InsideThePlane

I phoned today to start my Platinum challenge on Feb 1. I made Platinum in 2001 but left AA after that so I've lost all status with them. Trying to look forward as far as possible, it looks like my future travel needs will be better served by AA so I'm off to book some flights.

oklAAhoma

Welcome back to AA. And best of luck on completing your challenge.

jurisdr

Thanks, JDiver.

JDiver

You DO understand the bit about not flying AA next year is pure heresy, right?

jurisdr

haha. Yes, hearsay it is.

InsideThePlane

Thank you oklAAhoma.

Does anyone know how long it will take AA to send me an e-mail confirming the challenge? The Advantage CS rep confirmed my e-mail addy while I was on the phone but nothing yet.

Chris

bts09

Chris, you posted this 6 hours ago, so if you don't have that email by now, I would say something is wrong. You do want that email. It's got the good info (also reproduced in this forum about 100 times) and is your proof that you are enrolled in the challenge.

flguy

It took about 12 hours for me to get my confirmation email.

InsideThePlane

Thanks! Guess I'm off to a good start...
No email as of the time of this post so I'll be back on the phone tomorrow.

Chris

Schultzois

I was GLD and just completed a PLT challenge. I noticed my flights posted a bit strangely (although not too surprised). My 4405 mile flight from EZE to MIA in F completed my challenge, and I see on my account
AMERICAN AIRLINES 980 F EZE MIA 4,405 3,304 7,709
and
PLT CHALLENGE BONUS-GLD MEMBER 0 3,304 3,304

...but... my next flight after qualifying, still only posted as
AMERICAN AIRLINES 858 Y MIA PHL 1,013 253 1,266

I thought I was supposed to get full PLT bonus on all flights after the qualifying flight. Is it because the flights were on the same day, and only flights on subsequent days would be earning the bonus? I read a bit of this thread but not all 100+ pages...

Anyone know how it's supposed to post? Is it something I should call AA about?

Thanks.

JDiver

You are supposed to receive the Platinum 100% bonus miles ON and AS OF the flight you qualify on.

Zeffer

Does anyone know if there's any way of having one's Platinum status temporarily extended?

I just moved to the USA from down under (and moved from QF to AAdvantage) and made Plat via the Challenge. But I was two weeks short of the June 16 cut-off date which would've given me status for an extra 12 months. Because of that, my status will be downgraded this Feb (though I'll earn it back by Oct-Nov).

Problem is, I relinquished my QF status in order to shift my frequent flier life over to AA. I'd still have status if I wasn't moving my business to AA.

Does anyone have any experience requesting an interim extension of status to cover the period I'll be downgraded? It's 8-9 months; I have the paid ticket to prove that I'll make Platinum again this year; and I was only a coupla weeks away from being entitled to an extra 12 months' status anyway when the Challenge began.

Any experience would be appreciated...!?

InsideThePlane

I called again this morning and received my Platinum challenge e-mail.

My first two flights (ORD-YOW RT) in the challenge period are work related and booked in discount (Q) fares. I've read conflicting posts that show these flights would be credited 500 mile minimum points.

However, my understanding is that for the challenge period, minimum Q points do not apply and that the credit for these flights would simply be 653x.05=326.5 miles each way.

Is that correct?

If my math is correct, I think I've got it! For the first month of my challenge, I've booked the following:

ORD-YOW Q
YOW-ORD-Q
ORD-DFW V
DFW-TPA V
TPA-ORD A
ORD-ACA D
ACA-DFW D
DFW-TPA A
TPA-ORD W

Let me add my thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread and shared their knowledge. ^

Chris

brp

I have no direct experience with this, but I would venture to say no in this case. If you had achieved PLT by flying the requisite miles/points/segments it would still be a stretch, but there might be some hope. Inasmuch as a challenge is a low-mile shortcut intended to stimulate future travel, I'd be quite certain that they won't extend status gained in this way. Never hurts to ask, but I wouldn't get my hopes up.

Cheers.

TxTrav

My DH and I plan to do the Plat Challenge from mid April to mid July. Do I have to have the challenge set up with AA before I start booking tickets?