ARCHIVE: AAdvantage Gold & Platinum Elite Status Challenges 2004 - 2011
#2551
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: OKC/DFW
Programs: AA EXP/2 MM
Posts: 9,999
What I've frequently seen posted, without anyone seriously disputing it, is that AA will not allow consecutive challenges to maintain a status level that was acquired by means of a challenge. I think we'd all agree that that makes sense. My searches suggest, however, that there is no clear consensus around consecutive challenges taking someone from non status to GLD to PLT.
#2552
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
oklAAhoma may be alluding to the fact that the Challenges are undocumented benefits - so it's not like there is a page on aa.com or a particular document, and it could be ended (we are frequently pestered by rumors it will soon be over, usually at year's end.)
If I recall correctly, the only anecdotal information I have seen recently on FT is from those who have signed up for a Gold Challenge, then called AA and requested to be signed up for Platinum as they will fly more than they thought the next 90 days. The AA employee generally has agreed to grant the Platinum Challenge in these instances, and has even stated they will delete the Gold - but apparently this is easier said than done, as the successful individual ultimately gets both. I do not recollect if anyone has said they have been denied, but of course it is entirely possible.
YMMV, and a big caveat to anyone attempting this: this is an attempt at recollection on my part, and I have not perused the entire thread to verify any of this. It's also possible that individuals attempting this would be hoisted on their own petard, being stuck with an unwilling employee and a Gold Challenge even as they might have completed a Platinum Challenge had they been forthcoming and not prioritizing chiseling a few extra miles from a program intended to give frequent flyers a fast track to status they will maintain by flying the airline often.
If I recall correctly, the only anecdotal information I have seen recently on FT is from those who have signed up for a Gold Challenge, then called AA and requested to be signed up for Platinum as they will fly more than they thought the next 90 days. The AA employee generally has agreed to grant the Platinum Challenge in these instances, and has even stated they will delete the Gold - but apparently this is easier said than done, as the successful individual ultimately gets both. I do not recollect if anyone has said they have been denied, but of course it is entirely possible.
YMMV, and a big caveat to anyone attempting this: this is an attempt at recollection on my part, and I have not perused the entire thread to verify any of this. It's also possible that individuals attempting this would be hoisted on their own petard, being stuck with an unwilling employee and a Gold Challenge even as they might have completed a Platinum Challenge had they been forthcoming and not prioritizing chiseling a few extra miles from a program intended to give frequent flyers a fast track to status they will maintain by flying the airline often.
#2553
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 278
I found the the platinum challenge has become more difficult to finish. Here is my case. I did the challenge several years ago by a single roundtrip CMH-PVG. The CMH-ORD legs were counted as 500m each, so I ended up flying a little bit over 15,000m. But now AA's reduced the CMH-ORD mileage to be 298 as the 500m minimum reward no longer exists. So now CMH-PVG roundtrip will produce about 14,800m. And that means another flight will need to be planned, which is bad.
#2554
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA 1.5 MM Exec Plat, WN A-List, DL Silver, UA nonrev
Posts: 2,593
I found the the platinum challenge has become more difficult to finish. Here is my case. I did the challenge several years ago by a single roundtrip CMH-PVG. The CMH-ORD legs were counted as 500m each, so I ended up flying a little bit over 15,000m. But now AA's reduced the CMH-ORD mileage to be 298 as the 500m minimum reward no longer exists. So now CMH-PVG roundtrip will produce about 14,800m. And that means another flight will need to be planned, which is bad.
Are you sure you're not thinking of another carrier (United comes to mind)
http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...anAirlines.jsp
Earning AAdvantage Miles
Earn a minimum of 500 miles for every eligible flight flown on American Airlines, American Eagle® and AmericanConnection® when traveling on a published fare ticket, except for codeshare services within Hawaii and with rail service operators booked as the AA flight number which earn a minimum of 250 miles on eligible fares.
There's nothing to prevent AA from changing its policies, but nothing has been announced to that effect yet (that I'm aware of, anyway)
Additionally, I don't understand how this affects your example. If you are on a 1.0 EQP fare, you'll successfully complete the Platinum challenge after 10,000 EQP in 3 month period (14,800 or 15,000 EQP - no difference from a challenge perspective, as long as you pass 10,000 EQP in 3 months).
Or... if you are on a fare that produces less than 1.0 EQP, you'd have to fly an additional flight anyway beyond what you've posted - that flight won't get you to the 10,000 EQP needed.
Last edited by miamigrad; Jul 17, 2008 at 1:43 pm
#2555
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 278
Why do you say that the 500 mile mininum no longer exists?
Are you sure you're not thinking of another carrier (United comes to mind)
http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...anAirlines.jsp
Earning AAdvantage Miles
Earn a minimum of 500 miles for every eligible flight flown on American Airlines, American Eagle® and AmericanConnection® when traveling on a published fare ticket, except for codeshare services within Hawaii and with rail service operators booked as the AA flight number which earn a minimum of 250 miles on eligible fares.
There's nothing to prevent AA from changing its policies, but nothing has been announced to that effect yet (that I'm aware of, anyway)
Additionally, I don't understand how this affects your example. If you are on a 1.0 EQP fare, you'll successfully complete the Platinum challenge after 10,000 EQP in 3 month period (14,800 or 15,000 EQP - no difference from a challenge perspective, as long as you pass 10,000 EQP in 3 months).
Or... if you are on a fare that produces less than 1.0 EQP, you'd have to fly an additional flight anyway beyond what you've posted - that flight won't get you to the 10,000 EQP needed.
Are you sure you're not thinking of another carrier (United comes to mind)
http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...anAirlines.jsp
Earning AAdvantage Miles
Earn a minimum of 500 miles for every eligible flight flown on American Airlines, American Eagle® and AmericanConnection® when traveling on a published fare ticket, except for codeshare services within Hawaii and with rail service operators booked as the AA flight number which earn a minimum of 250 miles on eligible fares.
There's nothing to prevent AA from changing its policies, but nothing has been announced to that effect yet (that I'm aware of, anyway)
Additionally, I don't understand how this affects your example. If you are on a 1.0 EQP fare, you'll successfully complete the Platinum challenge after 10,000 EQP in 3 month period (14,800 or 15,000 EQP - no difference from a challenge perspective, as long as you pass 10,000 EQP in 3 months).
Or... if you are on a fare that produces less than 1.0 EQP, you'd have to fly an additional flight anyway beyond what you've posted - that flight won't get you to the 10,000 EQP needed.
then cheers for AA!
#2557
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,450
Hmmm, kcawley14... That couldn't be a wind-up, could it... K as in K.., Cawley as in Cawley, 14 as in 1st of April, on top of that a famously much-asked question... No, no, sorry, I'm being paranoid. Other threads answer the question, as has been pointed out. Credit where (and when) credit's due, i.e. possibly as soon as next week.
#2558
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Living in SIN™
Programs: TK/SQ Gold, QR Plat, Marriott/Accor Plat, IC Dia Amb, HH Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,706
Just a data point: My no-status roommate signed up for the Plat Challenge 16 Dec 2007 -15 Mar 2008 but didn't get the 10K points required. He was able to sign up again for 16 Apr 2008 - 15 July 2008, completed the challenge and now has Plat status.
#2559
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: A3*G, AT Gold, National Exec Elite
Posts: 76
I know it's completely speculative, but is it likely that the challenges will continue beyond year's end? I was thinking of doing a roundtrip from Europe to Canada on AA in December/January (coming back to North America just before Christmas, and going back to Europe early in January) to get Plat (tix are relatively cheap now, but still a hundreds $ more than Air Canada), but I'd be hesitant to book that if people feel challenges might not be around anymore then. But I have two flights to Asia on Finnair in the new year, and would love double the points, so I'm tempted.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
#2560
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 1,615
I know it's completely speculative, but is it likely that the challenges will continue beyond year's end? I was thinking of doing a roundtrip from Europe to Canada on AA in December/January (coming back to North America just before Christmas, and going back to Europe early in January) to get Plat (tix are relatively cheap now, but still a hundreds $ more than Air Canada), but I'd be hesitant to book that if people feel challenges might not be around anymore then. But I have two flights to Asia on Finnair in the new year, and would love double the points, so I'm tempted.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
FWIW, Arpey told me (in strict confidence, of course) that the challenges are definitely being eliminated.
#2561
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: OKC/DFW
Programs: AA EXP/2 MM
Posts: 9,999
That's exactly as I would expect. Afaik AA has never limited challenges after unsuccessful attempts.
#2562
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: A3*G, AT Gold, National Exec Elite
Posts: 76
Seeing as I have no idea about anything AA, I figured the informed views of those here on the AA board (who follow AA closely and might better catch trends and developments) would be better than an uninformed gamble on my part. I therefore really appreciate your views. Thanks; will hold off on buying tix until closer to the travel date.
#2563
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 1,615
Seeing as I have no idea about anything AA, I figured the informed views of those here on the AA board (who follow AA closely and might better catch trends and developments) would be better than an uninformed gamble on my part. I therefore really appreciate your views. Thanks; will hold off on buying tix until closer to the travel date.
In all seriousness, there seems to be no indication that the challenges will be discontinued, in the near or distant future. But of course, we could all be surprised/shocked one of these days!
#2564
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Cheers.
#2565
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: HOU
Programs: AA PLT, HH Gold, NAT Exec Sel
Posts: 116
So armed with that suggestion, I googled the challenge and that's how I found FewMiles' info. Out of date or not, it worked for me!
(In a totally unrelated story, I DID end up on a lovely date with that fellow passenger. Since your breath was baited I guess I couldn't leave out the good part of the story) ^