weinskkb

If you make EXP anytime in 2010 you will be EXP until 2/2012. Then the soft landing starts unless the rules change.

brp

This is also not true for PLT or GLD earned through normal flying. Doesn't matter when the status is obtained. The information in the FAQ (or on AA.com) regarding the way the AAdvantage elite program works may be a valuable read for you and help avoid misconceptions.

Cheers.

bdemaria

AA challenges carry w/them very specific rules and timelines (including the relationship between date of challenge and length of status; EXP isn't available via a challenge)

Non-NonRev

Not to mention the ability to reserve exit row seats at the time of purchase.

tondoleo

As a result of finally spending time lurking and reading the outstanding information contained on FT I was able to convince Madame Tondoleo to take a Platinum challenge on her work related excursions. She obtained her status in November. Madame is quite pleased with her new status and the benefits that come with it. Thus, thanks for everyone here who has taken the time to provide information for sluggish folks such as myself and busier wife who were unaware of the challenge.

allset2travel

Well said !!

dstan

^ Glad it worked out well!

allset2travel

Thanks to many savvy FT AA flyers on this board, I have decided to take the Platinum Challenge beginning after June 16, 2010. Despite the fact that I have read over the rules and many times the related threads. I still have a few questions before I book my flights, which are listed below:

SFO-DFW-NRT-BKK on the outbound. All Economy W fares
BKK-NRT-ORD-SFO on the inbound. All Economy W fares.
The choice of the above itin is for none other than for price.

NOTE: the NRT-BKK & BKK-NRT segments are AA codeshare flights (AA2466 & AA codeshare 5835, both on JL metal)

Here are my questions:
1. Am I right to assume 1 EQP for each mile flown based on all W-fare and AA codeshares?
2. According to Great Circle Mapper, the outbound flights accumulate 9,368 miles (vs 10,780 miles by milecalc dot com); the inbound flights yield 9,567 miles (vs 11,009 miles by milecalc dot com). Using the GCM miles, I am a bit short on just the outbound alone. Can you suggest an itinerary which yields more than 10,000 EPQs on just the outbound to BKK? I don’t want to do an access trip to JFK or BOS for cost and time reasons. Might consider doing SFO-LAX RT right before this trip.
3. Before my inbound trip from BKK, I have an RJ flight BKK-HKG one way. Not AA codeshare. Will this flight contribute anything to Plat Challenge? I guess not.
4. If I attained 10,000 EQPs (assume doing something like SFO-LAX RT) on arrival to BKK, what do I need to do to ensure Plat status be recognized on all subsequent flights?
5. When returning from BKK to NRT (on JL metal), I have only 1 hour and 20 minutes to make the connection for NRT-ORD flight (with checked luggage). Can I make it? How far is the transfer?

Thank you very much for your suggestions and inputs.

pandaperth

1. Yes you are correct. 1 EQM and 1 EQP per BIS mile
2. When I put your outbound itinerary in GCM I get 10,781 miles. I suspect you made a typo. Also the AA timetable gives a total of 10,772 miles for the itinerary
3. The RJ flight will not count towards the challenge - must be an AA flight number to qualify
4. It should happen automatically (about 2/3 days after the qualifying flight)
5. You arrive and depart at the same NRT terminal (T2); should be no problem, after all AA has sold you a tciket with the connection

allset2travel

pandaperth,
Thank you very much!

steve32

And this will be acknowledged when you do qualify for Platinum the regular way--AA will send you another card with the new expiration date a year further out.

I have multiple cards for the years 2006 through 2009:

2006 -- Gold after challenge; Platinum after challenge (the previous rare and now impossible "double-challenge"); Platinum "re-"qualification the regular way with the expiration date in 2008 (challenges were in first half of year so previous expiration dates were 2007)

2007 -- re-issue of Platinum with 1MM logo added (plus pair of luggage tags w/ 1MM and then current Platinum status); re-qualification for Platinum with expiration in 2009

2008 -- re-qualification of Platinum with expiration in 2010; qualification for Executive Platinum (thanks to double EQP) with expiration in 2010 (plus pair of Executive Platinum luggage tags w/ 1MM)

2009 -- re-issue of Executive Platinum with 2MM logo added (plus pair of luggage tags w/ 2MM and then current Executive Platinum status); re-qualification of Executive Platinum with expiration in 2011 (plus another pair of Executive Platinum luggage tags w/ 2MM)


Steve32

FindMeTravel

Hello,

I need your assistance with a question regarding the challenges

My job requires that I travel from MCO to ORD weekly (just under 1,000 miles) for the rest of 2010. I have a gold status that expires 2/28/2010 and I was considering signing up for the platinum challenge. I figured that even with a discounted fare, I should be able to meet the requirements within 3 months (I already have booked ~3000 EQP between 2/16 and 2/28).

Through reading the wiki I found out that the status acquired through a challenge (if started before 6/16) will only carry me through Feb 2011.

So my question is, let's say I complete the plat challenge by May, will my status expire on 2011 regardless of my flight activity beyond May?

Thank you in advance and I appologize if there's an answer to this in this thread. I wasn't able to find it.

JDiver

No. If you fly 60 segments or earn 50k EQP or EQM during calendar year 2010, your status will extend through the end of February 2012; otherwise, your Challenge-gained Platinum status gained May 2010 would end the last day of February 2011.

FindMeTravel

Thank you.

By the way, I just called and was told that the fee for a platinum challenge was $150 (so that might have been a seasonal increase).

mvoight

Flying Fish says 10778. Why the difference?