dstan

Welcome to the American Airlines Forum! If your question is not answered in this FAQ, please try the following key resources prior to posting your question in the forum:
:-: Please do NOT post your individual questions here. This thread is reserved for discussing the content of the FAQ itself. If you have suggestions or corrections specifically pertaining to this FAQ, please feel free to post them directly to this thread. If you have a question that is not answered directly by one of the FAQ entries, please find and post to the appropriate thread. Thanks for your cooperation.

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Elite Status
• What are the AAdvantages of AA elite status?
• How can I qualify for AA elite status?
• Does AA offer status matches or Challenges?
• Does AA offer lifetime or million miler status?
• Can I purchase elite status?
• Can I qualify for elite status without flying?
• I will just miss requalifying, will AA make any exceptions or can I buy back status?
• What is ConciergeKey?
• What is AAirpass?
• What is Business ExtrAA?

Reservations
• Does anyone have a discount or promotion code?
• Will I still earn AA miles if I use a discount or promotion code?
• How do I get through to AA on the phone?
• How long can I hold a reservation at a guaranteed price?
• What can I do if my held reservation reprices at purchase?
• Can I get a refund for a fare that has repriced to a lower amount?
• Will I have to pay any fees to make, change, or upgrade my reservation?
• What is the Boarding and Flexibility Package?
• What are Preferred seats?
• Why is my seat Unassigned?
• Why was my seat assignment changed?
• How are seats assigned when I am upgraded?
• How do I book an upgradeable fare?
• How do I book a specific fare class for a Challenge?
• How do I change or cancel my reservation?
• How do I apply the credit from a canceled non-refundable ticket to a new ticket?

Award Travel
• How do I book award travel using my AAdvantage miles?
• Will I still earn AA miles on award travel?
• What awards can I book using ‘old miles’ earned prior to July 1, 1989?
• Should I use my miles for an award?
• Can I upgrade an Award ticket?

Upgrades
• How can I upgrade on AA? Can I upgrade on its partners?
• How do I book an upgradeable fare?
• Can I upgrade an Award ticket?
• What are the chances that my upgrade will clear?
• How does the upgrade waitlist work?
• How are seats assigned when I am upgraded?
• How many 500-mile electronic upgrades / stickers do I need and when must I have them?
• How do I earn 500-mile electronic upgrades / stickers?
• How quickly do 500-mile electronic upgrades / stickers post to my account?
• How quickly do systemwide / eVIP upgrades post to my account?
• What can I do with 500-mile electronic upgrades / stickers I cannot use?
• Will I get F/J mileage credit for my upgraded flight?

Check-In and Baggage
• How and when can I check in for my flight?
• How do mobile boarding passes work and can I use one at my airport?
• Why can't I reprint my boarding pass?
• Will I have to pay checked baggage fees?
• What should I do if my checked baggage is delayed, lost, or damaged?
• How much carry-on baggage can I bring aboard?
• What is Priority AAccess?
• Is there an elite security line at my airport?

Lounges and Boarding
• Will I have lounge access on my itinerary?
• Is it worth it to purchase Admirals Club membership or a daypass?
• Where can I find more information about a specific lounge?
• What is AA's boarding procedure?
• How do mobile boarding passes work and can I use one at my airport?
• What is the Boarding and Flexibility Package?

Seats and Amenities
• What are the best seats on my flight?
• What are Preferred Seats?
• Why is my seat Unassigned?
• Why was my seat assignment changed?
• How can I change my seat assignment after online checkin?
• Will my seat have a powerport and what kind of plug do I need?
• Will my flight have Next Generation Business Class?
• Will my flight have onboard wi-fi?
• Will there be food and beverages available on my flight?
• How do I request compensation for a problem or compliment an AA employee?

Connections and Standby
• Will I make my connection?
• Can I standby for a different flight?
• What are the chances that my flight will be overbooked or oversold?

AAdvantage Account Maintenance
• Are there any AAdvantage enrollment bonuses available?
• How are miles and points calculated?
• How long does it take for miles and points to post to my account?
• I was rerouted, can I still get my AA miles?
• Why is my AAdvantage account showing all zeroes?
• How do I keep my miles from expiring?
• My miles expired, can I get them reinstated?
• Where can I get my complete AA account history?
• How much is an AAdvantage mile worth?
• How can I get AA.com to remember my AAdvantage number and password?

dstan

• What are the AAdvantages of AA elite status?

There are three elite levels, Gold (GLD), Platinum (PLT), and Executive Platinum (EXP), with increasing benefits at each level, including preferred seating, check-in, security lines, and boarding; bonus miles; and various free upgrade instruments, discounts, and fee waivers.

Wiki: Elite Status
AA.com: Elite Status Benefits Chart | GLD, PLT, EXP Elite Membership Guides
FT: Is GLD / Gold worth it? What are the benefits? (consolidated)
FT: Is PLT / Platinum worth it? What are the benefits? (consolidated)
FT: Is EXP / Executive Platinum worth it? What are the benefits? (consolidated)

dstan

• How can I qualify for AA elite status?

AAdvantage members can qualify for elite status annually based on calendar year butt-in-seat elite-qualifying miles (25K / 50K / 100K), elite-qualifying points (25K / 50K / 100K), or elite-qualifying segments (30 / 60 / 100). All fares on AA earn 100% elite-qualifying miles, 50–150% elite-qualifying points, and 100% elite-qualifying segments (including previously excluded O fares between North America and Latin America as of May 1, 2012). Flights on oneworld partner airlines and Alaska Airlines also earn elite-qualifying miles, points, and segments, but may be subject to various fare restrictions and multipliers. Flights on other partner airlines do not earn elite-qualifying miles, points, or segments. Non-flying miles (credit card, dining, etc.) do not count toward annual elite status qualification and, as of Dec 1, 2011, no longer count toward Lifetime / Million Miler Status.

N.B.: On Jul 18, 2011, AA launched a new Citi Executive / AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard that awards 10,000 elite-qualifying miles after $40,000 in calendar year spending. All miles earned from purchases also count toward Lifetime / Million Miler Status through at least Dec 31, 2012.


Wiki: Elite Status
AA.com: Elite Qualification Requirements
FT: AA Citi Executive / AAdvantage World Elite Mastercard

dstan

• Does AA offer status matches or Challenges?

AA has offered unpublished Challenges to obtain GLD or PLT status more quickly, but the last day to enroll was September 23, 2015.. A new Challenge may be offered in 2016.

The following applied to the Challenge that was available through September 23, 2015:

Note that these 3-month Challenges are subject to enrollment fees, have defined start and end dates that can affect how long your status lasts, and are based on elite-qualifying points (5K / 10K), not miles. Status is conferred upon successful completion of a Challenge. (It has been reported that, as of late 2009, participants with elite status on another airline may be conferred GLD status immediately for the duration of their Challenge.)

Officially, there is no corresponding EXP Challenge, although a very small number of targeted fliers may be invited to participate in an analogous offer. A broader program was available to top-tier elites of certain competing airlines for a brief period in Jan–Mar 2011, but that program is currently inactive.

In general, outright status matches are offered only by invitation for a very small number of top fliers. However, employees of certain companies with status on certain airlines may be able to apply for a status match.

Wiki: Elite Status Challenge
FT: Help Desk: AAdvantage elite status Challenges (Gold and Platinum)
FT: Is there an EXP Challenge? (N.B.: Post #170)
FT: AAdvantage EXP Challenge Program (Jan–Mar 2011 only; now INACTIVE)

FT: General AA status match questions (consolidated)
FT: AA status match & challenge for UA (United) 1K elites
FT: AA status match to GLD / PLT for elites of specific airlines employed by certain companies

dstan

• Does AA offer lifetime or Million Miler status?

Yes, AA offers lifetime ‘Million Miler’ GLD status at 1 million miles and lifetime PLT status at 2 million miles from all sources. At 1 million miles, members also receive 35,000 AAdvantage miles. At each million mile increment thereafter, members receive four additional systemwide upgrades. There is no lifetime EXP status. The required miles may be accumulated over any period of time and do not need to be accumulated in a single year. Note that lifetime status does not give a ‘head-start’ on achieving the next higher elite level annually.

In the previous, unpublished lifetime status program, miles from all sources (flying and non-flying) counted toward lifetime status qualification. However, as of December 1, 2011, only base flight miles on AA and other AAdvantage participating airlines count toward million miler status. Except for a 13-month exception for Citi Executive AAdvantage World Elite card holders as of December 1, 2011, no other miles count toward lifetime status (e.g., miles from elite minimums, bonuses, promotions, credit cards, dining, shopping, banking, hotels, rental cars, etc.). During the previous program, U.S.-based members reaching 1 million miles received eight 500-mile electronic / sticker upgrades while non U.S.-based members received 4 systemwide upgrades, instead of the 35,000 AAdvantage miles that all members now receive at that milestone.

These mileage earning changes are NOT retroactive, and Program-to-Date mileage balances as of November 30, 2011 were carried forward to the new Million Miler Balance without change. Members who already attained a lifetime status level retained that status.

Wiki: Lifetime Status
AA.com: Million Miler Program | Citi Executive / AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard
FT: AAdvantage Million Miler Program Changes (Dec 1, 2011)
FT: AA Citi Executive / AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard
FT: AAdvantage Million Miler benefits
FT: Just made Lifetime Gold / Platinum with NEW Million Miler Program! (as of Dec 1, 2011)
FT: Just made Lifetime Gold / Platinum (previous program)
FT: Purported Lifetime EXPs

dstan

• Can I purchase elite status?

Not currently, however, in some previous years, AA has offered Prepaid Travel Cards (distinct from AAirpass) that carry instant status.

Also, members who hold a Citi Executive AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard receive some, but not all, benefits of Gold status, as well as Admirals Club membership.

Wiki: Elite Status: Prepaid Travel Card
AA.com: Prepaid Travel Card (expired 4/8/08)
FT: No Prepaid Elite Travel Card for 2009
FT: AA Citi Executive / AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard

dstan

• I will just miss requalifying, will AA make any exceptions or can I buy back status?

Officially, in each year since 2003, AA has offered a status buyback / repurchase program for elites who did not requalify; again, this offer is not available until after the end of the requalification (calendar) year.

Unofficially, AA previously provided automatic exceptions for elites who come close to requalifying on points or miles (24,500 GLD / 49,000 PLT / 99,000 EXP). However, this exception has apparently been discontinued for the 2013-2014 membership year according to member experiences.

Unofficially, AA also previously had a ‘soft landing’ policy, whereby elites never drop by more than one level per year, regardless of miles flown. However, this policy has officially been discontinued for the 2014-2015 membership year according to AA.

FT: 2012 AAdvantage status renewal/requalification questions/issues (consolidated)

Wiki: Elite Status: Buyback
AA.com: Elite Status Buyback: An Exclusive AAdvantage Special Offer
FT: 2014 AAdvantage status year repurchase/buyback

Wiki: Elite Status: Exception Policy
FT: Status requalification automatic exception levels (Posted 7/4/02)

Wiki: Elite Status: Soft Landing Policy
FT: 2012 Elite Status Soft Landing Experiences
FT: 2013 Elite Status Soft Landing Discontinued for 2014-2015 Membership Year

dstan

• Can I qualify for elite status without flying?

In general, no, the only way to earn Elite Qualifying Miles (and Points and Segments) toward annual elite status qualification is by flying on AA and certain partner airlines. However, on Jul 18, 2011, AA launched a new Citi Executive / AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard that awards 10,000 elite-qualifying miles after $40,000 in calendar year spending.

Very occasionally, status matches in conjunction with a Challenge or targeted to specific high-revenue customers have been reported.

A previous exception to this statement was Lifetime Gold and Lifetime Platinum (Million Miler) Status, which were based on redeemable miles earned from all sources, including flight bonus miles, credit cards, hotels, rental cars, dining, shopping partners, etc. However, that program will changed to count only base flight miles as of December 1, 2011, with a 13-month exception for Citi Executive / AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard holders as of that date.

FT: AA Citi Executive / AAdvantage World Elite Mastercard

dstan

• What is ConciergeKey?

ConciergeKey Services are provided to a select group of VIPs to facilitate travel on AA. The program is by-invitation only and is targeted at customers who control travel policy for large organizations. Services provided include airport escorts and assistance with reroutes, flight changes, seat changes, and upgrade requests. ConciergeKey status is reportedly not linked to elite status.

Wiki: Elite Status: ConciergeKey
FT: AA Concierge Key as of Summer 2013 (master thread)

dstan

• What is AAirpass?

AAirpass is a prepaid, fixed-rate travel account program, valid for one or more years, typically for individual or corporate flyers who book high fare tickets. AA has also offered lifetime AAirpass accounts in the past, although they are not currently available. AAirpass does not confer elite status directly, but does come with certain benefits, such as preferred check-in and boarding and complimentary Admirals Club membership.

Wiki: AAirpass
AA.com: AAirpass Program
FT: AAirpass Master Thread (consolidated)
FT: Lifetime AAirpass (last offered 2004) (consolidated)

dstan

• What is Business ExtrAA?

Business ExtrAA is a separate rewards program for businesses, including small businesses. One Business ExtrAA point is credited to the company account for every $10 in base fare traveled. Business ExtrAA points can be redeemed for a variety of awards, including award travel, upgrades, Admirals Club membership and daypasses, and complimentary GLD status. Business ExtrAA awards are distinct from AAdvantage awards and carry additional restrictions regarding eligible fares. Business ExtrAA points expire on December 31 of the second year after the year in which they are earned. Individual travelers also receive their own AAdvantage miles for travel as usual.

AA.com: Business ExtrAA Program
FT: Business ExtrAA Program (consolidated)
FT: Business ExtrAA bonus offers (consolidated)

dstan

• Does anyone have a discount or promotion code? / Are there any AAdvantage enrollment bonuses available?

Proprietary discount codes, including DealFinder codes, should not be requested or posted in the AA Forum, and such posts will be deleted by the moderators. However, purchasing a 2013 Entertainment Book will give you a fixed $10 discount, good for up to 6 passengers. Print editions for certain cities also provide $30, $20, and $10 discounts subject to various minimum ticket prices. The Entertainment Book offers a free 10-day online trial that provides online access to printable coupons for rental car agencies and other vendors. (Student Advantage has previously offered a discount for travel on AA in Aug–Dec 2010, but does not currently offer this discount.)

A current list of public bonus offers can always be found listed on AA.com.

Any current enrollment offers are discussed in the FlyerTalk thread below.

AA.com: Bonus Offers
FT: AAdvantage enrollment bonuses
FT: 2013 Entertainment Book
FT: 2012 Entertainment Book

FT: Gogo Inflight wifi discounts
FT: Admirals Club discounts (general)

dstan

• Can I get a refund for a fare that has repriced to a lower amount?

This is called a "fare rollover". You may qualify for a refund of the difference between the fare you paid and the new, lower fare, if it is for the same fare class, minus any change fee associated with your fare. Your fare's detailed fare rules (which can be seen prior to purchase) can also be found if you enter the ticket number (starts with "001") at AA's refunds site (you can also find your ticket number if you have purchased the ticket within 13 months). There are significant restrictions, which should be read at the link below.

AA.com: Rollovers - Rules For Rollover To Lower Fare
AA.com: www.refunds.aa.com
FT: AA Get A Refund After An Airfare Price drop (fare rollover)

dstan

• How do I book an upgradeable fare?

All published fares are eligible for 500-mile electronic / sticker and EXP upgrades on AA flights within North America, the Caribbean, and Central America, with the exception of upgrades from Business to First on 3-class domestic flights.

As of October 6, 2009, all published fares (including I, O, and Q overseas) are also eligible for award (miles + copay) or systemwide (SWU / eVIP) upgrades!

Wiki: Upgrades | Inventory Classes
FT: Upfaring an itinerary on Hold to an upgradeable fare class (historical interest only)
FT: Upfaring and applying a discount / promotion code (historical interest only)
FT: Mileage Run Discussion Forum: How to specify the booking code on ITA (historical interest only)

FT: AA now allows I, O and Q Upgrade awards (some higher co-pays coming) (Oct 2009)

dstan

• How do I get through to AA on the phone?

The AA Reservations line is the main point of contact for AA, at +1-800-433-7300 (other numbers can be found on AA.com and in the Wiki). While each elite level also has its own phone number, published in the corresponding elite guide, AA’s phone system recognizes each caller’s elite level based on their AAdvantage number. Only EXP members’ calls are routed to a specific desk with a subset of agents. All other calls are routed to the general agent pool, although PLT and GLD members reportedly receive priority in the call queue. EXP agents are the only agents who can process SWU / eVIP upgrades, and sometimes handle overflow from the general pool. AA does not outsource its U.S. call centers overseas, although foreign call centers are generally staffed by local agents.

From outside the U.S. and Canada, AA can be telephoned by one of three methods:

1. Direct dial the desired 800 number using Skype or other internet telephony service, toll free. Direct dialing 800 numbers from landlines or mobile phones overseas may or may not work, and will not be toll free.
2. Dial the desired 800 number via the AT&T World Traveler Service local access number. Long distance charges will apply and can be paid using an AT&T Calling Card, AT&T Prepaid Phone Card, credit card, or collect call. AAdvantage elite customers (GLD, PLT, EXP) can dial their elite 800 number using this service and AT&T will automatically recognize the number and bill the long distance charges to AA without asking the caller for a payment method.
3. Direct dial +1-817-963-1234 to contact AMR headquarters; an operator or the voice recognition system can then connect callers to the appropriate office or desk.

The AA Reservations line uses a voice recognition system that often has problems with short words (such as ‘no’, which needs to be elongated for the system to pick it up) and when the caller is in a noisy environment. Fortunately, when entering one’s AAdvantage number, the system does recognize the NATO alphabet, as well as certain common names, in place of letters. (All AA agents also know the NATO alphabet, which can be used to spell out PNRs). AAdvantage members can use AA’s Remember Me feature to associate specific phone numbers with their AAdvantage number automatically. Importantly, although this is an unpublished feature, menu selections can also be made using keypad numbers corresponding to the position of each menu option in the sequence presented. Dial 0 (zero) at any time to be connected to an agent.

Wiki: Contacting AA
AA.com: Contact AA | AT&T World Traveler | Remember Me
FT: Tips and tricks for AA’s voice recognition phone system
FT: How to call AA 800 numbers from overseas