Gold challenge this year, Platinum next year?

[Tiki]

There have been so many changes, I want to be sure this is still doable? We have an easy Gold challenge in July with some 8000ish points on AA metal GIG-JFK-LFR. Next year, we will have an easy Platinum challenge using AA codeshare on QF metal to the USA. I just want to make sure that they will let us do a Platinum challenge the year after a Gold challenge?

We would actually have a normal Gold status from the ATW trip (over 25k points) except we need 4 segments on AA which we don't have, only those two segments are AA.

 

[Keith009]

We would actually have a normal Gold status from the ATW trip (over 25k points) except we need 4 segments on AA which we don't have, only those two segments are AA.

4 segment rule isn't enforced, for now.

 

[Tiki]

I thought the 4 segment rule was being enforced for Gold the normal way (25k EQP), but not enforced for challenges?

 

[Dave Noble]

I thought the 4 segment rule was being enforced for Gold the normal way (25k EQP), but not enforced for challenges?

nope. it isn't

Dave

 

[Keith009]

I thought the 4 segment rule was being enforced for Gold the normal way (25k EQP), but not enforced for challenges?

I don't recall it being enforced for any AA status, challenge or otherwise. You have more need to fly on an AA code with the challenge anyway due to the AA-flight number only rule.

 

[serfty]

To Clarify:

• Only travel on AA flights numbers contribute to the QMiles/Qpoints for AA Platinum/Gold challenges.
• AA publish a four segment rule for normal elite qualification; to date AA do not appear to have been enforcing it.

 

[Tiki]

If I do the challenge, I will make Gold on the JFK-LHR segment and accrue a 25% bonus for the rest of the flights of 2916 points.

If I do normal Gold, I won't make it until the final leg of NRT-BNE and get 25% of 555 points.

The only reason I wouldn't want to do a Gold challenge is if it would disqualify me from doing Platinum next year. My first trip next year would be BNE-MIA and I will probably route it BNE-SYD-LAX-MIA on an "earlybird" AA codeshare on QF. So I will hit Platinum on the LAX-MIA segment and have status for the rest of the domestic segments.

 

[openseat]

Just an interesting little aside.

A friend completed the Plat challenge recently by flying on AA codeshares MEL-SYD-LAX and onwards to IAD on AA metal. Since they were all on the same 'date' the latest flight time pushed him over the 10,000 and the latest flight time was the SYD-LAX flight which gave him a nice bonus. Obviously booking something like MEL-SYD-JFK on the AA codeshare would earn a little more.

 

[QF WP]

Yes, the AA system gets a little confused with flights taken on the same day (due to timezones), however the delay in posting the AA codeshare MEL/SYD/LAX flight is usually due to it coming from QF's systems over to AA's. Normally takes 3-4 days, whilst AA metal flights are always same day or the next, IME.

 

[Tiki]

We went a bit off topic. Can someone please answer my original question if doing a Gold challenge this year would disqualify me from doing Platinum next year?

I know you can't do back to back Platinum, but this is a Gold to Platinum.

 

[QF WP]

No it doesn't. As long as you haven't previously done a Plat Challenge, then you are able to undergo it at any time in the future. as you will have only completed a Gold Challenge, then you are eligible.

See the Wikipedia AA Elite Status and Challenges

 

[simongr]

I think its only that you havent done the Plat challenge in the prior year and are using it to requalify so:

This is not allowed

2006 - Plat Challenge
2007 - Plat Challenge

These are allowed I think

2006 - Gold Challenge
2007 - Plat Challenege

2005 - Plat Challenge
2006 - Drop to GLD
2007 - Plat Challenege

 

[QF WP]

simongr, my understanding is that you can't ever re-do a Plat Challenge - it's a once in a lifetime offer.

Now, it mentions this in the Wiki:


Repeating a Challenge

Challenges may not be repeated back to back - that is, you may not use a challenge to requalify. If you do not requalify within the year, you will be downgraded one level, either to gold or no status. At the end of the downgraded year, you may complete the challenge again to regain your original status. (This info provided by AAdvantage rep on 10/10/2006.)

Failed Challenges

"Failed" Challenges may be "forgiven" as not counting, and one may be allowed to try again


I had thought that multiple Challenges had also been wiped from 1 Jan 2007, but I may be wrong

 

[simongr]

I think I bunch of EXP and PLATs on the FT AA boards want multile challenges stopped but I think they are still allowed.

 

[Tiki]

Thanks Lindsay and Simon. I'll book the Gold Challenge next month to start as of 1 July, unless I should do it sooner? All flights will take place between 6 July-4 August.

I get so frustrated with the FT board sometimes! If we didn't have challenges, with the new AA metal/codeshare rule in place Aussies would never get status!

 

[simongr]

Umm Tiki - the new codeshare rules actually make it harder to do a challenge. Now to do a challeneg you have to fly codeshare - you could still qualify "normally" and never fly AA metal or codeshare. Mind you if you are using "serial" challeneges then codeshare is the way to go. I think the americans have little worry about with Aussies based in Ozland as their major concern seemed to be people jumping ahead of them on the upgrade/waitlist...

 

[QF WP]

simongr, whilst you're correct, Tiki advised in her opening post:

We have an easy Gold challenge in July with some 8000ish points on AA metal GIG-JFK-LFR. Next year, we will have an easy Platinum challenge using AA codeshare on QF metal to the USA.

So she shouldn't have any problem with achieving either Challenge (unless the rules change again). Tiki, yes start on 1 July is perfect.

 

[simongr]

I was just commenting on the comment that:

If we didn't have challenges, with the new AA metal/codeshare rule in place Aussies would never get status

The new codeshare rules dont impact normal qualifying whereas the statement above implies that we are now fortunate to have challenges to save us from the new codeshare rules.

Tiki has put together a good plan to screw over the merkins and jump ahead of them on the waitlist!!! :mrgreen:

 

[Keith009]

Ahh the yesteryears... Previously without the AA metal/codeshare rule, a long weekend in SIN and a return BA (oh my they even flew to MEL then) WTP ticket booked in elcheapo T under BA codes would acquire Plat under the ChAAllenge.

 

[simongr]

I did it in WT+ up to BKK - but that was the trip I would rather forget...