Original Gold / Plat Challenge Ended 23 Sep '15. Speculation: New program to come?
#1
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Original Gold / Plat Challenge Ended 23 Sep '15. Speculation: New program to come?
[B]NOTE: The very long-running, unpublished Gold and Platinum elite status challenge, originally documented by member FewMiles, will end at the end of the day 23 December 2015. That is the final day for anyone to complete the "traditional" status challenge.
AA representatives have alluded to a new challenge to be implemented in 2016, but at this time we have no details.
The HELP DESK thread for the challenge is: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ep-2015-a.html
AA representatives have alluded to a new challenge to be implemented in 2016, but at this time we have no details.
The HELP DESK thread for the challenge is: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ep-2015-a.html
I just enrolled for a Platinum Challenge for flights I have where I should qualify by mid October. When signing up, the rep told me that it's a good thing I called now as they've just found out they will be closing the challenge program on September 23rd, not taking any more signups after that through at least the end of the year. He said they will have a revamped program starting sometime next year.
Speculation: it'll be more restrictive, as it has had relatively large numbers of sign ups?
Last edited by JDiver; Oct 5, 2015 at 10:44 am Reason: Update
#2
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: AA Gold, Delta DM Hilton Diamond SPG Gold, and Foodland premium.
Posts: 824
I am glad I started my challenge this month. The agent didn't say anything to me about it though...Thanks for the heads up. Even with a money based system, the FF program is still much better than delta. Let's hope they don't erode that too..
#3
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Dear members: this thread is for discussion of the current, open to all, traditional Gold and Olatinum challenge, its potential closure 23 Sep 2015 and possibility, potential shape and form of a revised status challenge to be offered in 2016. (A new thread dealing with that product, including the basics in a wiki, would be established as we have details.)
The LinkedIn all status TARGETED challenge posts have been moved to http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-targeted.html.
/Moderator
The LinkedIn all status TARGETED challenge posts have been moved to http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-targeted.html.
/Moderator
#4
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dallas
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, IHG Spire, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,523
Yes it does. My biggest fear isnt the minimum dollar spend (because I expect a credit card waiver for minimum spend), it will be earning less EQM on BA flights for lowest buckets. A good chunk of my miles this year came from that and I already have planned 2-3 trips next year on BA.
Does anyone know if they are likely to grandfather in tickets pre-purchased before any changes (ie if I book 2-3 BA trips in their lowest buckets, and they change earnings, am I screwed after the fact)?
Does anyone know if they are likely to grandfather in tickets pre-purchased before any changes (ie if I book 2-3 BA trips in their lowest buckets, and they change earnings, am I screwed after the fact)?
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seat 1L these days :)
Programs: AF Platinum/AY LUMO/SK EBG/baEC S/HYATT Globalist/MR LTP/A3 *G/HH Dia/IHG plat
Posts: 7,895
Yes it does. My biggest fear isnt the minimum dollar spend (because I expect a credit card waiver for minimum spend), it will be earning less EQM on BA flights for lowest buckets. A good chunk of my miles this year came from that and I already have planned 2-3 trips next year on BA.
Does anyone know if they are likely to grandfather in tickets pre-purchased before any changes (ie if I book 2-3 BA trips in their lowest buckets, and they change earnings, am I screwed after the fact)?
Does anyone know if they are likely to grandfather in tickets pre-purchased before any changes (ie if I book 2-3 BA trips in their lowest buckets, and they change earnings, am I screwed after the fact)?
If aa changes for 2016 then it will be time to burn the stash of miles I have and reminiss
#6
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Yes it does. My biggest fear isnt the minimum dollar spend (because I expect a credit card waiver for minimum spend), it will be earning less EQM on BA flights for lowest buckets. A good chunk of my miles this year came from that and I already have planned 2-3 trips next year on BA.
Does anyone know if they are likely to grandfather in tickets pre-purchased before any changes (ie if I book 2-3 BA trips in their lowest buckets, and they change earnings, am I screwed after the fact)?
Does anyone know if they are likely to grandfather in tickets pre-purchased before any changes (ie if I book 2-3 BA trips in their lowest buckets, and they change earnings, am I screwed after the fact)?
In the past, AA has published the old chart with a "Effective for flights flown on or after February 1, 2015" with another chart with "Effective for flights flown on or before January 31, 2015" below it, and some notice given.
This would preclude buying tickets before the change and protecting the base miles and EQP earning if they did this.
There's no way to predict either of these.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
They didn't give out two months notice. That change did not affect the 2015 program year; but the 2016 program year. Anyone who flew 100 segments in 2014 was EXP for the 2015 program year. People were not told in October 2014 that they would need to fly 120 segments (instead of 100) before the end of the year in order to qualify for EXP status in 2015.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SOF
Programs: A3 Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 849
They didn't give out two months notice. That change did not affect the 2015 program year; but the 2016 program year. Anyone who flew 100 segments in 2014 was EXP for the 2015 program year. People were not told in October 2014 that they would need to fly 120 segments (instead of 100) before the end of the year in order to qualify for EXP status in 2015.
#10
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Congratulations. I hope you have an easy path; you will be among the last, at this rate. Less than two weeks left!
For those discussing "AAdvance" notice: In April 2014, they gave no notice.
Others are being told that the 23 September date is accurate and the challenge will be closed for an interim whilst they decide what will replace it - if anything.
#11
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
More members have been told the last day for signing up for the longstanding Gold / Platinum challenge will be September 23, 2025.
After that, no more challenge for the remainder of 2015. A new challenge, requirements unknown, is rumoured for 2016.
The original challenge thread has been retitled, and can be read here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ep-2015-a.html
After that, no more challenge for the remainder of 2015. A new challenge, requirements unknown, is rumoured for 2016.
The original challenge thread has been retitled, and can be read here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ep-2015-a.html
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Im curious-- and have NO reason to doubt it-- but have there been more than one post on the 9/23 thing? Again, I do NOT doubt it, just was curious if there have been multiple reports.
#13
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Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
#14
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Speculation and discussion unrelated to the Challenge about putative future changes to the AAdvantage program have been relocated to the current thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
This thread is about the impending closure of the current Challenge, extending to possible versions of this program that may be returning in 2016.
/Moderator
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
This thread is about the impending closure of the current Challenge, extending to possible versions of this program that may be returning in 2016.
/Moderator
#15
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Iirc, three members signing up for challenges have been told information that is consistent: the challenge ends September 23 (last enrollment) and remains closed the remainder of 2015.
This thread title began with a question mark, but the information given has been consistent and appears definitive.
It will be interesting to see what might take its place.
Even now, with a five year wait for signing up again, it has reduced the gamers who challenged for Platinum, send it until they "soft landed" to Gold, used that a year, then began the cycle over again.
But I'd guess upper management felt they were handing out too many elite status cards to potential valued flyers who proved to be less than high value customers.
This thread title began with a question mark, but the information given has been consistent and appears definitive.
It will be interesting to see what might take its place.
Even now, with a five year wait for signing up again, it has reduced the gamers who challenged for Platinum, send it until they "soft landed" to Gold, used that a year, then began the cycle over again.
But I'd guess upper management felt they were handing out too many elite status cards to potential valued flyers who proved to be less than high value customers.