Suggestions needed to earn 2k EQPs before end of year

[swissinoz]

I am looking to reach PLT on AA by the end of the year but need to earn about 2,000 additional Elite Qualifying Points (not EQ Miles!) before the end of the year. Home base is MEL. I was thinking that the min. 500 points rule might work in my favour but need to be careful with RedDeal bookings since they book into non-qualifying or low-qualifying classes. Any suggestions?

 

[wandering_fred]

LAN round trip to AKL.
award ticket to SIN. BA SIN-SYD-MEL one way economy

I'm sure there are more

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[simongr]

A few years ago I did four returns to CBR...

 

[adrian]

You are in a similar situation to me. I need just over 2000 qpoints to reach EXP.

I am doing SYD-AKL-SYD on LA next week. If you are looking to do this, make sure you choose Y, B, H, K, L, M, V, as they all earn 1:1 qpoints. On AA.com, it is usually the second cheapest option.

Unfortunately, it means an overnight in AKL. I am using the last leg of an LONE4 to get SYD-AKL, and I paid $180 for AKL-SYD in M.

(I don't know how, but expedia sold me a M fare, when expertflyer was showing M as sold out, and aa.com and lan.com were only selling much higher fares on that date)

Don't leave it until the last minute to book - there are not many combinations left for the year if you want a 1 day turnaround.

Best of luck!

​

 

[Kangol]

Unfortunately, it means an overnight in AKL.

You can stay at the Ibis budget (formerly known as the Formule 1) at AKL for ~NZD $60.

 

[adrian]

You can stay at the Ibis budget (formerly known as the Formule 1) at AKL for ~NZD $60.

booked it last week... great minds....

was NZD79, but that's okay.

wonder if I'll be able to get into the Qantas lounge once I arrive in AKL, before I head off to the Ibis? I am thinking that if I get the boarding pass issued in Sydney for the next day's return flight, they might not look too closely at the date....

 

[benlight]

I was thinking that the min. 500 points rule might work in my favour

AFAIK, since 2009 AA no longer has a 500 minimum points (EQP) guarantee for elites -- only a 500 minimum miles (EQM) guarantee. My post count is too low to post URLs, but this is stated on AA.com: "AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum® and AAdvantage Gold® members will continue to enjoy a minimum mileage guarantee for the base miles flown on applicable routes, as well as the associated elite qualifying miles. However, the elite qualifying points earned will no longer be subject to a 500-minimum points guarantee. Instead elite members will earn points based on the class of service purchased and the actual miles earned (either the base miles or, for elite status members, the minimum mileage guarantee if applicable)."

 

[serfty]

... However, the elite qualifying points earned will no longer be subject to a 500-minimum points guarantee. Instead elite members will earn points based on the class of service purchased and the actual miles earned (either the base miles or, for elite status members, the minimum mileage guarantee if applicable)."

EQP earning is directly based on EQM earn (at a ratio of ½, 1 or 1½), so the 500 minimum EQM earn for elites directly affects the minimum EQP that can be earned.

What this means is a minimum 250, 500 or 750 EQP earn depending upon booking class for Advantage elites on any flight eligible for earning (other than those with JL flight numbers).

For more see here: Miles and Points (AA) - FlyerGuide Wiki

 

[kempvet]

I am taking a JFK-HNL-JFK (stop over at LAX 450 dollars) return flight at the moment to make sure that I click over the 100,000 EQMs, three of the legs I have been upgraded to F (with earned upgrades) so it is not so bad, then back to SYD, at just over 10,000 EQMs it nails it for me for EXP, rather now than later as it is getting late in the year, I didn't want to fall just short and be stuck in the situation of these catch up flights. If I was 2K short I probably would have done the award SYD-SIN and then BA SIN-MEL-SYD or the LAN ACK trip but they are a little messy.