Are there any challenges available to me?
 

Honestly, a bit confused on this whole challenge thing, who gets it, why they get it, how to sign up for it, etc...

I am currently a gold (never been an AA member before this year) with enough flights already booked + paid for (but not flown) to get me up to about 80k miles by September.

Is this something anyone can do, to sort of 'expedite' their status to PLT or so? I've seen people just call and request it, or just get an email inviting them, etc etc. Just trying to figure out what options, if any, I have here.

You've probably not seen anyone call AA and get status handed them. But there is a shortcut to AAdvantage elite status called a status challenge (there is a fee for signing up). Read the challenge thread's wiki carefully, as the status requires earning 5,0000 or 10,000 points (not miles) within a three month period; when you begin flying the challenge determines how log your status-won challenge persists.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...-platinum.html