• Can I qualify for elite status without flying?
In general, no, the only way to earn Elite Qualifying Miles (and Points and Segments) toward annual elite status qualification is by
flying on AA and certain partner airlines. However, on Jul 18, 2011, AA launched a new Citi Executive / AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard that awards 10,000 elite-qualifying miles after $40,000 in calendar year spending.
Very occasionally, status matches in conjunction with a Challenge or targeted to specific high-revenue customers have been reported.
A previous exception to this statement was Lifetime Gold and Lifetime Platinum (Million Miler) Status, which were based on redeemable miles earned from all sources, including flight bonus miles, credit cards, hotels, rental cars, dining, shopping partners, etc. However, that program will changed to count only base flight miles as of December 1, 2011, with a 13-month exception for Citi Executive / AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard holders as of that date.
FT:
AA Citi Executive / AAdvantage World Elite Mastercard