Platinum/Gold Challenges - Master thread

[awilcockson]

Re: AA Plat Challenge - should I?

Hmmm ... seems in all my reading I missed a vital rule. Is it correct that the flights have to be on AA flight numbers to count towards the challenge? If so, back to square one ...

 

[simongr]

Re: AA Plat Challenge - should I?

That is correct - it used to b a biz flight to LAX and you would be almost there - sadly not any more.

 

[serfty]

Definitely AA 'marketed' flights, so only those with AA flight numbers may count.

 

[kempvet]

AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

Every now and then I read someone else on this site that you can also help to attain elite status by credit card use (or other methods) - Is this true, or simply the only way to achieve status is through flying similar to most other airlines.

 

[moa999]

Re: AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

On AA Lifetime Status used to be able to be achieved by all miles (including credit cards and purchased miles), but this has changed recently and it (and yearly status) is flying only.

 

[mini_fig]

Re: AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

I understand a Platinum AMEX will give access to he holder and 2 guests to American Airlines Admirals Club.

 

[Danger]

Re: AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

drron knows the ins and outs of AAdvantage. Perhaps send him a PM.

 

[drron]

Re: AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

Not any more.I used CCs,car rental,hotels,shopping and dining to get to Life Time Plat.However that all changed at the end of last year.Now it is only BIS miles to get status.
There are still gold and plat challenges so that you need less miles to get status though you now have to pay to do those challenges.FT has threads on that.

 

[serfty]

Re: AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

There's a sticky thread on challenges at the top of this very forum here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-platinum-challenge-mileage-earning-8595.html

...
What are the AA Challenges

AA provides fast track methods to achieve status to Gold ( OW Ruby ) and Platinum ( OW Sapphire ). A challenge can be completed by attaining 5000 qpoints for Gold or 10000 points for Platinum within 3 months. Earning rates are given further down

Note ONLY AA flight numbers count as qualifying towards the challenge

There is a fee of USD80 for a Gold Challenge and USD150 for a Platinum Challenge

...

 

[kempvet]

Re: AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

Just a question to everyone, once you become fast tracked to platinum do you have 50,000 miles or points granted to your account (in other words another 50,000 miles or points needed to become executive platinum)

 

[serfty]

No!

But on your qualifying flight you get double miles.

There are further details with the thread I linked to earlier.
Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[kempvet]

Re: AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

I found a good article to explain everything Challenge (AA) - FlyerGuide Wiki

 

[serfty]

Re: AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

I found a good article to explain everything Challenge (AA) - FlyerGuide Wiki

The Flyerguide wiki is maintained by FlyerTalk people.

For Oz based patrons, the Dave Noble piece I linked to is a good place to start.


As alluded to by drron there's an FT thread - here is a complete index post to resources on this:

Originally Posted by dstan
• Does AA offer status matches or Challenges?

AA offers unpublished Challenges to obtain GLD or PLT status more quickly. Note that these 3-month Challenges are subject to enrollment fees, have defined start and end dates that can affect how long your status lasts, and are based on elite-qualifying points (5K / 10K), not miles. Status is conferred upon successful completion of a Challenge. (It has been reported that, as of late 2009, participants with elite status on another airline may be conferred GLD status immediately for the duration of their Challenge.)

Officially, there is no corresponding EXP Challenge, although a very small number of targeted fliers may be invited to participate in an analogous offer. A broader program was available to top-tier elites of certain competing airlines for a brief period in Jan–Mar 2011, but that program is currently inactive.

In general, outright status matches are offered only by invitation for a very small number of top fliers. However, employees of certain companies with status on certain airlines may be able to apply for a status match.

Wiki: Elite Status Challenge
FT: Help Desk: AAdvantage elite status Challenges (Gold and Platinum)
FT: Is there an EXP Challenge? (N.B.: Post #170)
FT: AAdvantage EXP Challenge Program (Jan–Mar 2011 only; now INACTIVE)

FT: General AA status match questions (consolidated)
FT: AA status match to GLD / PLT for elites of specific airlines employed by certain companies

 

[NM]

Re: AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

Note that AA generally does not do status matches, but instead offer people to undertake a challenge. Challenge now costs money to start and only AA flight numbers count to the challenge, which is quite different when I used a single MEL-LHR flight (booked D as part of DONE4, upgraded to F with QFF points) to complete the AA Plat Challenge. That would no longer complete the challenge with the current rules.

Lifetime status earning rules changed last year as noted by drron. I didn't quite have enough lifetime miles for lifetime Plat with AAdvantage, so will have to complete that with BIS miles over the next few years.

 

[kempvet]

Re: AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

Just want to run this past a few of you people AA versus Qantas. Half of my life is in the US anyway, I see on the AA site return flights in discount Y LAX-HEL-SYD rt (by coming back through the US) are about $2500 giving about 40,000 AA ff miles. I am interested in doing the AA plat challenge to get plat status which means these miles will be double, or 80,000 AA miles if I complete the plat challenge before this trip LAX-HEL-SYD rt.
Is there more value in AA miles verus Qantas?
I am already 2400SCs this cycle with Qantas, is there any possibility they may offer me the chance for an AA EXplat challenge (25,000 points in 90 days)? Most of my future travel (together with family could be booked through AA and not Qantas). What really appeals to be are the complimentary upgrades from any Y fare offered to EXplats when the travel within the USA, together with the apparent better value with ff miles, for example 62,000 for F LAX-SYD versus Qantas 144,000. I would appreciate any comments.

 

[Fifa]

Re: AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

for example 62,000 for F LAX-SYD versus Qantas 144,000. I would appreciate any comments.

Isn't it 72,500 miles for F?

 

[kempvet]

Re: AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

Isn't it 72,500 miles for F?

yes, that is correct, I was mistakenly thinking of Europe 62,500 where Australia (South Pacific) is 72,500 as you correctly stated, which still seems a far better option than the 144,000 that Qantas want

 

[drron]

Re: AA Elite Status - Any other ways to achieve other than flying

There is no EXP challenge.Indeed the one problem i have with Aadvantage is that with my pattern of travel it is harder to get AA EXP than QFF WP.I do long haul J travel mainly.

 

[v8Statesman]

I have been doing a lot of reading over the last few days, as I feel I have all the love I will feel from QF. I am at 2,890 SC for the year. Only about 800 of that on QF metal, so P1 is a pipe dream.

I have a few more trips planned, and I thought I would go for EXP (via Plat challenge.).

I've read some good links.


http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-platinum-challenge-mileage-earning-8595.html

and

Challenge (AA) - FlyerGuide Wiki

Some questions that I have not been able to answer are.

1. The 10,000 EQP that I use to obtain Platinum, are they reset to 0, or do I only need to earn 90,000 more for EXP?
2. If I start on 16/6 for a 28/2/14 expiry date and then make EXP before 31/12/12, would my EXP expiry date then be 28/2/14 or 28/2/15? (I expect 14, but one can only hope)
3. If plans change and I don't make it to EXP before 31/12/12, do I reset to zero or do I have until 31/12/13 to make the 100,000 EQM?
4. I read that sometimes they'll sudo status a hight tier member of another airline to GOLD at the beginning of a Platinum challenge. ANyone have any recent experience with this? Would QF or DJ WP suffice for this?

 

[ozdunker]

90,000 additional miles woud be required to get to EXP, this year.
Miles reset every year.
If you are doing the plat challenge they will likely start you on gold.