for the challenge, you need 10k points.....cheap fares get .5 pt/ mi [see aa.com...so, if your sked shows that you can get it early and enjoy the bonus etc, go for it....then try to get plat qual for 2010....if you start the chal before 6/16 iirc, your status is good thru feb 2010....

read the stickies on the aa forum a couple of times....good luck...

btw...how many aa mi/pts/segs do you have this year?