dvs7310

In your scenario, someone starting with no AA status, you'd start gaining multipliers at 40k (40%) then a higher one at 75k (60%), so this is a pretty rough calculation but assuming the 150% cabin bonus on JL, QR, and AY you'd need a ~38,100 BIS mile trip for 98,454 base LPs (base + cabin bonus only), that's a pretty short DONE4.

Just as an example I've constructed this theoretical DONE5 all JL and QR it would put someone from zero at 128,100 LPs.

But this dismisses that you'd have to get between JFK and LAX, if you use AS for that and go via SEA or ANC, those get a 50% cabin bonus. AKL-SYD on QF gets a 25% cabin bonus, so that's additional LPs and RDMs, you'd be sitting at 140k going via ANC. Asia isn't really optimized in this scenario either, I don't know without re-working it but you might be able to squeeze more by taking QF or CX to Asia then over to India and JL back to Japan from there. I think you could max that option by QF to BKK or SIN, then CX to HKG and India, and JL from India to TYO.

Rinse and repeat next year and you're within easy striking distance of EXP (Same itinerary via ANC with all 80% PPRO bonus is 165k LPs)

cruser1

I'm aware of the bonuses you receive as you move up the elite tiers. I was trying show base mileage for the previously mentioned trip that earned 210k miles for an Executive Platinum so that somebody could multiply that mileage by their status tier.

Gold - 40% Bonus
Platinum - 60% Bonus
Platinum Pro - 80% Bonus
Executive Platinum - 120% Bonus

Thanks for your example RTW trip! It's a good start!

anc305

I did the math yesterday. My original posted routing (HND-JFK-ANC-LAX-LIR-LAX-SJO-LAX-DOH-CMN-DOH-DUB-DOH-AKL-HKG-BLR-NRT) yields 165K+ and PPro from scratch on a DONE4 if I did it correct ? I had promised a newly retierd friend a few moths ago to help him get status and some international travel. The cost is @$6300 as taxes out of Japan seem to be lower. 26 LP/RDM per $ for J class is not bad. Getting to Japan is also cheap. 35-50K miles on AA fairly common. About the sign-up spend bonus on an AA credit card ( put this ticket on your AA card and its done ) . With a few AA shopping / hotels points you have EXP quickly.

dvs7310

You're correct and I like your North America segments using AS to ANC (I had no idea there was a JFK-ANC flight) and Costa Rica...twice (I'm actually jealous I didn't think of that before as I always waste my allotted NA segments but tend to do DONE5 so need those segments elsewhere). Ever since JL joined the 150% cabin bonus bandwagon (which is shrinking with the loss of BA and IB), I've focused on maximizing those, but your itinerary is still netting more miles and LPs than mine. I've also never been to Alaska, one of only 2 states in the US I haven't seen.

I'm still contemplating my next one, and your itinerary is inspirational but ANC in January isn't desirable, LOL. (That's when my NA sector would need to fall).

I do like that the OP of the thread has said that our cost per LP is quite good, so hopefully inspires a few other Premium fare mileage runners crediting to AA to shift their bargain hunts into these fares.