AA Challenges - Questions and General Discussion

[knasty]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Yep. Register each with AA then ring aa customer service and enrol in platinum challenge.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Hi all, I signed up for an Elite Status offer a month back based on the following requirements.



Travelling to North America in December this year must complete qualifying flights by Dec. 23rd.

If I am doing the math correctly; a Flex Economy fare on Qantas SYD to ORD or NYC or DFW will get me the 9000 i need to get Platinum (ex. Syd-Nyc is 9940 miles X 1.5 grants 14,910 points).

Can I ask if I have the maths right on this?

 

[annielee]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

im planning to enrol for the AA challenge and already bought 2 return J (MEL-AKL) in december and january..
if my calculation are right, should be able to get the platinum, am i right ??

 

[serfty]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Sadly, the challenges in the current form finished in September.

You can still enrol, but all travel crediting to the challenge must be complete 23rd December.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....tage/plat-gold-challenges-end-sept-71130.html

 

[diningdecadence]

where are people getting ideas for MR's for AA challenges (e.g. the recent linkedin one)

i'll be in DFW/IAH/AUS later this month and contemplating a MR. seems like SJU is the favoured destination for a same day turn. anything else to look out, based out of texas?

 

[nicky286]

American Airlines’ Status Challenge Options For 2016

Hear are the two 2016 challenge options:

• Gold: Earn 7,000 EQMs in 90 days; $120 fee
• Platinum: Earn 12,500 EQMs in 90 days; $200 fee

The both in USD

EQMs must be earned within 90 days of registering. Only flights marketed and operated by AA, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines or Qantas will count toward status earned through a challenge. You don’t earn status right away — you’ll need to meet the requirements of your selected tier before you can take advantage of elite benefits. Note that it’ll be easier for premium-cabin travelers to meet the requirements than it has in the past, since you now earn 3 EQMs per mile flown for full-fare first and business, 2 EQMs for discount first and business, 1.5 EQMs for full-fare economy and 1 EQM for discount economy.

Simply call AA at 888-697-5636 to sign up. I’ve called multiple times and the wait was only a minute or two, so you should be able to complete the registration process quickly.

You can’t register if you currently have elite status, however AA reps expect that it will be possible to register as soon as your status drops off, if you haven’t requalified for 2016. Unfortunately AA isn’t currently offering a challenge for Executive Platinum status, but Gold and Platinum benefits are valuable enough to make this opportunity worthwhile.

 

[serfty]

Re: American Airlines’ Status Challenge Options For 2016

Hear are the two 2016 challenge options:

• Gold: Earn 7,000 EQMs in 90 days; $120 fee
• Platinum: Earn 12,500 EQMs in 90 days; $200 fee

The both in USD
....

Indeed! A new Challenge thread has been created (and the old one set adrift) here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....atus-challenge-options-73194.html#post1374047

Please continue to post Challenge related questions and observations in this here dedicated thread.

 

[anat0l]

Re: American Airlines’ Status Challenge Options For 2016

[-]Those new challenges are quite a bit (for EXP, substantially so) easier than the previous "challenge" (it was a LinkedIn targeted one) of which the challenge period just finished. The aforementioned one had no fee (but you had to be targeted), but required much more than this challenge in the same time period; e.g. for EXP 25k EQM was required.[/-]

serfty, in the Challenge master thread, you need to modify your table for AA earn a bit, as all AA Discount Economy eligible fare classes now earn 1.00 EQM. Unless there is a different scheme exclusively for the purposes of the challenge.

Anyone think these new ones are a bit of a walk in the park? A mere return Economy fare across the Pacific on the new entrant (as long as you fly within the challenge dates), plus USD 200, equals instant oneworld [-]Emerald[/-] Sapphire. That's pretty cheap if I ever saw it, even if it is for only a year with hard drop. Of course, even if you were to do it "cheap", it is still worth considering before jumping so that one can take full advantage of it. I can't remember if doing a challenge disqualifies you from ever doing another one.

 

[serfty]

Re: American Airlines’ Status Challenge Options For 2016

Those new challenges are quite a bit (for EXP, substantially so) easier than the previous "challenge" (it was a LinkedIn targeted one) of which the challenge period just finished. The aforementioned one had no fee (but you had to be targeted), but required much more than this challenge in the same time period; e.g. for EXP 25k EQM was required.
...
Anyone think these new ones are a bit of a walk in the park? A mere return Economy fare across the Pacific on the new entrant (as long as you fly within the challenge dates), plus USD 200, equals instant oneworld Emerald. That's pretty cheap if I ever saw it, even if it is for only a year with hard drop. Of course, even if you were to do it "cheap", it is still worth considering before jumping so that one can take full advantage of the year as an Emerald (or AA EXP for that matter). I can't remember if doing a challenge disqualifies you from ever doing another one.

There is no standard AAdvantage Challenge for EXP/Emerald.

That return AU$1200 economy journey on AA72/73 in O class would earn nearly 15,000 EQM, easily Qualifying for Platinum and *O Sapphire with the USD200 Challenge ...

 

[anat0l]

Re: American Airlines’ Status Challenge Options For 2016

There is no standard AAdvantage Challenge for EXP/Emerald.

That return AU$1200 economy journey on AA72/73 in O class would earn nearly 15,000, easily Qualifying for Platinum and *O Sapphire with the USD200 Challenge ...

Whoops, I'm way too much thinking about most other reward programmes around the world (where the top tier is Platinum)!

 

[serfty]

Re: American Airlines’ Status Challenge Options For 2016

... I can't remember if doing a challenge disqualifies you from ever doing another one.

Indication on FT is one challenge (successful or not) no more frequently than every five years.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Re: American Airlines’ Status Challenge Options For 2016

Doing a status run now; for 1 round trip of $1200 would get you 15,000 points then you get lounge for the next 2 trips that you fly give you Platinum for almost 2 years.

Total $3,600 is a reasonable deal, now to crunch the numbers, because I am sure that those 60,000 points you earn could come in handy.

 

[serfty]

Re: American Airlines’ Status Challenge Options For 2016

Moreover, there are reports on FT that Gold status can be granted immediately for those undertaking a Platinum challenge - this is to be confirmed.

If so, it means another 25% RDM earn on those ~15000 points.

Note that RDM will all change later this year (Platinum will earn 8 RDM per USD (fares excluding non airline levies and charges)).

 

[legroom]

Re: American Airlines’ Status Challenge Options For 2016

Moreover, there are reports on FT that Gold status can be granted immediately for those undertaking a Platinum challenge - this is to be confirmed.

If so, it means another 25% RDM earn on those ~15000 points.

Note that RDM will all change later this year (Platinum will earn 8 RDM per USD (fares excluding non airline levies and charges)).

I was granted that on pointing out my QF WP status.

Was then given a 3-month Gold status to complete my challenge

That was in 2014 IIRC

 

[knasty]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

I did 2 plt challenge with a gap year. Have just dropped from Exp to zero so will hopefully be lining up again. Granted instant gold on each occasion. Glad to see it's back.

 

[gethsemene]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Trying to decide what to do, previously Qantas gold then work went to cheapest flight on day so have dropped to silver and as of new month bronze.
I have booked a RTW style itinerary with Swiss with four flights on Qantas all in business with the four QF flights being hba-mel mel-hkg jnb-syd and syd-hba, but I don't think I could guarentee that I would fly enough on top of these to gain gold with QF.
Trying to decide whether to load onto qantas and try to fly enough for gold or to do an AA challenge....

 

[Moindardt]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

AA is 1.5x in business, so you need 8333 miles to qualify to qualify. You are at 12478 base miles with those 4. If you are in the US, you can get gold/plat with QF in a status run or 2.

Most of the gold while qualifying was knocked back last year despite it being easy to get in previous years. Haven't seen any reports of people getting it since but YMMV.

 

[DeanWorld]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Hi All
Hope this is the right place, this might be a real dumb question but just want to confirm.

I have found an amazing SR, 7 legs 640SC for $900usd all in J or F class under $2 a SC though over $2 when using AUD.
This does not include the flight to Aus return, so its like 750SC with the Aussie flight.

I was wondering with all those flights direct AA and no QF code on the flights can all the points and SC be earned for QF, will they all be credited to my QF account or to my AA account, Guessing now that the have a direct relationship like Emirates, I would still get the points and SC is this correct.
New to this SR stuff but think I addicted already so much wonderful information and links out there.

Thanks for any help

Cheers

 

[andye]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Hi All
Hope this is the right place, this might be a real dumb question but just want to confirm.

I have found an amazing SR, 7 legs 640SC for $900usd all in J or F class under $2 a SC though over $2 when using AUD.
This does not include the flight to Aus return, so its like 750SC with the Aussie flight.

I was wondering with all those flights direct AA and no QF code on the flights can all the points and SC be earned for QF, will they all be credited to my QF account or to my AA account, Guessing now that the have a direct relationship like Emirates, I would still get the points and SC is this correct.
New to this SR stuff but think I addicted already so much wonderful information and links out there.

Thanks for any help

Cheers

Flights with an AA flight number should credit to QFF if you put your QFF number on the booking

 

[diningdecadence]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Flights with an AA flight number should credit to QFF if you put your QFF number on the booking

but check booking class as earn rate may be severely diminished (in some cases to nil)