Hi all, looking for some advice. I recently received AA Platinum with an accompanying challenge to earn 12,500 EQMs by September 9th, to keep the status until January 2018. I don't fly much, but most of my flights these days are short-haul AA flights on T fares (Dan's favorite BA award, IIRC), and I’ve been enjoying the status enough that I'd like to try and keep it.
I'm aware that AA's award chart has gone to crap, but I get a lot of value out of the expanded seating chart usage, occasional free upgrades, priority boarding, and free checked bags. I'd apply for a Citi card, but I doubt I'd be approved for anything right now (take my word for it), unless Citi's approval criteria is easier than I recall it being.
So, any advice on how to cheaply rack up the EQMs? I currently have ~2500, so only need ~10k. Don't mind going for a mileage run, but don't want to spend a ton of money on it.