Originally Posted by
Osteomata
1. Before you book tickets to DEL next time, read up on AA's Gold and Platinum elite challenge. Apply for it, pay for it, then book, then fly. The PLAT challenge only requires 10K miles flown within a 90 day window. Your 17K round trip to DEL will jump you immediately into the Platinum elite status, which you will keep for up to a year, hopefully long enough to take advantage of during you next DEL trip.
Slow down there!
You need 10K EQ Points, not EQ miles to make PLT on a challenge.
The cheapest fare will only get you 0.5 EQPs, which would require 20K miles flown.
There is also a sliding scale for the duration of status earned during a challenge. FOr instance, if you earn it now it will expire on 29 FEB 2011. If you can hold off with the challenge until 16 June 10 status will be good until 28 FEB 2012.