I recently switched airline programs as a result of a move to the DFW area. Since AA won't match status, I took AAdvantage of its DEQM promo to thrash my way to EXP in just over two weeks.

Member since: May 2009

I signed up for a GLD challenge upon joining so that I could start earning miles toward elite upgrades and then got to booking. First move included a day in Dallas, a quick morning RT to/from SFO the next day, and an overnight TATL DFW-MAD that night. The return flight the next day flew by and I was back home by 9pm.

Miles Flown: 13,351
Status: Gold

Followed this up with an even bolder MR to take me to the top. After signing up for the PLT challenge (so I could start earning 100% bonus), I was ready to go.

AUS - DFW - ORD - DEL - ORD - DFW - SCL - DFW - ORD - DEL - ORD - DFW - AUS

The entire MR was upgraded at booking using 4 eVIPs that were donated by a good friend of mine who already enjoys EXP^^. This MR started out well with each flight on time from AUS to DEL. I cleared PLT status after landing in DEL so I was good to go on the bonus miles from there on out.

Spent 3 days in DEL at the Taj Mahal Hotel (A+, great service), made the trip to Agra to see the real Taj, and spent a day at the hotel pool, which was quite refreshing given the summer heat over there.

The DEL airport is a bit of a mess, but I did my HW here on FT and knew what to expect (thanks everyone). The DEL - ORD segment took us almost straight over the N. Pole and got us there about 30 minutes early. Unfortunately, if you beat Customs to work, you wait on the plane. I wish the crew would have been a little more clear about that as I would have preferred to enjoy that 777 J seat instead os standing in the galley waiting for the door to open with no room to move.

I booked myself on the 777 (2345) to DFW that night so that I could spend the day in Chicago working. Took the train into DT and cranked through a busy day before heading back to ORD for the flight to DFW. The 777 was delayed so I got moved to the earlier flight on the Mad Dog - Thanks AC staff, but the SCL flight was delayed as well so I wish I would have just put myself at risk (missing the SCL would have earned me another day of work time in Dallas). In any event, stopped by the gate for the SCL flight to ask whether or not they thought we would make it out. I was pleasantly surprised to receive meal vouchers at the gate and so we enjoyed a nice dinner in Terminal D. The total cam to $29.75 so we just snuck in under the $30 vouchers^

As I hoped, the rest of the trip back to DEL and then home went pretty well. AA staff & crews provided top notch service the entire time, particulary at the ACs. My single biggest problem was that the IFE on my last DEL - ORD flight went black. I was quite annoyed about this but it let me switch to a book since I was just watching tv shows that weren't really that great anyways.

More important than all of that though, are the stats. Now that everything has posted from that trip, I'll share the run down. Note: this does include a couple hundred AA dining miles!

Program to Date Miles: 106,763 (not bad for ONE month)
YTD EQP: 54,885
YTD EQM: 57,104 (Double these soon, please!!)
YTD EQS: 18

Miles toward Elite Upgrades: 49,344
500 mile upgrades: 16

Time in Air: Chrono froze at 99:59:59 somewhere during the first half of the final DEL - ORD flight, so somewhere around 110 hours.

IFE Movies: Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Confessions of a Shopaholic, He's Just Not That In to You, The International, Bolt, Fool's Gold, Horton Hears a Who, Four Christmases, Marley & Me, Yes Man, Bedtime Stories, Get Smart, The Reader, Kill Shot, New in Town, Hotel for Dogs

IFE TV Shows: The Mentalist (5 episodes), House (1), The Office (1), Friday Night Lights (4), 30 Rock (4)

Got to give AA a big ^ as I only encountered two delays (1 weather - was swiftly rebooked to avoid problems), enjoyed the FL and AC lounges, received great service in J on each flight, and thought they have really improved on their food since my last experience (the DEL-ORD options are the least appealing to me, so FEBO was my friend there). Couldn't have asked for much more than I got. A+.

Now that it's done, I can finally rest.

Obviously this was the most painfull part of this mileage run

Seriously, you'd think I could get some additional miles for the airline's lack of movie selection this month. Who do I contact??

what was the benefit of this over just signing up for Plat challenge and paying only one fee?

congrats!
intresting post.
what was $$$ spent?

My best guess is that the DFW-MAD RT was booked into a fare code that didnt qualify for 1 full EQP per mile flown, which means he would have had to wait until be big run to complete the plat challenge and earn the blous miles. just a guess tho.

Also, I too would really like to know what the total cost of this run was, I am thinking of doing something similar.

The longer run priced at about $1950 through mid-may, but moving the dates back so that my comrade could join upped it to about $2350, and then we upped it to $2700 to avoid the Q/O (non-upgradeable) fare buckets on the TATL. Not perfect, but I wanted to share the experience.

Correct, I wanted to become elite ASAP to earn stickers and bonus miles!

I thought I was impressive until i read this, you're a beast! Well done!

Very impressive!

well done

I'm not sure why you are so excited about the EXP status. Now there will be so many, the complemtary upgrades will be hard to find and there will be a huge crowd waiting to board first. Sorry you spent so much money for such little benefit.

I don't buy into that at all. With reduced travel this year for many business travelers, even with the DEQM promotion, which covered a limited time frame, my guess is there will be less EXPs come the end of the year.

While definitely a grueling itinerary, it seems quite civilized compared to this brave soul's quest for 1K.

At least you got to enjoy some air outside of the airport or a plane on your travels!

Having just got back from a vacation where my air travel was routed JFK-DFW-ORD-PVG-HKG-BKK out, and BKK-HKG-HND//NRT-DFW-PHX, but with actual relaxation in between, I just got tired reading about your respective runs for top tier.

I do commend your spirit though. If you've got any decent amounts of travel with some long-hauls in there, you'll definitely appreciate the investment you just put into it.

Hi, I've moved this to Trip Reports but have left a 24hr redirect from Mileage Run Discussion. Although the trip is for a mileage run, this has all the elements of a Trip Report.

I hope MR regulars have read it and that it's a fun diversion for readers of Trip Reports.

Cheers,
BiziBB
Moderator, Mileage Run forums

Congrats, quite impressive. First time this weekend I didnt get upgraded on a trip to iad from lax this weekend. Enjoy exp

Great trip report.

Ready to go back to India?