Newbie help needed - best mileage and EQP on LONE4?

[Wubba]

After some advice over on FlyerTalk, I've realised I have no idea what I am doing so thought I'd ask some locals for help.

I am a current AA Plat Member (got there through a Plat challenge 2 years ago, requalified last year through a DONE4).

Work is no longer flying me around the world (boo!) so I am trying to requalify for Plat based on my limited flying and limited funds.

I currently have 5000 EQP and EQM, and 10 segments flown.

I am trying to plan a LONE4 to get most of my miles/points to requalify, with a proposed itinerary of this:

SYD-HKG-AMS-LHR-YYZ-LAX-SYD flying on CX, BA, and QF (AA codeshare).

Is there a better way to fly to maximise my points (realising I am trying to have a 3 week vacation around this)?

Thanks for any help!

 

[serfty]

OK, firstly, avoid CX and RJ as no AAdvantage earning on L class, nor BA transatlantic to USA as well.

.70 earning on JL

.25 on BA

.50 on Qantas

.15 on Iberia

1.00 on Finnair.

Try this:

SYD-(QF)-SIN-(JL)-NRT-(JL)-HKG-(JL)-NRT-(AY)-HEL-(AY)-AMS-(BA)-LHR-(AY)-
HEL-(AY/AA)-JFK-(AA)-LAX-(AA)-DFW-(AA)-SJU-(AA)-DFW-(AA)-YYZ-(AA)-JFK-(AA)-SYD

 

[Keith009]

For a little more comfort, it might be worth paying the A$750/segment premium to upgrade one (or more) of the longer QF segments to Premium Economy. You might* then transform the upgraded QF segment/s from 0.5 Qpts/mile to 1.5.

An Asia-Europe (SIN/BKK/HKG-LHR) segment on QF might be a good candidate for this.

*They've not edited the earning chart for QF to reflect T and W yet, but I think you'd stand a good chance of earning 1.5 Qpts/mile in line with BA WTP.

 

[openseat]

As for the mileage question, keep in mind that the 100% elite bonus is fairly restricted now.

Elite Status Bonus
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
  [*] British Airways (Effective March 1, 2008, British Airways flights no longer earn elite status bonus miles.)
  [*] Cathay Pacific Airways
  [*] Dragonair (Effective November 1, 2007)
  [*] Finnair
  [*] Iberia
  [*] LAN
  [*] Qantas Airways
  [*] Royal Jordanian Airlines

On a LONE that means you are effectively stuck with AA flights and Finnair flights to earn the most complete bonus.

There are work arounds such as using codeshares (I noticed a few weeks ago that QF2 as an AY codeshare).

 

[Dave Noble]

As for the mileage question, keep in mind that the 100% elite bonus is fairly restricted now.
.

I wouldn't agree there. Most OW flights are eligable for the status bonus

Dave

 

[Keith009]

A pity that the JL and BA segments don't earn the bonus, since they're some of the longest intra continental segments you can have. Still if the OP is simply in need of Qpts, booking on lots of AY/JL/AA segments together with upgrading QF to T would work.

 

[Wubba]

Thanks very much for your help all! I'll start replanning....