I called AAdvantage CS today about the DFW to LAX/SFO DEQM promo, and was told that flights can originate in either DFW, LAX or SFO. I called b/c my wife will be at 44.5K miles for the year (with already scheduled flights), and I was about to book LA-Dallas-LA for this weekend to get her up to 49.4K, if the DEQM applied to flights starting in LA.
More significantly, I asked about Elite Buyback for 2011, and the rep told me that AA plans to announce on Dec 15 or so that PLT status can be 'bought' if a member is short of miles for the year. And, this rep knew the prices. If member has 40,000 miles or more for the year, cost = $619, if under 40,0000 miles, cost will be about $200 more, which would make it $819 or so. (That is high, but cheaper than a few transcon roundtrips.) I did not ask, so did not get, the prices for Gold buyback.
Checking the AA website re: elite renewal also shows some hint that this will be public soon:
Elite Offer Coming Soon
http://www.aa.com/eliterenewal
When I checked that web page about a month ago, I only recieved a message that the page was not active. So, there is hope for those who are short of miles for requalifying this year, and don't want to do any mileage runs during this busy travel season.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MODERATOR'S NOTE
The 2011 status buy back offer has been posted here on aa.com (Dec 15, 2010).
Link to Terms & Conditions of this offer: https://aaelite.points.com/html/terms.html
In essence (extracted and annotated):
AAdvantage Platinum:
* $619 if member has completed 40,000 (Elite Qualifying) Miles or Points or 48 Segments (during C/Y 2010)
* $769 if member has completed less than (EQ) 40,000 Miles and Points and less than 48 Segments (during C/Y 2010)
AAdvantage Gold:
* $409 if member has completed 20,000 (Elite Qualifying) Miles or Points or 24 Segments (during C/Y 2010)
* $559 if member has completed less than (EQ) 20,000 Miles and Points and less than 24 Segments (during C/Y 2010)
Who's Eligible
All current AAdvantage Platinum and AAdvantage Gold members who earned their 2010 elite status* are eligible to participate in this offer provided they have flown at least one elite qualifying segment during 2010. Members who participated in the 2010 renewal offer are not eligible to extend their status for the 2011 membership year.
**To earn 2010 AAdvantage Gold status, a member must have accrued 25,000 elite qualifying miles or points or flown 30 qualifying segments in 2009. To earn 2010 AAdvantage Platinum status, a member must have accrued 50,000 elite qualifying miles or points or flown 60 qualifying segments in 2009. (If one purchased status last year through a buy back offer, one is ineligible to repeat status renewal with this offer.)
Follow the link provided above for further information and instructions on buying status back for the status year March 1 2011 - Feb 29, 2012 - the offer will be available to qualified AAdvantage members January 26, 2011, through April 30, 2011.
For previous years' threads on this topic, see:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...er-2008-a.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
For this year's general thread on 2011 requalification, see:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
AA Forum Co-Moderators