For EXP, yes, but you can stretch platinum to 18 months if you time it right.
Here's my 12-step plan for reaching LT Gold in 2012, starting with @946K.
1. Time to get all my holiday shopping for 2011 (if not 2012) done
now, even if most presents are gift cards. Charge it all to my Citi AAmex ($1=1.3 miles). Ditto for all telecom bills and commuting expenses (passes for buses, trains, and tolls).
2. Get the Amex Gold Card with the 75K point offer. Use at drugstores and supermarkets.
3. Convert >75K Amex points to >25K SPG points.
4. Convert 20K SPG points to 25K AA miles.
5. Buy the Mileage Multiplier for all AA r/t flights <1500 miles (at least 1 this summer).
6. Fly to Europe this Thanksgiving on AA.
7. Fly on any flights with DEQM offers available from my area. If 50K EQM mark is reached this year, stop here. If not, proceed to step 8.
8. Cross fingers while crossing the equator in December on a non-OW AA partner airline.
9. Enjoy remains of Platinum status in Q1 2012.
10. Drop to Gold in Q2 2012.
11. As Q3 2012 approaches, sign up for Platinum Challenge and/or any DEQM flights.
12. Repeat steps 6 and 7.
