ARCHIVE: AAdvantage Gold & Platinum Elite Status Challenges 2004 - 2011
#4156
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,309
#4158
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 503
I've updated the wiki with the $150 price, indicating that it may be seasonal.
#4159
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: AA
Posts: 1
New member
Dear Forum,
May I ask a simple question from a neewbie?
In simple form what do you need to do to request a challenge? A letter, a phone call or a form at x url?
Thank you much.
If I had known about this 3 weeks ago I would already have my gold but thank you so much for the information going foprward cool:.
May I ask a simple question from a neewbie?
In simple form what do you need to do to request a challenge? A letter, a phone call or a form at x url?
Thank you much.
If I had known about this 3 weeks ago I would already have my gold but thank you so much for the information going foprward cool:.
#4160
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,183
Welcome to FT! Call AAdvantage customer service 1-800-882-8880. Have your membership number ready. Sign up starting Dec 16 (yes you can do that) and be sure to earn 5K points for Gold (10K for Platinum) within 90 days. Good luck.
#4161
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Prior to travelling and signing up for the Challenge, I had called AA to go over this and they assured me that the non-US currency purchase would still be valid for Challenge, subject to the normal Challenge rules. So, the experience posted by FT'er Argen-Tina in this thread must be some sort of strange aberration, or some other factor came into play in that particular case.
#4162
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: OKC/DFW
Programs: AA EXP/2 MM
Posts: 9,999
So, the experience posted by FT'er Argen-Tina in this thread must be some sort of strange aberration, or some other factor came into play in that particular case.
#4163
Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC
Posts: 10,855
I can give an update on point. I just successfully completed a Gold Challenge between Dec 1 and Dec 20. New status is now in the system. Ticket was purchased from AA in China in Chinese yuan, using USA-based credit card. Travel was PEK-JAN and return. EQP's for the AA segments posted promptly and as per the rules, EQM's for AA and JL segments also posted correctly.
Prior to travelling and signing up for the Challenge, I had called AA to go over this and they assured me that the non-US currency purchase would still be valid for Challenge, subject to the normal Challenge rules. So, the experience posted by FT'er Argen-Tina in this thread must be some sort of strange aberration, or some other factor came into play in that particular case.
Prior to travelling and signing up for the Challenge, I had called AA to go over this and they assured me that the non-US currency purchase would still be valid for Challenge, subject to the normal Challenge rules. So, the experience posted by FT'er Argen-Tina in this thread must be some sort of strange aberration, or some other factor came into play in that particular case.
#4164
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Orange County, CA and Honolulu, HI
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, Quicken, US Bank, Jupiter and 1st Hawaiian
Posts: 4
I am a new member to this forum and am thinking of starting a challange for platinum. I didn't know about the challenge until I stumbled across this web site looking for information on gold and platinum memberships with AA. On Wed Nov 18, 2009 I took a 17 day RT from LAX to HNL. I will go each month until March 10, 2010 for a total of 5 RTs. My wife and I have business in both cities and carry 4 - 50# bags and 2 carry-ons each way. Previously, I moved all my milage to Alaska and became a gold MVP because they gave me 1st class upgrades to Mexico 6x per year. I reached gold MVP prior to my Nov 18th flight to HNL, but I put the milage into Alaska by habit. Now I realize that I may be able to get platinum status on American if I can move the points and challenge American. Then, starting Jan 1, 2010 I can start accumulating points on Alaska again and this time get only MVP status. This year I will fly Hawaiian during the summer months because of the $200 pp price differential in July, Aug. I was wondering if obtaining the American Platinum status: 1)Our 4 bags will be charged $15 and $25 on each leg of our Hawaii trips and 2)If only one of us should try for Platinum status and the other try for Gold MVP on Alaska? 3)What sort of better coach seats are available to the Platinum members at the time of booking or 72h in advance on the Hawaii to LAX flights? 4)Can the challenge be started retroactively, that is to say Nov. 1 for us? Thanks in advance, Allen Iseri
#4165
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Home Airports: CAE/CLT
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, National Executive
Posts: 5,452
Welcome to FT.
I think your first three questions can best be answered by studying this chart. The chart helped me make my decision a little over a year ago,
Nope, not once your flights post.
Points cannot be moved for the purpose of a challenge. Moving points, if possible at all, usually brings about a huge loss of points.
I think your first three questions can best be answered by studying this chart. The chart helped me make my decision a little over a year ago,
Points cannot be moved for the purpose of a challenge. Moving points, if possible at all, usually brings about a huge loss of points.
Last edited by Gamecock; Dec 26, 2009 at 1:19 pm
#4166
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,909
Of course, we reached bonafide Platinum status with the DONE4, but the challenge made us double richer in redeemable miles.
#4167
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Orange County, CA and Honolulu, HI
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, Quicken, US Bank, Jupiter and 1st Hawaiian
Posts: 4
Just Used a Platinum and Gold Challenge
I just did an American Airline Challenge. I wanted to share what happened while it is fresh on my mind. I put a lot of charges on credit cards each year, but I found that using a dedicated airline card like American, Alaska or Delta card is not the best of all deals. I use Gift cards like Quicken, US Bank, Jupiter, American Express Accolade and First Hawaiian. Generally, each of these cards will give you $100 credit toward any airline any time. When I purchase tickets on American, the card uses a travel service and debits my account for the cost of the ticket. I receive FF points for the ticket. In a way I am double dipping by getting mileage for my use of a credit card. My wife and I fly together on the same ticket. Our situation is Jan 1 to Mar 28, 2010 we travel 7 legs of LAX to HNL for 2556 miles per leg. All were set up by the travel agent above. Here is what I learned:
The cost of a gold challenge is $80 and the platinum is $150.
The first rep was new and signed both of us up for a gold challenge at $80/person.
I called again and the second rep gave us Immediate Gold Status for $150 by was of a platinum challenge for me only. She left the gold challenge for my wife because she could not change it. As it turns out I dont need my wifes gold challenge and I paid $80 more than I should.
When you use a credit gift card above to pay for the tickets, you get fares in Q class for .5 points per mile.
One of the travel agents used the Alaska Airline site to book the American flights. This resulted in a ticket that was not qualified for the challenge. Be careful if you use the above credit card methods.
I mentioned that I was a MVP gold on another airline and she gave me the gold status for signing up for the platinum challenge although I know that I will fail it. She stated that the gold status would be good for the entire year. We will see. If it fails, my wife will qualify for Gold Status.
The cost of a gold challenge is $80 and the platinum is $150.
The first rep was new and signed both of us up for a gold challenge at $80/person.
I called again and the second rep gave us Immediate Gold Status for $150 by was of a platinum challenge for me only. She left the gold challenge for my wife because she could not change it. As it turns out I dont need my wifes gold challenge and I paid $80 more than I should.
When you use a credit gift card above to pay for the tickets, you get fares in Q class for .5 points per mile.
One of the travel agents used the Alaska Airline site to book the American flights. This resulted in a ticket that was not qualified for the challenge. Be careful if you use the above credit card methods.
I mentioned that I was a MVP gold on another airline and she gave me the gold status for signing up for the platinum challenge although I know that I will fail it. She stated that the gold status would be good for the entire year. We will see. If it fails, my wife will qualify for Gold Status.
#4168
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I wonder if these are correct as they stand. There are several lower fare class inventories these could book in, but Search will reveal there are ways to upfare without cost.
The only tickets not qualified for a Challenge are O (Oscar) between North and Latin America, some consolidator fares and tickets not booked on American Airlines.
Five LAX-HLN r/ts (approx. 5,110 miles r/t) would grant one a minimum of 12,500 points, more or less - over five months insufficient to complete a Platinum Challenge (you'd have to complete them in three months.) Upfaring to a 1:1 EQM:EQP fare would certainly change this.
The only tickets not qualified for a Challenge are O (Oscar) between North and Latin America, some consolidator fares and tickets not booked on American Airlines.
Five LAX-HLN r/ts (approx. 5,110 miles r/t) would grant one a minimum of 12,500 points, more or less - over five months insufficient to complete a Platinum Challenge (you'd have to complete them in three months.) Upfaring to a 1:1 EQM:EQP fare would certainly change this.
Originally Posted by aiseri
When you use a credit gift card above to pay for the tickets, you get fares in Q class for .5 points per mile.
One of the travel agents used the Alaska Airline site to book the American flights. This resulted in a ticket that was not qualified for the challenge. Be careful if you use the above credit card methods.
One of the travel agents used the Alaska Airline site to book the American flights. This resulted in a ticket that was not qualified for the challenge. Be careful if you use the above credit card methods.
Last edited by JDiver; Jan 2, 2010 at 7:31 am Reason: typoe
#4170
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Orange County, CA and Honolulu, HI
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, Quicken, US Bank, Jupiter and 1st Hawaiian
Posts: 4
I want to thank the moderators of this board/thread. The information here saved me $100/leg in baggage fees (4 bags @ $20 and $30) as well as getting me better seats. I learned more about the program this morning. This applies when 2 people fly together all the time as my wife and I do. In order to get the baggage fee waived one the elite person must have their FF number listed on the ticket. The other person gets the benefit of the elite member. This allows the non-elite person (in this case my wife) to move their FF miles to another airline like Alaska and qualify for the Alaska MVP/Gold MVP. I will check with Alaska to see if Gold MVP status of one person will confir the same upgrade on the other.
I remember now, when I booked the AA ticket with the travel agent, I gave my AS FF number. They must have booked with that number and the flight was not good for a challenge. Wow, lots of things to consider. Allen Iseri
I remember now, when I booked the AA ticket with the travel agent, I gave my AS FF number. They must have booked with that number and the flight was not good for a challenge. Wow, lots of things to consider. Allen Iseri