What's the difference between EQM and normal miles?
Dec 20, 2011 | 5:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: UA
Posts: 29
What's the difference between EQM and normal miles?
I get that EQM's are mainly for status, but are they and "normal miles" one and the same? If I book a trip from, say, LAX to NRT for 5500 miles do I get 5500 normal, redeemable miles and 5500 eqm, non-redeemable miles?
I guess I'm confused, because the "status" benefits aren't of real importance to me, because I don't fly that much. But I am interesting in accumulating miles through credit cards, transferring them to UA and then flying for free on vacations.
I guess I'm confused, because the "status" benefits aren't of real importance to me, because I don't fly that much. But I am interesting in accumulating miles through credit cards, transferring them to UA and then flying for free on vacations.
Dec 20, 2011 | 6:01 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: UA
Posts: 29
Makes sense. Do they earn at the same rate normal miles do? Say, in my above example, would I get 5,500 redeemable miles and 5,500 EQ miles.
Can miles transfers from credit cards (sapphire preferred) count towards EQ miles or are they gained strictly by flying? I would assume the latter, or I could just take my 50k signup bonus and get status at United (which seems too easy).
Can miles transfers from credit cards (sapphire preferred) count towards EQ miles or are they gained strictly by flying? I would assume the latter, or I could just take my 50k signup bonus and get status at United (which seems too easy).
Dec 20, 2011 | 6:05 am
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
No.
Assuming a normal coach fare, yes.
Then you can ignore the EQM bit.
Think of it as two wholly separate accounts, one for EQMs and one for RDMs. The EQM account only grows during the year and then resets to zero on January 1 and is only used for status. You earn based on the fare and miles flown.
The RDMs account can grow or shrink during the year and never gets reset to zero unless you have no activity for 18 months. The RDM account also is where CC points show up and where you redeem from for travel awards. If you don't care about status then this is the only one you care about.
Think of it as two wholly separate accounts, one for EQMs and one for RDMs. The EQM account only grows during the year and then resets to zero on January 1 and is only used for status. You earn based on the fare and miles flown.
The RDMs account can grow or shrink during the year and never gets reset to zero unless you have no activity for 18 months. The RDM account also is where CC points show up and where you redeem from for travel awards. If you don't care about status then this is the only one you care about.
Dec 20, 2011 | 6:19 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,443
EQM's aren't miles in the conventional sense, they are not a currency and have no value. They are essentially a measuring stick of your progress towards elite status.
RDM's are just like currency and have value and can be redeemed/exchanged for tangible benefits.
RDM's are just like currency and have value and can be redeemed/exchanged for tangible benefits.
Dec 20, 2011 | 8:40 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 291
those are just redeemable miles. EQMs you can pretty much only get through flying (tho Delta is letting you buy them, from what i understand) and like was said earlier, reset every year.
Dec 20, 2011 | 9:00 am
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
iEQMs you can pretty much only get through flying (tho Delta is letting you buy them, from what i understand)