Emailing the service center works much better. Say that you have a lot of upcoming travel to the West this year and wish to try out HP's service and "award winning elite program." It's a guaranteed way to get the status. I think I'm a bad person, because I'm one of those people who signed my mother up for a Silver challenge just for the free upgrade on flight.

She ended up qualifying though since it's only 6,000 miles to silver, and the flight was from DCA to I don't even remember where now.