The "real" or perceived elite percentages are likely skewed by the number of enrolled (and not purged) AAdvantage members vs. the number of them that fly regularly. For example, I know my wife, brother, his wife, her parents, one of my partners, his wife and his two kids are all AAdvantage members. Including me, that's ten AAdvantage members. Only my wife and I regularly fly AA. The rest may fly every couple of years. I'm the only one with any elite status. So the "answer" can range from 0.2 percent to 2 percent depending upon which denominator you use in the calculation.

And if you're looking for the percentage of elites on a plane, in the airport or flying in the system at any given time, this doesn't consider those who fly but are not enrolled as AAdvantage members. Ever sneak a look at a seatmate's boarding pass while riding in coach, or find one left in a seat pocket? I'm amazed by the number of boarding passes I've seen which don't list an AAdvantage number on them.