Failing to fly 25,000 miles with AA in 1999, my Gold status expired March 1st. However. I flew 29,000 between November 1999 and March 7th 2000 with AA, and I successfully completed a Platinum Challenge. I therefore had the unusual situation of going from Gold to basic on March 1st, and from basic to Platinum on March 7th.

A (cheeky) request from me to be comp'ed to Gold for the period 1st-7th March, so that I could get upgrade points for flights in this period, was met with a firm "no-way". Pointing out that I am an elite with Star Alliance -- Senator with LH -- and was now tending to choose American over Star carriers caried no weight.

Interestingly, "Grace", a fairly unfriendly soul at AA Customer Services, told me that American never comps anyone to a particular elite level other than as part of a Gold or Platinum Challenge. She said that anyone on this bulletin board who claimed otherwise was not telling the truth.