Originally Posted by
catmndu
I'm in the middle of a platinum challenge. My flights all have AA flight numbers so I'll be set but my email letter from AA was a bit ambiguous. The wiki and this thread clearly indicate you need AA flight numbers for your challenge flights. My letter uses this wording:
---letter from AA---
<snip>
And now you have more opportunities to complete your Challenge because points earned on qualifying flights on American Airlines, American Eagle, the AmericanConnection® carrier, British Airways, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas and their eligible codeshare flights count toward your Challenge.*
<snip>
---end of letter from AA---
I've read this letter multiple times and it doesn't say anything about needing AA flight numbers. If you are in a challenge or about to start one you might want to check with customer service to see if the AA flight number requirement been retired.
Good luck
I can confirm that I got the same letter last night with this new information regarding eligibility of partner-marketed flights. I will have to assume that the unmentioned partners (e.g., CX, RJ, AY) will still work if you book the AA codeshare.
I'm kind of bummed because I booked a BA-operated JFK-LHR via the AA codeshare specifically to qualify for the challenge, and now I have no way of upgrading to First with Avios.
I've edited the Wiki to include this new information, including a link to the above quoted post.
I also edited one of the subsequent bullets that AA will give you provisional Gold status if you have qualifying flights booked already (presumably they'd need to be nonrefundable; in my case they are), as the agent gladly did that last night. Only real benefits for me is the 25% bonus miles on the first few flights and a head start on earning 500-mile upgrades from the start (so I'll complete the challenge and have 4 stickers). I'm already in F/J and/or traveling with a Plat companion on all my flights.