There are 4 different types of points you earn with American Airlines AAvantage program.
Award miles - This is your typical airline miles/points you use to redeem for free flights (award tickets, hence the name).
Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) - These are the miles that you earn to qualify for status and status only (such as Exec Platinum). They cannot be used to redeem for flights or toasters unlike Award miles.
Elite Qualifying Sectors (EQS) - One sector means one flight. So on a connecting itinerary with 2 flights, that would be 2 sectors. These EQS is earned to qualify for status such as Exec Plat.
Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD) - If they live in the US, this is a requirement to qualify for status. Simply speaking, this is how much money you spent with American and their partners, though this isn't always the case. In general, a AA domestic flight costing $99 would earn you 95 Elite Qualifying Dollars after taking into account government taxes.
Booking with a travel agent generally doesn't make any difference to booking the exact same flight on American Airlines or any other airline's website, since a travel agent is essentially just booking the same flight for you that you can book yourself.
American Airlines marketed flights (a flight with an AA flight number), will earn based on the dollar spent. An Executive platinum earns 11 award miles per dollar, 2-3 EQM (depends on fare class) per mile flown, 1 EQD per dollar, and 1 EQS per flight in Business Class.
Qantas marketed flights (a flight with a QF flight number), will earn based on miles flown. You will earn 125% award miles per mile flown in addition to a 120% bonus on the miles flown as an Executive Platinum. You will earn 1.5 EQM per mile flown, 0.25 EQD per mile flown, and 1 EQS per flight.
To give an example, if you have a $3000 J class ticket from Los Angeles to Melbourne:
If it has a AA flight number you would earn:
33000 Award miles, 23763 (7921*3) EQM, 2950 (after taking away the taxes) EQD, 1 EQS
If it has a QF flight number you would earn:
19406 Award miles, 11881 EQM, 1980 EQD, 1 EQS
You will earn award miles based on dollar spent with AA marketed flights but you can also earn award miles on QF flights but that will be based on distance flown. I suggest you check out this guide to learn more about the nuisances in earning AAvantage miles and all its other currencies.
When booking AA marketed flights you earn as if you were flying on American Airlines (AA).
Even though the flight is operated by Qantas (QF), as long as the ticket has the AA marketed flight numbers then EQM, EQS, EQD and Miles will all be earned from the AA rates
The marketing carrier dictates the program earning. Examples below:
When using the American Airlines frequent flyer program
Uqsthom6
Uqsthom6
Member since 15 Mar 2017
Total posts 21
Dear Brains Trust.
djtech
djtech
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Sep 2018
Total posts 375
There are 4 different types of points you earn with American Airlines AAvantage program.
henrus
henrus
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Oct 2013
Total posts 765
QF Operated QF Marketed - Earns at QF rates
QF Operated AA Marketed - Earns at AA rates
AA Operated QF Marketed - Earns at QF rates
Uqsthom6
Uqsthom6
Member since 15 Mar 2017
Total posts 21
Thank-you both for your detailed responses.