American Express Membership Rewards - Do Points Transfers Build Airline Statuses?

For example, if I transfer 100,000 miles to AA could I get Platinum status on AA? If it varies is there a list FF plans that support this?

No. Airlines make a clear separation between regular miles that you can redeem, and miles (or points or segments) that count towards elite status. The terminology varies between airlines but the methodology is the same. You will not be able to earn elite status by doing this.

Most airlines distinguish between "redeemable" miles (RDM) and "elite-qualifying" miles (EQM) or "tier points". The primary way to earn EQM is by flying. Miles earned through bonuses, credit cards, online shopping portals, transfers etc are RDM and generally do not count for status. Extensive discussion here...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milesbuzz/363174-elite-status-without-flying.html?highlight=status+flying

Most of the credit card related exceptions are tied to using the carrier's own affinity credit card and spending to meet a designated threshold during a year. No carrier awards 1 EQM per dollar spent.

To answer your specific question about American Airlines...

1. AA does not participate in Membership Rewards. Transfers through intermediate programs erode the value substantially.

2. AA does not count transferred miles toward annual status. However, if you earn 1,000,000 AAdvantage miles, through any method, you will receive lifetime AAdvantage Gold status. If you earn 2,000,000 miles you will earn lifetime AAdvantage Platinum. More details in the thread linked above.

(snip)
... If you earn 2,000,000 miles you will earn lifetime AAdvantage Platinum. More details in the thread linked above.

Absolutely. And if you (like me) still have a jillion AA miles and over 3 mm lifetime but moved from DFW area to Houston (and became a CO victim) many of the miles may expire... but if you donate a measly 250 miles toone of their charities you get a one year extension!

Just would like to add that there is a good reason for this policy.

Airlines have saved millions of Dollars by lowering service-levels for normal customers and reserve those benefits to their elite levels.

What nearly noone remembers is that at the start of Lufthansa Miles and More and when I learnt to know how BA Executive Club worked also the basic levels provided a seat reservation in shorthaul economy !

Afterwards (mainly in the 1997-2000 years) those basis service levels were continousely reduced so that they needed the differentiation between colour/tier miles and points and reedemable miles/points.

Also those customer loyalty programmes are a large cash-generator for them due to the fact that they sell the reedemable points/miles to other companies (e. g. hotel chains).

And not to disturb the ongoing segmentation, differentiation and as some would say discrimination of customers they will not offer colour points for any transferred values.