AA Platinum Challenge - Tips

[jakeseven7]

Which is why I ensured my qualifying flight was QF29 MEL-LHR, earning me a challenge bonus of 10,298 miles . Careful planning of the challenge flights can result in nice additional candy.

Thanks Dave/NM.

I have got it now, only took me a couple of days All this talk of candy has made me hungry and I think I'll begin planning my foray into AA land now...just have to sort out some timings.

One last question, there was an earlier post on how to launder AMEX points into AA points which I didn't see an answer to? I spoke to AMEX Australia today who said that it can't be done so I'm assuming there is a backdoor method...?

 

[Dave Noble]

One last question, there was an earlier post on how to launder AMEX points into AA points which I didn't see an answer to? I spoke to AMEX Australia today who said that it can't be done so I'm assuming there is a backdoor method...?

Silly ole AMEX customer service ppl

Transfer from AMEX to Starwood Preferred Guest
Transfers at 1000 AMEX -> 330 SPG

SPG -> AA
Transferring in multiples of 20,000
20,000 SPG -> 25,000 AA

When transferring < 20,000 points then
1 SPG -> 1 AA


When transferring at the best rate , it works out that
1 AMEX -> 0.4125 AA points

Dave

 

[jakeseven7]

Brilliant, thanks Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

To find the way to launder miles from any program to any other program see www.webflyer.com/programs/mileage_converter

 

[JohnK]

Link does not work for me!

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Our sections and features are listed in the left-hand column. You can also visit our Site Map or use the search box located at the top of our pages to look for information.

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[Kiwi Flyer]

Sorry I got the link wrong. Should be fixed now.

Note the converter takes into account minimum transfer amounts at each step, so to see all theoretical routes enter a big number to transfer (eg 1,000,000).

 

[Maca44]

Link does not work for me!

JohnK, Move your mouse over the Webflyer icon on the top left of the page, click it to bring up the home page and then look down the list on the left side and click on "Mileage Converter".

 

[JohnK]

JohnK, Move your mouse over the Webflyer icon on the top left of the page, click it to bring up the home page and then look down the list on the left side and click on "Mileage Converter".

Thanks Maca. Good thinking.

 

[Mal]

It's been discussed over at FT that AA are tightening up the rules on challenges so that you will no longer be able to do a Plat Challenge 2 times in a row. (Eg Plat Challenge to make Plat, you don't fly enough to retain so you're demoted to Gold. You won't be able to do another Plat Challenge to get back the Plat).

The re qualification level is:
50000 EQM's or 60 Flight segments in the calender year.

 

[jakeseven7]

It's been discussed over at FT that AA are tightening up the rules on challenges so that you will no longer be able to do a Plat Challenge 2 times in a row. (Eg Plat Challenge to make Plat, you don't fly enough to retain so you're demoted to Gold. You won't be able to do another Plat Challenge to get back the Plat).

The re qualification level is:
50000 EQM's or 60 Flight segments in the calender year.

Hmmm could u at some point do a fake attempt at gold and then do plat again?

 

[JohnK]

It's been discussed over at FT that AA are tightening up the rules on challenges so that you will no longer be able to do a Plat Challenge 2 times in a row.

Surprise, surprise! So they have finally decided to replace the broken padlock to the cupboard!

 

[serfty]

Surprise, surprise! So they have finally decided to replace the broken padlock to the cupboard!

Actually, 'tis more of a minor restriction. Due to the competitive LOTFAP environment AA can't be too hard.

What it means is, for those who attept a CT 'challenge', if they don't attain or retain a level via the challenge/standard rules, they can't request a challenge at that level in the next immediate 'year'.

 

[JohnK]

Actually, 'tis more of a minor restriction. Due to the competitive LOTFAP environment AA can't be too hard.

Am I correct in saying that it will affect some people who thought that they could fast track themselves to OneWorld Sapphire every year by doing a platinum challenge with only one or 2 overseas trips?

 

[serfty]

Am I correct in saying that it will affect some people who thought that they could fast track themselves to OneWorld Sapphire every year by doing a platinum challenge with only one or 2 overseas trips?

Certainly, bur moreso for quite a few (apparently) in the US.

Some were abusing the process, never really qualifying for AA GLD/PLT via the requisite QM's/Miles/Segments etc.

Here's a FT thread on it from the AAdvantage Forum: New policy to be implemented on repeat challenges.

 

[JohnK]

Certainly, bur moreso for quite a few (apparently) in the US.

Some were abusing the process, never really qualifying for AA GLD/PLT via the requisite QM's/Miles/Segments etc.

I have read the thread and most agree that this is a good change. I don't agree with their summation that only people frequenting FT (or AFF) type sites would know about AA platinum challenges. There are not just members to a frequent flyer site, there are also lurkers who take in information and never post, there is the passing of information to people who don't go into internet forums. For a closure to a loophole to occur there has to be a noticeable trend of continuous abuse. Obviously someone at AA has picked up on this trend.

As I understand it you now need 50,000EQM's to maintain Platinum and if you don't make 25,000EQM's you drop back to nothing. I may have understood wrong. Most of the regulars and lurkers on this site would have struggled to make QF Silver, let alone QF Gold with the amount of flying they do annually, yet they got AA Platinum. Now they are going to get a rude shock.

Personally I think it is a fantastic change, and about time.

 

[NM]

Makes no difference to me. I requalified Platinum through until Feb 2008 on the same trip that I first stole my candy. I completed the 50,000 EQP requirement for Platinum renewal plus some.

The Challenges are designed to fast-track people to elite status when they are looking to change from their existing program (QF in my case, but really targeted at competing USA-based programs). And for that purpose they work very well.

I have had quite a few people sign up for the challenge in the past. They have never read nor heard of AFF or FT. But with a little info from me they are now happy AA Platinum members. Three were changing from UA to AA programs and another from BA to AA. All have since requalified Platinum in their own right, and at least one is now EXP.

I thought about asking an AA supervisor of they could set up an EXP challenge for me where I would be given EXP status if I completed 50,000 EQP (half of the annual EXP requirement) in 1 month. I would have made it, but never get to ask about it beforehand. I really don't think they would have bitten.

 

[wandering_fred]

Mrs WF and I both went from nada to EXP via the challenge route in 2005. Courtesy of the end of a LONE4 and the major part of a DONE5 (ex CMB). Now to rearrange the bank accounts and find the time to do justice to a similar procedure in 2007 since this year's flying is rather limited.

Suspect my QF PS will disappear after Feb 2007.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Dave Noble]

As I understand it you now need 50,000EQM's to maintain Platinum and if you don't make 25,000EQM's you drop back to nothing. I may have understood wrong. Most of the regulars and lurkers on this site would have struggled to make QF Silver, let alone QF Gold with the amount of flying they do annually, yet they got AA Platinum. Now they are going to get a rude shock.

No, you are wrong; dropping from platinum will be to gold regardless of eqms or eqps earned

Dave

 

[NM]

No, you are wrong; dropping from platinum will be to gold regardless of eqms or eqps earned

Dave

Indeed AAdvantage as soft landings just as QF does. But AA is not reported to be as generous as QF has been in the past with renewing status for members who have not quite achieved the required targets.

 

[Mal]

To help those Status Runners, who might want AA Plat status but don't know where to start, would the cheapest status trip be a WT+ (return) to SIN/BKK with BA? (Of course bought through one of the consolidators such as BestFlights rather than BA direct!).

QF Gold "equivalent" for ~$1500-$2000 is not too bad a deal really!