• Does AA offer status matches or Challenges?

AA has offered unpublished Challenges to obtain GLD or PLT status more quickly, but the last day to enroll was September 23, 2015.. A new Challenge may be offered in 2016.

The following applied to the Challenge that was available through September 23, 2015:

Note that these 3-month Challenges are subject to enrollment fees, have defined start and end dates that can affect how long your status lasts, and are based on elite-qualifying points (5K / 10K), not miles. Status is conferred upon successful completion of a Challenge. (It has been reported that, as of late 2009, participants with elite status on another airline may be conferred GLD status immediately for the duration of their Challenge.)

Officially, there is no corresponding EXP Challenge, although a very small number of targeted fliers may be invited to participate in an analogous offer. A broader program was available to top-tier elites of certain competing airlines for a brief period in Jan–Mar 2011, but that program is currently inactive.

In general, outright status matches are offered only by invitation for a very small number of top fliers. However, employees of certain companies with status on certain airlines may be able to apply for a status match.

Wiki: Elite Status Challenge
FT: Help Desk: AAdvantage elite status Challenges (Gold and Platinum)
FT: Is there an EXP Challenge? (N.B.: Post #170)
FT: AAdvantage EXP Challenge Program (Jan–Mar 2011 only; now INACTIVE)

FT: General AA status match questions (consolidated)
FT: AA status match & challenge for UA (United) 1K elites
FT: AA status match to GLD / PLT for elites of specific airlines employed by certain companies