, my mistake and mis-understanding. Someone already explained for me, thanks!)
(I thought that means 100% Bonus EQM for AA Plat, but it should be 100% Bouns RDM)

There are three standard ways to qualify for status with AA:There is another critter Called "Redeemable Miles" (RDM's), this is what one uses to redeem awards.

An AA platinum flying a 1000 mile segment on an AA flight in N class would earn:An AA platinum flying a 1000 mile segment on an AA flight in F class would earn:More here:

Thanks for all explanations.

Therefore, if I can hit 50k EQM per year, the best choice should be AA, not CX, right? since CX MPC's program required 30k EQM / 20 Segments for Silver and than plus 60k EQM / 40 Segments to upgrade to /maintain with Gold tier, I have to catch Gold tier in the 1st year with total of 90k EQM or 60 Segments. In addition, CX MPC did not offer any bonus mileage or upgrade cert. for elite tier members like AA as follow:

- four 500-mile upgrades for every 10k EQM.
- 100% mileage bonus for AA and selected airline partners.

As same tier as OW Sapphire status, AA offered better benefits, low entry threshold and more easy qualification requirements than CX MPC...

The two points I'm considering is about the segments and award redemption value. CX required only 40 segments to maintain Gold tier but AA required 60, and most of my flights was regional shorthaul flights between Taipei and Hong Kong. And CX R/T award tickets in Y / J class only required 15k / 30k between TPE/HKG.....

It seems like I answered my own questions...haha!! I just can not make a decision...

As I said, if you will be taking Y on CX it will be wise to choose MPO, since you can get miles for K, L, M, V tkts on AsiaMiles but not AAdvantage. Also, the 30k+60k thing only happens if you start from zero. If you are already a SL then you simply need 60k in your membership year to achieve gold. If you'd rather have me explain to you in Chinese to make things clearer for you, PM me!

Thanks, I think MPO might better for me to maintain membership tier since most of my flights were regional short-haul between Taipei and Hong Kong, but AA Plat's 100% bonus miles really a special attraction for me....haha!