Bitterroot

Aha...it's a challenge. I read right through that and didn't pay attention.

Different story: book the AA flight number or it won't count. You'll get 1.5 points per mile, so about 22,260 for the round trip, if you're buying an eligible business class fare.

You should come up Platinum. See the Sticky at the head of this program thread if you haven't already read it -- should cover your questions.

billgrates3

you should easily meet the 10,000 EQ Points Platinum Challenge requirement with a paid Biz class R/T fare. no worries, mite!

corbes63

Thanks. So the key here is to sign up for AA Advantage, sign up for The Challenge and then book the Qantas flights ticketing them via AA.

chanp

ticketing them with AA flight numbers. use www.lan.com, u may avoid a slight YQ charge. or book with qantas or aa or whoever, as long as they are AA flight numbers

cstead

Just a oneway SFO-SYD in business class is enough to complete a Plat challenge. It does take a few days for the miles to post and your status to update, so if you have other OW flights before then (like intra-Australia or Trans-Tasman) you will likely not get lounge access. Also, once your miles do post and status updates, makes sure you call and have and have them re-enter your Aadvantage number to ensure your status show appropriately on the rez.

JDiver

The original post and dependent posts have been relocated to the sticky - but I want to emphasize the fare must be purchased in a fare that earns miles, and that it is the POINTS that earn Challenge status, not miles.

louienet

Whee! The miles and points posted 3 days after we completed our trip. AA.com now shows that both my gf and I have platinum status.

Thank you to all of you who contributed to the knowledge base! In my gratitude, I've updated the wiki with everything new that I've learned:

http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Challenge_(AA)

Louie

njvandy

Hello all, new to the site and to the miles game.

I'm a 19 y.o. college student who does a lot of traveling domestically and internationally. I am involved in a family business that sends me to Chile, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Italy, and other places at least once per year. I'm primarily based out of EWR/LGA and BNA. I am relatively new to aadvantage, I have about 65k lifetime miles and 21k YTD elite qualifying. I have never held status but until recently always traveled with my father, an EXP with lifetime PLT.

I will definitely hit gold this year on my own with another trip to S America next week but I am wondering about the PLT challenge! I had never heard of it before reading about it on this site and I think I might be able to pull it off. Would an economy discount ticket from EWR-MIA-LIM, returning GRU-JFK do it for me (it is 10k miles/points but only 2 segments)

Also, are there any other ways to get elite status that I should know about?

Thanks a lot for the help, everyone on here seems to be knowledgeable and helpful!

brp

Welcome to FT.

If you have been reading about the PLT challenge here, good for you. Many new members post without reading anything, and it's refreshing to find someone who does some study before posting. Continue to read in the place where you found it, follow the rules outlined there, and you should be fine. For future reference, it does us all a service to post questions like this in the existing threads on the topic, rather than starting new ones. As someone who wants to read and learn, you'll get the hang of FT in no time.

Cheers.

skywalkerLAX

Welcome to FT !

You are aware of the challenge already which is a good start. It doesnt matter how many segments as long as you get your 10K EQP within the 90 days. PLT is great (of course EXP is better though...) and it made my travels much easier last years. Especially you profit from the 100% mileage bonus.

When you complete the PLT challenge now after JUN15 the status will be valid until 2/2010.

Cheers,

njvandy

Thanks both of you...

Most of my segments are LGA-BNA (764 miles) and the 2-sticker upgrades are available 90% of the time so status is a huge bonus for me.

Is there any way of talking them into giving you status based on a retroactive challenge? I have done 10K over a 90 day period twice so far this year.

skywalkerLAX

I wouldnt consider your chances too high... you will be gold soon though anyways, so just start the challenge asap and you will be there in a heartbeat. Maybe doing a short MR in addition The FT spirit works !

john93711

I would sign up for the challenge before you hit gold. IIRC you cannot challenge if you already hold status

gemac

Most definitely mistaken. You can sign up for the Platinum challenge if you hold Gold status. You cannot sign up for a challenge to a status if you already hold that status.

njvandy

John, do you mean I would not be able to challenge for PLT if I am a gold?

And skywalker, I have been reading about MRs (its a phenomenon I was not aware of) and I am definitely considering it if I can find cheap fares, which is increasingly difficult these days.