ARCHIVE: AAdvantage Gold & Platinum Elite Status Challenges 2004 - 2011
Feb 19, 2010, 4:26 pm
#4351
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: OKC/DFW
Programs: AA EXP/2 MM
Posts: 9,999
I missed PLT by 2,500 miles this year (slow year and I didn't think I would be travelling this year, so no MR). I was getting a confirmed standby yesterday and asked to be transferred to the AAdvantage desk afterward. I politely asked if I could complete a challenge and she replied that I couldn't until 3/1, at which point I asked if I could be bumped down to Gold -- I've never heard a CSR laugh so hard! I said, "You probably don't hear that much do you?" 
She replied with "No, and unfortunately we can't...ahem...downgrade your uh status. Sorry about that!"
I never thought those words would ever leave my mouth
She replied with "No, and unfortunately we can't...ahem...downgrade your uh status. Sorry about that!"I never thought those words would ever leave my mouth
Feb 19, 2010, 5:02 pm
#4352
Join Date: May 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA CK, Marriott LT Ti, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 541
AA has a "soft landing" policy, so I don't understand why the agent laughed at your question. If you are currently PLT through Feb 2010, not having requalified in 2009, your status will drop to GLD on Mar 1. Or were you asking if she could drop your status immediately?
Besides, I refuse to pay the god-awful automatic reinstatement fee to make it back up. A MR would have been 1/3, maybe even 1/4 of the cost.
Last edited by ttusqrl; Feb 20, 2010 at 7:29 am
Feb 19, 2010, 5:39 pm
#4353
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: OKC/DFW
Programs: AA EXP/2 MM
Posts: 9,999
Feb 20, 2010, 7:30 am
#4354
Join Date: May 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA CK, Marriott LT Ti, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 541
Feb 20, 2010, 6:04 pm
#4355
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: STL || AMS || HKG
Programs: DL - DM || CX - Diamond || Hilton - Silver || SPG - P100
Posts: 105
Elite Qualifying Points (EQP) question
I have read through the posts, but i still have a question (after talking to an AA person mostly). I have decided to jump from Delta to AA, so I am going to do the challenge and work on getting back up to status (hopefully just a few months).
My question is about earning points. i am flying to Asia in a week, and the only flights for part of the trip are on another carrier (part of one world). for example:
AMERICAN AIRLINES 6074, OPERATED BY CATHAY PACIFIC - Booking Code H, will i get EQP's for that segment of the flight? (it is from HKG to SFO). the rep said EQP's can only be earned on AA Metal, did she actually mis-speak?
thanks in advance.
My question is about earning points. i am flying to Asia in a week, and the only flights for part of the trip are on another carrier (part of one world). for example:
AMERICAN AIRLINES 6074, OPERATED BY CATHAY PACIFIC - Booking Code H, will i get EQP's for that segment of the flight? (it is from HKG to SFO). the rep said EQP's can only be earned on AA Metal, did she actually mis-speak?
thanks in advance.
Feb 20, 2010, 6:09 pm
#4356
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
if it an aa flight #, you get credit just like an aa flight on aa metal.....so whatever h gets, you get....good luck....
Feb 20, 2010, 6:21 pm
#4357
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
If it is coded as an AA flight, for the purposes of miles and points, you are flying American Airlines.
As it states in the Wiki, "As of January 2007, only flights marketed by AA (with an AA flight number) are eligible for earning points that count towards the completion of a Challenge. You can still fly on a non-AA metal flight operated by a partner, but you must make sure that you have booked it with an AA codeshare flight number. (Previously, points earned on partner-marketed flights were eligible, but that is no longer the case)."
This will now get moved to the Challenge Help Desk thread.
As it states in the Wiki, "As of January 2007, only flights marketed by AA (with an AA flight number) are eligible for earning points that count towards the completion of a Challenge. You can still fly on a non-AA metal flight operated by a partner, but you must make sure that you have booked it with an AA codeshare flight number. (Previously, points earned on partner-marketed flights were eligible, but that is no longer the case)."
This will now get moved to the Challenge Help Desk thread.
Feb 20, 2010, 8:57 pm
#4358
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: STL || AMS || HKG
Programs: DL - DM || CX - Diamond || Hilton - Silver || SPG - P100
Posts: 105
If it is coded as an AA flight, for the purposes of miles and points, you are flying American Airlines.
As it states in the Wiki, "As of January 2007, only flights marketed by AA (with an AA flight number) are eligible for earning points that count towards the completion of a Challenge. You can still fly on a non-AA metal flight operated by a partner, but you must make sure that you have booked it with an AA codeshare flight number. (Previously, points earned on partner-marketed flights were eligible, but that is no longer the case)."
This will now get moved to the Challenge Help Desk thread.
As it states in the Wiki, "As of January 2007, only flights marketed by AA (with an AA flight number) are eligible for earning points that count towards the completion of a Challenge. You can still fly on a non-AA metal flight operated by a partner, but you must make sure that you have booked it with an AA codeshare flight number. (Previously, points earned on partner-marketed flights were eligible, but that is no longer the case)."
This will now get moved to the Challenge Help Desk thread.
Update - I booked a couple of flights through the AA site, which get me about 20k points, so I would assume even if something didn't work out exactly as planned, since I only need to get to 10k in 3 months, it should all work out.
Last edited by druid; Feb 21, 2010 at 7:47 am Reason: update
Feb 21, 2010, 11:09 am
#4359
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: STL || AMS || HKG
Programs: DL - DM || CX - Diamond || Hilton - Silver || SPG - P100
Posts: 105
Follow-Up
Just as a follow up, I called the AAdvantage folks and started the challenge. the Agent actually said the AMERICAN AIRLINES 6074, OPERATED BY CATHAY PACIFIC - Booking Code H would NOT count towards the points, even though it was a purchased through AA (using the only search for AA metal option), has an AA flight, because it was someone else's metal. I did ask her to check, and after about 15minutes on hold she said she had talked to several people and believes it will count.
A little disappointing, when I talked to the rep yesterday she said she would gift me gold status so that my trip would not be without. Today when I brought it up after paying for the challenge, she said they did not do that. That definitely leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I don't care so much that I wont get a mileage bonus, but since it will take a few weeks to actually get the Plat status (After the flight is complete), I am looking at 3 trips (if I fly them with AA) with no status - I am traveling almost the entire month of March, back to back. I get that my $30k / year on travel is a trivial to them, but it would have been nice for them to honor their previous offer. I guess as with everything, get it in writing...
A little disappointing, when I talked to the rep yesterday she said she would gift me gold status so that my trip would not be without. Today when I brought it up after paying for the challenge, she said they did not do that. That definitely leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I don't care so much that I wont get a mileage bonus, but since it will take a few weeks to actually get the Plat status (After the flight is complete), I am looking at 3 trips (if I fly them with AA) with no status - I am traveling almost the entire month of March, back to back. I get that my $30k / year on travel is a trivial to them, but it would have been nice for them to honor their previous offer. I guess as with everything, get it in writing...
Feb 21, 2010, 11:45 am
#4360
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 111
Just as a follow up, I called the AAdvantage folks and started the challenge. the Agent actually said the AMERICAN AIRLINES 6074, OPERATED BY CATHAY PACIFIC - Booking Code H would NOT count towards the points, even though it was a purchased through AA (using the only search for AA metal option), has an AA flight, because it was someone else's metal. I did ask her to check, and after about 15minutes on hold she said she had talked to several people and believes it will count.
A little disappointing, when I talked to the rep yesterday she said she would gift me gold status so that my trip would not be without. Today when I brought it up after paying for the challenge, she said they did not do that. That definitely leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I don't care so much that I wont get a mileage bonus, but since it will take a few weeks to actually get the Plat status (After the flight is complete), I am looking at 3 trips (if I fly them with AA) with no status - I am traveling almost the entire month of March, back to back. I get that my $30k / year on travel is a trivial to them, but it would have been nice for them to honor their previous offer. I guess as with everything, get it in writing...
A little disappointing, when I talked to the rep yesterday she said she would gift me gold status so that my trip would not be without. Today when I brought it up after paying for the challenge, she said they did not do that. That definitely leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I don't care so much that I wont get a mileage bonus, but since it will take a few weeks to actually get the Plat status (After the flight is complete), I am looking at 3 trips (if I fly them with AA) with no status - I am traveling almost the entire month of March, back to back. I get that my $30k / year on travel is a trivial to them, but it would have been nice for them to honor their previous offer. I guess as with everything, get it in writing...
Feb 21, 2010, 11:53 am
#4361
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: STL || AMS || HKG
Programs: DL - DM || CX - Diamond || Hilton - Silver || SPG - P100
Posts: 105
Originally Posted by sweeper25
That is interesting... I just did a gold challenge and flew JFK-SCL on a LAN flight with an AA flight number. After that LAN flight, I immediately became Gold status. I don't see why your example is any different from what just happened to me.
Feb 22, 2010, 8:54 pm
#4362
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DFW/STL
Programs: AA EXP, AA Admirals Club, Marriott PLT Premier, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 762
Help Me Decide What to Do
So thank you to Flyertalk.. I think I am about to embark on my first status challenge.
The situation: I will be traveling to Italy in April. For ease, assume that total flight distance will be 5000 miles each way and my EQP is 1:1 for all booking codes/alliances flown. Now the question:
a) Do I go for a gold challenge-5000 EQP? $100. That way, on the return leg I will be getting a 25% bonus and for the remainder of the elite year a 25% bonus, gold status...etc
b) Plat Challenge-10000 EQP? $200. No bonus for this round trip but 100% from here on out and better perks.
Not that this makes a difference.. but Id say I could probably get gold again but would not be able to re-qualify for Plat.
What to do?
The situation: I will be traveling to Italy in April. For ease, assume that total flight distance will be 5000 miles each way and my EQP is 1:1 for all booking codes/alliances flown. Now the question:
a) Do I go for a gold challenge-5000 EQP? $100. That way, on the return leg I will be getting a 25% bonus and for the remainder of the elite year a 25% bonus, gold status...etc
b) Plat Challenge-10000 EQP? $200. No bonus for this round trip but 100% from here on out and better perks.
Not that this makes a difference.. but Id say I could probably get gold again but would not be able to re-qualify for Plat.
What to do?
Feb 22, 2010, 8:58 pm
#4363
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 222
So thank you to Flyertalk.. I think I am about to embark on my first status challenge.
The situation: I will be traveling to Italy in April. For ease, assume that total flight distance will be 5000 miles each way and my EQP is 1:1 for all booking codes/alliances flown. Now the question:
a) Do I go for a gold challenge-5000 EQP? $100. That way, on the return leg I will be getting a 25% bonus and for the remainder of the elite year a 25% bonus, gold status...etc
b) Plat Challenge-10000 EQP? $200. No bonus for this round trip but 100% from here on out and better perks.
Not that this makes a difference.. but Id say I could probably get gold again but would not be able to re-qualify for Plat.
What to do?
The situation: I will be traveling to Italy in April. For ease, assume that total flight distance will be 5000 miles each way and my EQP is 1:1 for all booking codes/alliances flown. Now the question:
a) Do I go for a gold challenge-5000 EQP? $100. That way, on the return leg I will be getting a 25% bonus and for the remainder of the elite year a 25% bonus, gold status...etc
b) Plat Challenge-10000 EQP? $200. No bonus for this round trip but 100% from here on out and better perks.
Not that this makes a difference.. but Id say I could probably get gold again but would not be able to re-qualify for Plat.
What to do?
Feb 22, 2010, 9:03 pm
#4364
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DFW/STL
Programs: AA EXP, AA Admirals Club, Marriott PLT Premier, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 762
You are correct.. On the Flyerguide.. i misread the part where it states that the flight which qualifies you earns the bonus. Thanks for your thoughts.
Feb 22, 2010, 9:05 pm
#4365
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,044
So thank you to Flyertalk.. I think I am about to embark on my first status challenge.
The situation: I will be traveling to Italy in April. For ease, assume that total flight distance will be 5000 miles each way and my EQP is 1:1 for all booking codes/alliances flown. Now the question:
a) Do I go for a gold challenge-5000 EQP? $100. That way, on the return leg I will be getting a 25% bonus and for the remainder of the elite year a 25% bonus, gold status...etc
b) Plat Challenge-10000 EQP? $200. No bonus for this round trip but 100% from here on out and better perks.
Not that this makes a difference.. but Id say I could probably get gold again but would not be able to re-qualify for Plat.
What to do?
The situation: I will be traveling to Italy in April. For ease, assume that total flight distance will be 5000 miles each way and my EQP is 1:1 for all booking codes/alliances flown. Now the question:
a) Do I go for a gold challenge-5000 EQP? $100. That way, on the return leg I will be getting a 25% bonus and for the remainder of the elite year a 25% bonus, gold status...etc
b) Plat Challenge-10000 EQP? $200. No bonus for this round trip but 100% from here on out and better perks.
Not that this makes a difference.. but Id say I could probably get gold again but would not be able to re-qualify for Plat.
What to do?
Note that flights on partner airlines do NOT count for challenge purposes unless they are booked with an AA flight number.
You will find lots of useful information in the sticky challenges thread here which is no doubt where this thread will end up.
