"In some ways, doing away with the challenges makes sense, but in most ways it doesn't. "

I think that the challenges as they are don't make sense. They are just automatic elite status for flying a long haul flight. I signed a friend up for it when he joined me on a trip to Oz, zero flights actually on AA but Platinum status and enough miles for a free flight from UK to Oz. I don't see how this makes sense.

I can understand offering some inducement to those who are high tier members of other schemes, but to offer it to all and sundry seems mad.

Dave