This thread has reminded me that I have just over 5 days left (Japan time) as an AA Platinum. It has been a good year, with my Plat status getting my wife and myself bumped up to First for TPA-ORD and Biz for ORD-NRT in Jan. (Would have been iffy if we were both gold.) The AA matching "dbl elite benefits" of course led to triple miles for Plats, plus the 4 upgrades=10K miles per 10K flown for Elites led to a very mileage-heavy trip to the US this Dec/Jan.

I will miss being Plat, but plan to get my wife and myself back to Plat with a Challenge this Summer. (Plat also got me UA Prem Exec with UA thru 2/02 - and just in time for the "loyalty bonus" last year!) It was a good year - I am only sorry I was able to fly AA just once.

Another Plat benefit is that even if you don't requalify (for even Gold - like me!), they only drop you to Gold.

Go for the Plat, baby! -But don't let it take over your life too excessively.

-KP