mialink

Just qualified for gold next year by an extra 1000 points a couple weeks ago. Shortly after got an email to pay $1299 to remain platinum for next year.

nlkm9

awesome--thanks.now in terms of segments, even if I buy the gold status, im starting at zero segments, correct? years ago I bought a silver trial and quickly worked my way up the ladder, so to speak..wondering if there is any similarity here

jam550

I had no status this year and it was not fun. I will end the year with 21k miles, so will be eligible to buy up to Gold for $399.

I am leaning towards paying the $399 just to have the comfort and good seating choices back, but am wondering if this is financially a good decision? Is the only real quantifiable benefit to being Gold that I will earn 1.5x files flown and the 500 mile minimum for short flights? Anything else to justify me doing this?

lexicon77

You will not get 1.5x miles flown, this is based on the ticket, not your status. You also do not get complete comfort and good seating choices back, you will only have access to these for free T24, you would need Plat. to have these at the time of booking (if you are thinking of MCE)

Depending how much you fly, you may well be able to buy up to MCE on longer flights and spend less then the $399

ibrandsguest

If you have the choice between (1) paying a few hundred dollars to renew Gold status vs. (2) getting the $450 Citi AA card that has Admirals Club access, isn't getting the credit card wiser, for the following reasons?

* The card gives plenty of Gold benefits except upgrades and Main Cabin Extra.
* Upgrades are very difficult as a Gold, so you might as well just get 50,000 miles with the credit card and use those to upgrade.
* You don't get free Main Cabin Extra as a Gold until just before departure so you might as well just buy MCE seats at full price (if you fly only short domestic trips, the cost isn't too bad).

Most importantly:
* If you pay to renew Gold status, aren't you blocked from doing a fast track/challenge to get Gold again? Thus if you pay to renew Gold status, your time will run out for good after a year, while if you get the credit card, you will have fewer but longer-lasting benefits.

LINDEGR

What about for a non-elite on Y/B fares? Allowed? Used to be allowed?

JY1024

I believe used to be allowed, but now no longer allowed.

https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/t...p#terms500mile

jam550

But if I get the credit card, I have to spend something like $20,000 on it before the flying benefits kick in, right? So nothing would change until I hit that threshold several months after having it, correct?

jam550

Sorry - it looks like the benefit is 1.25x miles flown, right? This is what the site says:

◾Complimentary auto-requested upgrades on flights 500 miles or less

◾24-hour upgrade window

◾25% elite mileage bonus

◾50% off Main Cabin Extra Seats (complimentary at check-in)

◾Complimentary Preferred Seats

◾1 free checked bag

curious_t

Hi,

First time posting here, need some suggestions. I took a job on the East Coast, therefore, will be flying at least 2x a month to see the family in L.A. I was wondering what's better option for me, currently, I have roughly 10000 miles, with 1 month left, there's no way I can make status, MRs is not an option right now. Therefore, I am wondering what's better, pay $600 to boost to Gold, or wait until next year to do a challenge, if a new one comes out. I would appreciate any inputs. Thanks

Tony

ibrandsguest

Sorry, not correct. You get flight benefits (first-class check-in, earlier boarding, etc.) as soon as you have the card. The only benefit of spending tens of thousands on it are that some of the miles you earn get converted into status-qualifying miles.

arollins

This is a tough one. $600 to boost to gold, will yield you 25% RDM bonus, priority boarding, priority access. This will help out a bit for 2016 when you travel 2x a month. I would not count on challenge for 2016, as we do not know how or when it will be.

IceTrojan

Does work have a travel coordinator who could talk to AA sales about getting you status?

mialink

Just get a CC and you have most of the perks of gold until you get gold and can have free same day change if that's important. Doubt golds get many free transcon upgrades anyway. Paying for MCE for 2 or 4 trips should cost far less than $600.

corncob

I would go this route. I think a CC with bag benefits and priority boarding might set you back $95 max, if there's not one without a annual fee.

A RT transcon flight averages very roughly 4800 EQM (depending on where you are on the east coast and if it's a direct flight). You'll need 25,000 to get gold, so that would be 2.5 months (or minimum 10 flights) before you hit gold. So 10 flights @ ~$30 for MCE, and you're only at 300. Still a better deal to do the CC and earn gold that way, hoping for a challenge.