Nov 17, 2015, 10:51 am
Last edit by: JDiver
2016 Program Year Elite Status Buyback / Renew / Boost (consolidated)
In previous years, AA (and US) has offered those who failed to requalify for elite status the opportunity to buy back or "boost" status for the following status year. AA offers the program once again for c/y 2015 - status year 2016 (29 Feb 2016 - 28 Feb 2017 <sic>), as shown in a new FAQ on aa.com.
Q. How long do I have to purchase the offer?
Offers must be purchased by July 31, 2016, unless otherwise stated.
(2016) American Airlines Elite Status Offer Program
Secure Your Elite Status for 2016 (Link)
Frequently Asked Questions (Link)
Chart with requirements and costs (Link)
Secure Your Elite Status for 2016 (Link)
Frequently Asked Questions (Link)
Chart with requirements and costs (Link)
2016 Program Year Elite Status Buyback / Renew / Boost (consolidated)
Dec 10, 2015, 3:45 pm
#226
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
You will lose out on points. $1800 spent on the renewal will not earn the points that travelling would give you , but will save you wasting time taking flights for the sake of taking flights
It will cost you more since it will be $1800 for renewal plus the price of the deferred trip rather than just $1800
Dec 10, 2015, 3:49 pm
#227
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,646
Should I:
1) Try to get on a flight from PHX to JFK during the holidays for 4300 miles (I think) and $375 and keep my Platinum status. Can someone confirm this is right.
2) I can "boost" up to Platinum for $699 and save myself 10 hours of flying and missing my family
3) I've also heard I can wait until next year and do a "challenge" to get Platinum or possibly EP. I plan on doing a lot of travel early next year and would also consider a crazy mileage run to meet the challenge requirements. Does anyone have details on what or how this would happen?
1) Try to get on a flight from PHX to JFK during the holidays for 4300 miles (I think) and $375 and keep my Platinum status. Can someone confirm this is right.
2) I can "boost" up to Platinum for $699 and save myself 10 hours of flying and missing my family
3) I've also heard I can wait until next year and do a "challenge" to get Platinum or possibly EP. I plan on doing a lot of travel early next year and would also consider a crazy mileage run to meet the challenge requirements. Does anyone have details on what or how this would happen?
The options for me would be: $699 cash VS $375 + 10 hours flying.
mmm...only you can answer the above...
Dec 10, 2015, 3:57 pm
#228
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA EXP, AA LT Gold, SPG Plat 75
Posts: 890
I have Platinum right now and love it. I am about 3500 miles short of retaining platinum for next year.
I am really more interested in figuring out a way to get to EP, however, I would keep Platinum if EP is unreachable. I could use some help figuring out my best course of action.
Should I:
1) Try to get on a flight from PHX to JFK during the holidays for 4300 miles (I think) and $375 and keep my Platinum status. Can someone confirm this is right.
2) I can "boost" up to Platinum for $699 and save myself 10 hours of flying and missing my family
3) I've also heard I can wait until next year and do a "challenge" to get Platinum or possibly EP. I plan on doing a lot of travel early next year and would also consider a crazy mileage run to meet the challenge requirements. Does anyone have details on what or how this would happen?
Thanks in advance!
I am really more interested in figuring out a way to get to EP, however, I would keep Platinum if EP is unreachable. I could use some help figuring out my best course of action.
Should I:
1) Try to get on a flight from PHX to JFK during the holidays for 4300 miles (I think) and $375 and keep my Platinum status. Can someone confirm this is right.
2) I can "boost" up to Platinum for $699 and save myself 10 hours of flying and missing my family
3) I've also heard I can wait until next year and do a "challenge" to get Platinum or possibly EP. I plan on doing a lot of travel early next year and would also consider a crazy mileage run to meet the challenge requirements. Does anyone have details on what or how this would happen?
Thanks in advance!
Example:
Wed Dec 16 ($131)
AA# 1738: 01:50 am PHX - 05:04 am DFW
AA# 165: 06:00 am DFW - 07:38 am PHX
Edit: Even cheaper on the 17th, so you could do it all for $242:
Thu Dec 16 ($111)
AA# 1738: 01:50 am PHX - 05:04 am DFW
AA# 452: 06:05 am DFW - 07:40 am PHX
Edit #2: If you really want to do JFK, you could do PHX-JFK on the night of the 13th at 10pm, with an immediate turn around and be back at 10am Monday the 14th for $291.
Last edited by Phasers; Dec 10, 2015 at 4:04 pm
Dec 10, 2015, 4:27 pm
#229
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,608
I have Platinum right now and love it. I am about 3500 miles short of retaining platinum for next year.
I am really more interested in figuring out a way to get to EP, however, I would keep Platinum if EP is unreachable. I could use some help figuring out my best course of action.
Should I:
1) Try to get on a flight from PHX to JFK during the holidays for 4300 miles (I think) and $375 and keep my Platinum status. Can someone confirm this is right.
2) I can "boost" up to Platinum for $699 and save myself 10 hours of flying and missing my family
3) I've also heard I can wait until next year and do a "challenge" to get Platinum or possibly EP. I plan on doing a lot of travel early next year and would also consider a crazy mileage run to meet the challenge requirements. Does anyone have details on what or how this would happen?
Thanks in advance!
I am really more interested in figuring out a way to get to EP, however, I would keep Platinum if EP is unreachable. I could use some help figuring out my best course of action.
Should I:
1) Try to get on a flight from PHX to JFK during the holidays for 4300 miles (I think) and $375 and keep my Platinum status. Can someone confirm this is right.
2) I can "boost" up to Platinum for $699 and save myself 10 hours of flying and missing my family
3) I've also heard I can wait until next year and do a "challenge" to get Platinum or possibly EP. I plan on doing a lot of travel early next year and would also consider a crazy mileage run to meet the challenge requirements. Does anyone have details on what or how this would happen?
Thanks in advance!
Dec 10, 2015, 6:54 pm
#230
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
I have Platinum right now and love it. I am about 3500 miles short of retaining platinum for next year.
I am really more interested in figuring out a way to get to EP, however, I would keep Platinum if EP is unreachable. I could use some help figuring out my best course of action.
Should I:
1) Try to get on a flight from PHX to JFK during the holidays for 4300 miles (I think) and $375 and keep my Platinum status. Can someone confirm this is right.
2) I can "boost" up to Platinum for $699 and save myself 10 hours of flying and missing my family
3) I've also heard I can wait until next year and do a "challenge" to get Platinum or possibly EP. I plan on doing a lot of travel early next year and would also consider a crazy mileage run to meet the challenge requirements. Does anyone have details on what or how this would happen?
Thanks in advance!
I am really more interested in figuring out a way to get to EP, however, I would keep Platinum if EP is unreachable. I could use some help figuring out my best course of action.
Should I:
1) Try to get on a flight from PHX to JFK during the holidays for 4300 miles (I think) and $375 and keep my Platinum status. Can someone confirm this is right.
2) I can "boost" up to Platinum for $699 and save myself 10 hours of flying and missing my family
3) I've also heard I can wait until next year and do a "challenge" to get Platinum or possibly EP. I plan on doing a lot of travel early next year and would also consider a crazy mileage run to meet the challenge requirements. Does anyone have details on what or how this would happen?
Thanks in advance!
Dec 11, 2015, 11:23 am
#231
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 9
I'm assuming you are in PHX from your post. You could do a couple PHX-DFW turns for ~$130. Each RT would net you 1736 miles, so 2 would be 3,472, right around 3500 for about $260-$270 total.
Example:
Wed Dec 16 ($131)
AA# 1738: 01:50 am PHX - 05:04 am DFW
AA# 165: 06:00 am DFW - 07:38 am PHX
Edit: Even cheaper on the 17th, so you could do it all for $242:
Thu Dec 16 ($111)
AA# 1738: 01:50 am PHX - 05:04 am DFW
AA# 452: 06:05 am DFW - 07:40 am PHX
Edit #2: If you really want to do JFK, you could do PHX-JFK on the night of the 13th at 10pm, with an immediate turn around and be back at 10am Monday the 14th for $291.
Example:
Wed Dec 16 ($131)
AA# 1738: 01:50 am PHX - 05:04 am DFW
AA# 165: 06:00 am DFW - 07:38 am PHX
Edit: Even cheaper on the 17th, so you could do it all for $242:
Thu Dec 16 ($111)
AA# 1738: 01:50 am PHX - 05:04 am DFW
AA# 452: 06:05 am DFW - 07:40 am PHX
Edit #2: If you really want to do JFK, you could do PHX-JFK on the night of the 13th at 10pm, with an immediate turn around and be back at 10am Monday the 14th for $291.
Dec 11, 2015, 11:24 am
#232
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 9
10 hours of flying for me doesn't really matter much. I'll sleep and/or work most of it. Not the most fun thing in the world but if it gets me status for an entire year it's worth it.
Dec 11, 2015, 11:54 am
#233
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
Bear in mind that you presumably have status until March 1st. and that you do not have to buy the boost until then. So you have some leeway to decide if you take that route and then a challenge is offered. However if you decide to do the flying then you do indeed have to get it in before January 1st.
Dec 11, 2015, 11:57 am
#234
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Duluth, GA
Programs: AAdvantage PLT, AA 2MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,268
wonder how much revenue this elite status buy-up/retain/boost program with generate?
not close enough to EXP for this to be an issue myself, content with PLT for 2016
happy landings, FT'ers
not close enough to EXP for this to be an issue myself, content with PLT for 2016
happy landings, FT'ers
Dec 11, 2015, 2:20 pm
#235
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
It probably serves more than one purpose: it provides a means for someone who can really get their money's worth out of the status to boost or renew; it generates some revenue; and it allows them to handle people who say they are only a few miles short. It must at least be worth the trouble of administering it and it does cushion people whose earning plans go wrong.
Dec 16, 2015, 6:17 pm
#236
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, UK. AA EXP 5MM; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Ambassador Lifetime Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 254
Problem with cost of renewal
I am currently at 86k points and received the offer email a couple of weeks ago to retain EXP for $2,499. However, I have a paid Club Europe flight on BA LCY to GVA this week and a paid Business Class flight from LHR to MIA next week. Obviously this won't take me to EXP, but will I still have to pay $2,499, or is it pro-rated to the miles flown?
I am now at 96K points and when I tried to buy the offer, which should have been $1,199; it insisted that I must still pay $2,499. Any idea what I should do?
Dec 16, 2015, 8:32 pm
#237
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
I would try calling if the points have shown up in your account, there may be some internal update lag. Otherwise you could wait a bit if you aren't in a hurry.
Dec 17, 2015, 12:43 pm
#238
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 53
Bear in mind that you presumably have status until March 1st. and that you do not have to buy the boost until then. So you have some leeway to decide if you take that route and then a challenge is offered. However if you decide to do the flying then you do indeed have to get it in before January 1st.
I dont think anyone can cut it any closer than I have managed this year. I am counting on a Dec 31 return from Europe to get me just over the 100K EQM (and 100K EQP) mark. If I dont make the trip on Dec31, can I at least pay $1199 after Jan1 to requalify for EXP?
Dec 17, 2015, 2:19 pm
#239
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
I think that you actually have until July 31 on re-reading them. They speak somewhat ambiguously of the end of February but I think that just means that the qualifying status is that which you hold through then.
Dec 17, 2015, 7:22 pm
#240
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver (Thanks Marriott!), Marriott Lifetime Titanium & Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 643
Interesting offer... I was 1503 miles short of renewing EXP on Monday and they wanted $1,199 to renew. I was lucky to take a same day RT ticket PHL>FLL yesterday for $151. I'm now a renewed EXP for next year.
AA's calculations are way out of line.
AA's calculations are way out of line.