Platinum/Gold Challenges - Master thread

[newformula]

AA Platinum Challenge Check

In March '10 I'm going to be flying as the below... I was planning on crediting all to QF and going for SG this year, but a lightbulb went on and I figured an AA plat challenge might be the way to go instead.

SYD-JFK (QF, Fare Class N)
JFK-BGI (AA, I believe this either Y or discount Y, can't tell - QF FF account has it showing up as Y, I thought it was booked as discount - need to check)
BGI-JFK (as above)
SYD-JFK (as above)

Would this qualify me for AA Platinum if I sign up to the challenge? First impressions were that it would earn at least 12,000 Q points which would seem to hit the 10k required, but I then I saw in the main sticky about the challenge about domestic N class fares on QF not being eligible - don't know about international though. If someone could confirm, I'd be grateful.

If that *is* going to work, in Feb I am also flying
SYD-MEL (QF discount Y)
MEL-WLG (QF discount Y)
AKL-SYD (LAN J)

Would there be any benefit to starting the challenge sooner before my travel in Feb, or should I just credit these to QF as normal?

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

In order to complete the challenge , you needto attain 10,000qpoints from travel on AA. It would look like the travel planned does not have 10,000 points worth of travel on AA

JFK-BGI is 2086 miles , so if in Y class would earn 3129 points each way giving 6258 leaving you 3742 points short of Platinum. ( would be able to attain Gold via a Gold Challenge though )

If you can change your SYD-JFK-SYD flight to AA then can easily get the remaining qpoints and collect Platinum status and be half way to renewal for the next year

Dave

 

[notzac]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

Would this qualify me for AA Platinum if I sign up to the challenge?

For starters -- for the flights to count towards the challenge, you need to book the AA code. Recommend that you check the price difference between AA and QF for your flights.

 

[newformula]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

Ah, my mistake. I thought travel on any OW carrier was eligible, not only AA. Thanks for the quick response... as always AFF comes to the rescue.

 

[notzac]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

Most OW carriers will credit miles to AA*, but for the purposes of the challenge - only AA flight numbers count. Codeshares are good too - the AA code on a QF return service across the Pacific is a nice easy way of completing the PLT challenge. Be careful what fare class you're booking in to; some of the cheaper economy fares only credit 0.5 QPoints per mile rather than 1 QPoint/mile.

* - The booking class matters a whole bunch (especially for whY) as it will determine what if anything is earned - but that's hardly unique to AAdvantage.

 

[newformula]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

Unfortunately my SYD-JFK flight is already booked and paid for... went for QF as it was about $250 cheaper than AA on this occasion. Oh well, you live and learn. Will keep struggling towards QF SG for now and bear all this in mind for future platinum challenge opportunities.

What's the deal generally with AA plat membership and using it on QF ticketed flights - as a OWE you'd be fine for lounge access etc, but can you also credit miles to a Qantas FF account for ease of domestic redemption/upgrades at the same time?

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

What's the deal generally with AA plat membership and using it on QF ticketed flights - as a OWE you'd be fine for lounge access etc, but can you also credit miles to a Qantas FF account for ease of domestic redemption/upgrades at the same time?

AA Plat is actually OWS (not OWE). You'd still get lounge access, even if crediting to QF, as long as your onward flight is on a OW marketed and operated flight. See: Fly - The Qantas Club - Lounge Access

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

What's the deal generally with AA plat membership and using it on QF ticketed flights - as a OWE you'd be fine for lounge access etc, but can you also credit miles to a Qantas FF account for ease of domestic redemption/upgrades at the same time?

You could, but I wouldn't. If the flights are eligable for AA earning then the points value credited to AA is likely to be higher. On short runs such as MEL-SYD / SYD-BNE then the earning would be the same as a QF non-status member. The redemption cost for domestic / transtasman is generally better tho. for 17,500 can get a oneway award in business from anywhere in Australia to anywhere else in AU/NZ. compare that with the 16,000 points needed just to upgrade from economy class. Availability for redemption is the same whether using AA or QF points

Dave

 

[VirginiaF]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

Hi there - please excuse my ignorance, but can someone please explain the AA "challenge"? Sounds like an interesting scheme. I couldn't find any obvious references on the AA site. Many thanks in advance.

 

[newformula]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

Hi there - please excuse my ignorance, but can someone please explain the AA "challenge"? Sounds like an interesting scheme. I couldn't find any obvious references on the AA site. Many thanks in advance.

You'd be wanting to read this thread - http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...-platinum-challenge-mileage-earning-8595.html

Good luck!

 

[jbc]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

I'm tagging ontothis thread rather than starting a new one.

Dave Noble's excellent Challenge dissertation mentions eligible Qantas classes but no mention of Q, which is an upcoming Mel-Lhr booking I have. Is Q miles earning?

Cicle mapper says Mel_Lhr is 10503 miles, so do I achieve the Platinum challenge in one flight?

Do flights need to be booked under an AA flight number to be eligible or is the AA FF number in the booking sufficient?

Reading this forum and FT I could not find the answers.

Thanks in advance

 

[serfty]

Travel on Q class on QF flight numbers does not earn with AAdvantage. (That is why it is not listed. )

Q class on AA flight numbers does earn at ½ Qpoint per Mile.

As far as the challenge goes, it's moot anyway, as only travel on AA flight numbers are eligible for the challenge.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

Hi All,

Are there any AA codeshares between SYD and NZ?

Also can I achieve 10000 points for the plat challenge by doing SYD-HNL-SYD? Or is SYD-LAX-SYD the shortest/fastest flight to achieve if travelling in economy?

Cheers,
K.

 

[NM]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

Are there any AA codeshares between SYD and NZ?

Yes, there are. However, you can only book them as part of an itinerary that includes travel to or from the USA on an AA flight number.

For example, AKL-SYD-SFO can be travelled on AA7411 AKL-SYD and AA7381 SYD-SFO.

 

[mww99]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

Unfortunately my SYD-JFK flight is already booked and paid for... went for QF as it was about $250 cheaper than AA on this occasion. Oh well, you live and learn. Will keep struggling towards QF SG for now and bear all this in mind for future platinum challenge opportunities.

What's the deal generally with AA plat membership and using it on QF ticketed flights - as a OWE you'd be fine for lounge access etc, but can you also credit miles to a Qantas FF account for ease of domestic redemption/upgrades at the same time?

This is a little late, but in my experience, you are better to wait until you can do the Plat challenge and then the status multiplier will get you equivalent points on domestic QF flights. I fly around 120 legs p.a on QF (as well as AA flights in the US) and put ALL the points to my AA account. Redemption is sooooo much better (cheaper in points and cash) than QF and just as easy to book. (although through AA). Equivalent OW status gets you into the QC (at Platinum and Exec. Plat levels) and seating privileges on aircraft apply too - although QF Plat will outdo you in the seat race. It certainly works for me.

 

[drron]

Re: AA Platinum Challenge Check

Also just to point out that the pricing for a challenge has changed and depends on the timing of the challenge.See here-
Traveling Better Forums - View Single Post - AA to charge for challenge sign-up (update w $$)

 

[Happy Dude]

AA Plat Challenge clarifications

Because OW RTW fares book into L class, and it seems AA flights are inevitable, I'm planning to do an AA plat challenge during a OW RTW fare starting on Aug 16. I'm heading in a westerly direction from MEL. Two questions:

1. Does the AA challenge begin when I leave Australia, or can I sign up at any time along the way? I won't get to any AA flights for at least 3 months into the RTW schedule.

2. The challenge must begin on either the 1st or 16th of a month. So if I fly LHR-JFK on Nov 15, the challenge is considered to have begun on Nov 1, yeah?

Much thanks....

Happy Dude

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: AA Plat Challenge clarifications

The challenge will start from the date you specify with AA when you sign up ; indeed either 1st or 16th are the options

If travelling on AA on the 15th November, you need to make sure that your start date is prior to this date , so 1st November will be fine. Your challenge start date only has to be before the relevent flights, not before you start the whole trip

 

[Happy Dude]

Re: AA Plat Challenge clarifications

Bonza!

Thanks Dave.

 

[awilcockson]

AA Plat Challenge - should I?

OK, so I've just read through all the AA Plat challenge information.

Here's the deal. I'm WP with QF, have gone past the requalifying SCs this year, and have a RTW trip coming up in 3 weeks. Flights are booked, and are a combination of QF/BA in whY+.

BNE-SIN QF (R)* 3821 miles
SIN-LHR (R)* 6769 miles
LHR-OSL (Y) 749 miles
OSL-LHR (Y) 749 miles
LHR-DFW (W) 4774 miles
DFW-BNE (W) 8313 miles

I have my QFF number against the flights at the moment, and have points upgrade requests in for the first two flights. My thinking is that I can apply for an AA plat challenge, and achieve it on this set of flights by crediting the following flights to AA:

BNE-SIN = 3821 * 1.1 = 4203
SIN-LHR = 6769 * 1.1 = 7445
LHR-OSL = 749
OSL-LHR = 749
DFW-BNE = 8313 * 1.1 = 9144

For a total of 20,792 qpoints and a successful AA Plat challenge My plan going forward then would be to credit to QF each year until I renewed Plat and then credit everything else to AA. I would switch my CC/hotel earn to an AA compatible scheme as the QF redemptions have become totally rubbish.

Does this look like I've worked this out right? My only other question is regarding seat choice and upgrades. I don't want to jeopodise my current seat selections (especially my whY+ service in J skybed on the DFW-BNE sector), so am I right in believing that I can get the QFF number swapped to my AA number after I've got my boarding pass? If so, would I be able to do this on the outbound sectors in the QF J lounge, or would I only be able to do it in the Admiral's lounge on the way back?