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Thread: Do Points Transfers Build Airline Statuses?
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Old Oct 15, 2009 | 2:19 pm
  #3  
mia
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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/miles...=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.
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