ARCHIVE: AAdvantage Gold & Platinum Elite Status Challenges 2004 - 2011
#4051
Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC
Posts: 10,855
Good question - in general, you get separate mileage/points for each segment you fly. The exception is if you are on a "direct" flight with a stop, in which case, you would only get mileage from origin to final destination. You can tell if you are on a direct flight if multiple segments have the same flight number - that is not the case for your flights.
#4052
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 19
What is the fastest and most economical way to meet a Platinum Challenge?
HI-I tried to search the forum before posting this, but couldn't quite find the answer. Sorry if I am repeating what has alrady been posted. To meet the Platinum Challenge, would a RT flight from LAX to Narita or from SFO to London Heathrow on American do it? Would it need to be business class in order to have the right faire code? I am trying to figure out the most effective and economical way to do it with just one round trip.
Thanks,
Thanks,
#4053
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM; UA 1K; AA 1MM
Posts: 4,518
You do not have to fly business, but you will get more points for business. Challenges are based on Elite-qualifying Points, not Elite Qualifying Miles.
Still, cost-wise, I'm guessing two international coach trips are likely to be more economical that one business trip (for example). But you should figure out the points per dollar available to you for each possible trip and see what makes the most sense.
A lot of great information on the challenges is available here: http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index...lenge_%28AA%29
Still, cost-wise, I'm guessing two international coach trips are likely to be more economical that one business trip (for example). But you should figure out the points per dollar available to you for each possible trip and see what makes the most sense.
A lot of great information on the challenges is available here: http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index...lenge_%28AA%29
#4054
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: DL 0.22 MM, AA 0.34 MM, PC Plat Amb, Hertz #1 GC 5*
Posts: 7,511
You should have no problems accomplishing this with one TATL (with the proper connections each way), as long as you get the 10k EQP. The trick is to find the fare at the exact fare-code threshhold, which (in my first attempt) can't be done online (they're always too low, or too high). You'd have to reserve the res at any fare basis (once you have the trip route set), then call in to bump up the fare basis (and cost) to as little over the fare-minimum as possible (unless you enjoy spending too much money!). This was a total shock, after nwa.com (where you could set the minimum fare basis on fare searches).
And the challange thread is good info also. Expect this thread to be merged into that one.
And the challange thread is good info also. Expect this thread to be merged into that one.
#4055
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
iirc, lax-lhr-lax will do it w/a 1pt/mi fare.....look at aa.com aadvantage to see the fare code chart which states how much of what on a fare code....good luck...
#4056
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 1 AU
Programs: Support the Tyrants Travel Club
Posts: 2,708
lax-jfk-ord-pvg on the lowest fares
#4057
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Coppell, TX
Programs: AA EXP (1M+), HH Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 384
#4058
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Here's how it would work (using apocryphal flight numbers):
AA 1234 SJO-MIA = 1117 mi
AA 2345 MIA-SCL = 4118 mi
TOTAL = 5235 mi
OR
AA 6789 SJO-MIA-SCL = 3112 mi (assuming AA actually had a "through" flight SJO-MIA-SCL)
The points earned would depend entirely on the fare class inventory the tickets are out of, of course: link, and "** Tickets between North America and Latin America booked in O are not eligible." And for a challenge to succeed, it must be on AA flights operated by AA (on AA aircraft.)
If we are trying to earn miles, we avoid from "through" flights - where you may have to change aircraft anyway, or even aircraft types. (The fact you may have to change aircraft and gates in MIA would make no difference in this illustration.)
AA 1234 SJO-MIA = 1117 mi
AA 2345 MIA-SCL = 4118 mi
TOTAL = 5235 mi
OR
AA 6789 SJO-MIA-SCL = 3112 mi (assuming AA actually had a "through" flight SJO-MIA-SCL)
The points earned would depend entirely on the fare class inventory the tickets are out of, of course: link, and "** Tickets between North America and Latin America booked in O are not eligible." And for a challenge to succeed, it must be on AA flights operated by AA (on AA aircraft.)
If we are trying to earn miles, we avoid from "through" flights - where you may have to change aircraft anyway, or even aircraft types. (The fact you may have to change aircraft and gates in MIA would make no difference in this illustration.)
#4059
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 16
Hi everyone,
I'm brand new here and was interested in this AA challenge, particularly gold. I have been reading thru the wiki and this thread but I have a couple of questions. I may have missed the answer somewhere so sorry if this has been answered before. This is in prep for a trip I have planned for July 2010 from HNL-DFW-MCO and back. The fare code according to AA is 'V' so I believe it's a 1 to 1 miles/points.
1. When you sign up for the gold challenge, you pay your $100 and start your challenge for the next 3 months. When you sign up, do they give you gold status for the 3 months of the challenge so you get gold status benefits during the challenge? And then after the 3 months you either meet the challenge and keep going or not meet it and they revoke gold status?
2. Is it best to book thru AA to know your rate code or is there a way to know what rate code you're getting thru sites like Orbitz, etc.?
Thanks,
Ho'okani
I'm brand new here and was interested in this AA challenge, particularly gold. I have been reading thru the wiki and this thread but I have a couple of questions. I may have missed the answer somewhere so sorry if this has been answered before. This is in prep for a trip I have planned for July 2010 from HNL-DFW-MCO and back. The fare code according to AA is 'V' so I believe it's a 1 to 1 miles/points.
1. When you sign up for the gold challenge, you pay your $100 and start your challenge for the next 3 months. When you sign up, do they give you gold status for the 3 months of the challenge so you get gold status benefits during the challenge? And then after the 3 months you either meet the challenge and keep going or not meet it and they revoke gold status?
2. Is it best to book thru AA to know your rate code or is there a way to know what rate code you're getting thru sites like Orbitz, etc.?
Thanks,
Ho'okani
#4060
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
When you sign up, do they give you gold status for the 3 months of the challenge so you get gold status benefits during the challenge?
Is it best to book thru AA to know your rate code or is there a way to know what rate code you're getting thru sites like Orbitz, etc.?
Good luck, and welcome to FT!
Last edited by aktchi; Nov 18, 2009 at 5:21 pm
#4061
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Home Airports: CAE/CLT
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, National Executive
Posts: 5,452
You can do a successful PLT Challenge on 1 RT TATL Y ticket. I did one last year for about $850(FRA-DFW-CAE) and Mrs Gamecock did one in August for $900.(FRA-DFW-SAT-DFW-CLT-ORD-FRA)
#4062
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Home Airports: CAE/CLT
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, National Executive
Posts: 5,452
#4063
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 19
Does Obtaining PlatiThrough a ChallangAffect getting Benefits from Going Over 2 Milli
It turns out I am doing so much cross country traveling in March and April, that I can upgrade from a deep discount to a regular discount, get 1.0 point per mile and complete 10,000 miles for the Platinum challenge with in a three-month period. However, it is also likely that because of travel and credit card use, by July or August 2010 I would pass the two million lifetime mark and get lifetime Platinum anyway. Being Platinum sooner would sure help on upgrades, since Gold status does not seem to help much on popular roués (SFO-DFW or SFO-ORD) , but would obtaining Platinum on a challenge cause me to loose the 4 system upgrades I get when I pass the 2 million mile mark? The cost of the challenge and the difference in fare prices is something to consider, but its not the biggest consideration. Just want to make sure I don’t somehow mess up the benefits form getting to the 2 million mile mark.
#4064
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,596
would obtaining Platinum on a challenge cause me to loose the 4 system upgrades I get when I pass the 2 million mile mark? The cost of the challenge and the difference in fare prices is something to consider, but its not the biggest consideration. Just want to make sure I don’t somehow mess up the benefits form getting to the 2 million mile mark.
The 4 eVIPs are given for hitting 2 MM not for lifetime Platinum.
The latter is another perk, like the VIPs
#4065
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: PC Pl, UA 1K, CC Gl
Posts: 2,235
I haved called AA today on behalf of a friend who is 1k. i asked to enroll him in Gold Challenge. The rep asked: " Do you want to pay $100 and be enrolled in Gold challenge or pay $200 and get Gold ON THE SPOT and be enrolled in Platinum challenge?" Took the second option
His account was updates already. And they did not ask for any proof of being 1k.
His account was updates already. And they did not ask for any proof of being 1k.
Last edited by al613; Nov 15, 2009 at 10:32 am