Originally Posted by number_6
This is an unpublished benefit, and I've heard that AA won't do that next year. But who knows, these things change all the time. I am rather amazed that someone considers AA Gold to be worth something (I suppose it does get shorter lines at the US airports).
OT for the original question. But do you mind revealing the source of that, and maybe posting as much on the AA board? I've not heard anything about such a change in policy on the AA board, indeed nobody has disagreed when I mentioned the soft landing in a couple of recent threads.
It actually affects me this year since I've moved from AA to CO; I was hoping to preserve AA Gold (for the limited amount it's worth - also don't forget you earn stickers and can use them to upgrade domestically on flights where the demand in F is light, whereas without status you can't upgrade except from non-discounted fares). Although of course the gold lack-of-challenge would solve the problem of no status for me fairly quickly, if need be.