Duh. Thanks for the 377 + 288. I kept thinking that 288 = 0.25 of something (either 377 or 500). It didn't occur to me that the sum is 1.25 x 500. :)

Ok, I figured out the EQP, thanks to the hints from you guys. It's 0.5 x 2586 + 1.5 x (500 + 2475) = 5755.5, which was rounded to 5756.

The SFO-LAX-JFK accumulated points at the 1.5x rate.

It helps to have an Excel spreadsheet open to do these calculations. :)

I think there's a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvering I don't understand. When I was at the airport, I had to call a number of times before I got the SFO-LAX-JFK routing. The airport agent routed me through ORD initially. I must have gotten a very sympathetic agent on the phone who got me onto a higher fare class.

I don't feel too bad about $150 now. I'd not have anticipated that my return would be cancelled, and I can see now that I only got 50% points for JFK-SFO. But I wonder if I decide subsequently to call back and have them backdate the challenge if they are still going to give me 1.5 x the points for SFO-LAX-JFK.

Out of curiosity is Q or S more expensive, or is it impossible to tell? They both accrue 50% points.

http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index...ility_%28AA%29

You got lucky that they changed your fare class when they rerouted you. Normally, it should have stayed the same, but the agent was probably too busy to notice/bother.

Thanks for the informative link. S is higher than Q.

I thought that JFK-SFO was Q, but then I just reviewed my AA printout and it's printed out as R. I can't retrieve the reservation online anymore. In the Wiki page, R only applies for transatlantic flights.

I was trying to figure out whether the fare classes affected my upgrades, but I don't see an obvious pattern as I guess there are other factors.

I didn't realize SFO-LAX-JFK was the result of rerouting. They probably rebooked you into Y. I personally don't think they'll go back and take the extra points away after the fact.

FWIW my uncle mistakenly got 1.5 for a Q fare upgraded to A using miles back in Feb and the points are still there.

AFAIK, fare class on AA has nothing to do with upgrade chances. It depends on
1) when you requested the upgrade
2) your status

Your JFK-SFO is "R" = sticker upgrade. From the wiki page:
<i>EXP and 500-mile Upgrades from Economy to Business on <u>3-class transcons</u> and 2-class short-haul international flights (e.g., Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America). Operational Upgrades. </i>

When they rerouted you, they might have "lost" your place on the upgrade queue.

What if you paid full fare economy? They won't give you the upgrade?

I'm trying to find my boarding passes. I've only found the SFO-LAX. It's indeed Y (under "Class"). They gave me a complimentary upgrade and a new pass afterwards. That class is X.

I also have the boarding passes for the SFO-ORD-LGA routing and the classes are S.

I like it when you discover that under this labyrinth there's really some sense of order. :)

Yes, you're right, yk, on the R class. I printed out my reservations from AA after my upgrade request went through and the class was "Business." Thus it was indeed Q originally (if I remember right).

Thanks for clarifying that part of the mystery.

As an elite, you (and a companion) can request complimentary upgrade with Y/B.