Dave Noble said:
Comparing against a trip SYD-LAX
Base miles is 14976
COS bonus AA PLT/EXP = 14976
COS bonus QF Gold = 7288
COS bonus QF Platinum = 14976
On 2 trips, mileage earned AA = 59,904 : QF Gold = 44,528 ; QF Platinum = 59,904
To compare additional CC spend needed to get an award to LAX in Y or J
For Y
Using AA, the number of points needed from AMEX debt cards = 15,096 => $36597
Using QF Gold, the number of points needed from AMEX debt cards = 51,472=> $51,472
Using QF Platinum, the number of points needed from AMEX debt cards = 36,096 => $36,096
For J
Using AA, the number of points needed from AMEX debt cards = 65,096 => $157,808
Using QF Gold, the number of points needed from AMEX debt cards = 147,472 => $147,472
Using QF Platinum, the number of points needed from AMEX debt cards = 132,096 => $132,096
Being zonal based, LAX is not one of the locations that comes out particularly well for AA since it is a close destination. If travellling further into the US on the award flight, AA comes out better since the same number of points will get to JFK whilst using QF points it would need as many as to get to London
Dave
Comparing against trip SYD-SIN
Base miles is 7816
COS bonus AA PLT/EXP = 7816
COS bonus QF Gold = 3908
COS bonus QF Platinum = 7816
On 2 trips, mileage earned AA = 31,264 ; QF Gold = 23,448 ; QF Platinum = 31,264
To compare additional CC spend needed to get an award to SIN in Y or J
In Y using AA, the number of points needed from AMEX MR points = 18,736 => $45,421
In Y using QF Gold, the number of points needed from AMEX MR points = 36,552 => $36,552
In Y using QF Platinum, the number of points needed from AMEX MR points = 28,736 => $28,736
In J using AA, the number of points needed from AMEX MR points = 38,736 => $93,906
In J using QF Gold, the number of points needed from AMEX MR points = 96,552 => $96,552
In J using QF Platinum, the number of points needed from AMEX MR points = 88,736 => $88,736
You decide whether AA looks adventageous in this example!
Comparing against trip PER-SIN
Base miles is 4858
COS bonus AA PLT/EXP = 4858
COS bonus QF Gold = 2429
COS bonus QF Platinum = 4858
On 2 trips, mileage earned AA = 19,432 ; QF Gold = 14,574 ; QF Platinum = 19,432
To compare additional CC spend needed to get an award to SIN in Y or J
In Y using AA, the number of points needed from AMEX MR points = 30,568 => $74,105
In Y using QF Gold, the number of points needed from AMEX MR points = 35,426 => $35,426
In Y using QF Platinum, the number of points needed from AMEX MR points = 30,568 => $30,568
In J using AA, the number of points needed from AMEX MR points = 50,568 => $122,590
In J using QF Gold, the number of points needed from AMEX MR points = 85,426 => $85,426
In J using QF Platinum, the number of points needed from AMEX MR points = 80,568 => $80,568
Clearly AA is no longer an option!
As usual YMMV!