Programs: AA EXP (OW Emerald), CO Plat (*A Gold), AdmsClub, HH Silver, PC Gold. LH/BA/UA pond scum
Posts: 911
Data point that someone out there may find useful:
This no doubt applies to a small set of FTers , but an associate of mine just completed the PLT Challenge, flew just over 10K miles on a TATL.
The big deal is he did it on a Gov't Y ticket. Govt tickets are not upgradeable so we were wondering if AA would be accept that fare for a challenge and how many EQPs would be assigned..
I am planning to take the challenge, and was wondering if the bonus points provided by the Hotel Partners are also considered?
i am planning for a trip (but apparently its in Q class), so would get 0.5 bonus points (abt 4500 pts), but the hotel (hilton) is offering the bonus points for AA (abt 1500). Any pointers?
I am planning to take the challenge, and was wondering if the bonus points provided by the Hotel Partners are also considered?
i am planning for a trip (but apparently its in Q class), so would get 0.5 bonus points (abt 4500 pts), but the hotel (hilton) is offering the bonus points for AA (abt 1500). Any pointers?
thanks!
Welcome to FT, tada_in!
Be sure to read the AA Wiki about challenges (and for general understanding of other aspects to the AAdvantage program).
Challenges are based on points, not miles. Your first sentence seems to indicate that you understand that. However, I'm not aware of any hotels that offer bonus points (miles, yes. But, points?)
In any case, the answer will be the same. Only elite qualifying points from FLYING will count toward your challenge. Credit cards, hotel stays, dining ... those will add redeemable miles to your frequent flyer account, but will not help you with your challenge (or with earning status from one year to the next. The exception: once you reach 1 million and 2 million miles in the program you currently receive lifetime gold status and lifetime platinum status, respectively)
Also note: for challenges, only EQP from AA-coded flights will count.
I'm currently doing the platinum challenge.
Does this mean I will become platinum as
soon as I fly 6667 miles on a J ticket
(int'l business class)?
6667 miles x 1.5 = 10000.5 points
Is my math correct?
Thanks
Correct. Well, at least as soon as those miles post to your account and your status refreshed anyway!
A successful platinum challenge is 10,000 elite qualifying points during the 3 month period. Since paid first, business, and full fare economy all earn 1.5 EQP/mile, you would complete the challenge in the scenario you've posed above.
Some plan to pass the threshold on a long segment if possible - because they know they will earn status double bonus (redeemable) miles on that flight (when it posts.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Argen_Tina
I'm currently doing the platinum challenge.
Does this mean I will become platinum as
soon as I fly 6667 miles on a J ticket
(int'l business class)?
6667 miles x 1.5 = 10000.5 points
Is my math correct?
Thanks
__________________ Lend a hand up with Kiva; far more than a hand out.
Programs: AA PLT, US Silver, SPG Gold, AMEX PLT, Hertz GLD, NREMT :)
Posts: 174
Should I AA PLT/GLD Challenge?
I believe I'm finally putting this in the right thread (my bad, newbie mistake)
So Should I AA PLT/GLD Challenge? I currently have no status, and O EQM this year. Status will be very useful for me over the next 15 months.
I'm going to asia:
All in Q (0.5 EQP/mile flown):
LGA-BOS AA 4464 -- 184 miles --> 92 EQP**
BOS-ORD AA 649 -- 867 miles --> 433 EQP (525 EQP total)
ORD-NRT AA 153 -- 6274 miles --> 3137 EQP (3662 EQP total)
NRT-HAN AA 5843 op by JL -- 2314 miles --> 1157 EQP*** (4819 EQP total)
...
SIN-NRT AA 5837 op by JL -- 3324 miles --> 1662 EQP*** (6481 EQP total --> GOLD)
NRT-JFK AA 168 -- 6745 miles --> 3372 EQP (9853 EQP total)
**Question 1: I have no status. If I'm enrolled in the Challenge do I get the 500 mile min -- that would put me to PLT? (I assume not)
***Question 2: Are these EQP earning, and how if so, what ratio? 0.5? (Thats what it seems from aa.com)
With DBL EQM or NYDBL RDM: about 35K EQM/RDM
Wondering if I should GLD or PLT challenge, knowing I'll have to do another, albeit brief, trip this year if I want to make PLT.
Obviously, I will make GLD on this trip, with or without the challenge. With a GLD challenge, I would make it faster and start to earn the 25% earlier plus EQMs towards upgrades.
With a PLT challenge, I would still need another 150 measly pts. Without, I would need ABOUT 15K EQM--2 MRs. But MRs are also mileage earning and the cost of the challenge would go towards these tickets instead.
Any thoughts or insights I'm not getting?? Are my numbers correct? Its sooooo close to PLT
Please advise for a newbie excited to make some level of AA status for the first time!!!!
I went from DFW to NRT this past summer and that was enough to earn the platinum challenge with one trip. I called AA and ask if this one trip would be enough to qualify for the challenge, she looked it up and said yes it would. I gave her my CC# and didn't look back. So I would call and check because unless you aren't earning miles for part of the trip for some reason, this should qualify you for the platinum challenge.
And a Big THANKS to the FT community for helping a newbie figure all this kind of stuff out!
If you do sign up for the Platinum Challenge (it looks like you may make Gold on the flights) the worst that can happen is you do not fly again in three months and you stay at Gold, and have a Platinum Challenge opportunity next year.
Actually, no, the worst that can happen is you do not sign up, fly again within three months and miss Platinum / double bonus points / international oneworld lounge access, check-in and security preference / better positioning for upgrades, etc. From a FT perspective, anyway.
I've not even attempted any maths, as I have no diea which fare class, segments, etc.
__________________ Lend a hand up with Kiva; far more than a hand out.
Programs: AA PLT, US Silver, SPG Gold, AMEX PLT, Hertz GLD, NREMT :)
Posts: 174
Quote:
Originally Posted by JDiver
If you do sign up for the Platinum Challenge (it looks like you may make Gold on the flights) the worst that can happen is you do not fly again in three months and you stay at Gold, and have a Platinum Challenge opportunity next year.
Actually, no, the worst that can happen is you do not sign up, fly again within three months and miss Platinum / double bonus points / international oneworld lounge access, check-in and security preference / better positioning for upgrades, etc. From a FT perspective, anyway.
I've not even attempted any maths, as I have no diea which fare class, segments, etc.
thanks, i significantly edited the post, so please see. appreciate all the help!!
Should I AA PLT/GLD Challenge?...I'm taking a brief vacation to asia. 3 days in HAN, 2 in SIN. Booked Multi-city with my own transfer on a LCC from HAN-SIN. LGA-BOS-ORD-NRT-HAN....SIN-NRT-JFK for $792 all in Q.
NRT-HAN and SIN-NRT are operated by JL, so no DBL EQM or NYDBL RDM. So about 34-35K EQM/RDM...
Had to revise my post in light of new info in yours. Anyway, it is a no brainer - you would be so close that you should definitely try to make the PLT challenge. Things that can help:
1. Upfare your ticket to "H,K,M,L,W, or V" class. At least upfare enough segment(s) to make the cut! This may be possible without change penalty, just the fare difference, but even with penalty would be worth it. Think of the expense as a painless MR.
2. Do a MR now. There seem to be good transcon possibilities from East Coast, NYC-SFO or BOS-SFO, but even a shorter one might suffice. (You won't have 500 miles minimum, and remember 1/2 point per mile on many cheap fares.)
Needless to say the challenge has to start before your the first flight you want included in the challenge - IOW, don't do a MR without starting the challenge. It can only start on the 1st or 16th of a month.
If you do sign up for the Platinum Challenge (it looks like you may make Gold on the flights) the worst that can happen is you do not fly again in three months and you stay at Gold, and have a Platinum Challenge opportunity next year.
I have already started my platinum challenge and started
flying a few days ago. Not even a signle flight has posted
yet.... My AA# is in my reservation and I also gave it again
at check-in.... even the phone agent could see my AA#....
She said she did see the flights that I already took, but don't
know why they haven't posted yet....
By my calculation, I should already have well over 12,600
points(mostly thanks to the fare basis bonus). Does it
typically take AA that long to post flight miles? When I
fly on my usual airline(AA competitor), the miles sometimes
get posted to my account as soon as a few hours after the
flight.....
Does it typically take AA that long to post flight miles? When I
fly on my usual airline(AA competitor), the miles sometimes
get posted to my account as soon as a few hours after the
flight.....
IME, it typically takes 3 days from the flight before it is posted to my account.
Programs: AA PLT, US Silver, SPG Gold, AMEX PLT, Hertz GLD, NREMT :)
Posts: 174
Quote:
Originally Posted by aktchi
Had to revise my post in light of new info in yours. Anyway, it is a no brainer - you would be so close that you should definitely try to make the PLT challenge. Things that can help:
1. Upfare your ticket to "H,K,M,L,W, or V" class. At least upfare enough segment(s) to make the cut! This may be possible without change penalty, just the fare difference, but even with penalty would be worth it. Think of the expense as a painless MR.
2. Do a MR now. There seem to be good transcon possibilities from East Coast, NYC-SFO or BOS-SFO, but even a shorter one might suffice. (You won't have 500 miles minimum, and remember 1/2 point per mile on many cheap fares.)
Needless to say the challenge has to start before your the first flight you want included in the challenge - IOW, don't do a MR without starting the challenge. It can only start on the 1st or 16th of a month.
I have already started my platinum challenge and started flying a few days ago. Not even a signle flight has posted yet...Does it typically take AA that long to post flight miles?
Yeah, they are slow, but they always get around to it. So, while I understand the urge to keep checking, don't worry too much you are in good shape.
My AA# is in my reservation and I also gave it again
When I
