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 17, 2015, 8:59 pm
#241
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,921
I would assume that they wouldn't bother if people didn't buy but I have always thought they were excessive. I think that the US buy miles offer was rather more reasonable.
Dec 25, 2015, 4:55 pm
#242
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 2
Exec Plat - Boost or Fly
Looking for guidance. I will end up 379 miles short if i don't take one more leg before Dec 31. Problem is i am already on a run, and return Dec 30. I also have talked to AAdvantage help desk; they have submitted an exception for me, but no guarantees, and will take about 4 weeks to adjudicate. So, do i take a quick run on Dec 31 (cost about $325), or wait for their decision? If they decide no, i can still boost for $1199. Thoughts??
Dec 25, 2015, 4:58 pm
#243
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Depends on your own risk tolerance but you basically have to ask yourself if you are going to be upset if they say no and you have to pay $1199 when you could've spent $325 on Dec 31 that's essentially the trade-off.
If it were me I'd rather put the miles in the bank for $325 instead of risking $1199 if they say no but YMMV.
If it were me I'd rather put the miles in the bank for $325 instead of risking $1199 if they say no but YMMV.
Dec 25, 2015, 6:49 pm
#244
Join Date: May 2007
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors-Diamond, Marriott-Silver, SPG-Gold
Posts: 391
If it were me I would fly. Costs less and you know you'll get the miles. Is there any way to make a change to your current run to pickup the additional 379 miles?
Dec 25, 2015, 7:33 pm
#245
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
Welcome to Flyertalk.
We have merged your query into the existing thread to discuss this topic.
This way, we hopefully avoid information fragmentation, and members can find information, ask and answer questions and maintain discussion continuity rather than try to determine which of dozens of threads might have the answer - or lose the discussion. We do this because this is a very large and active forum (even Christmas - at the moment, we have 243 (47 members & 196 guests) reading and participating in this forum alone.
We hope you will find our forum and Flyertalk welcoming and most helpful to your travel.
/Moderator
As to your question, I'd use Google Flights, enter your starting point and define which airline(s) you want and go flying, myself. AA has been much less prone to grant exceptions now that they've monetized keeping status when there's even a small EQM deficit.
We have merged your query into the existing thread to discuss this topic.
This way, we hopefully avoid information fragmentation, and members can find information, ask and answer questions and maintain discussion continuity rather than try to determine which of dozens of threads might have the answer - or lose the discussion. We do this because this is a very large and active forum (even Christmas - at the moment, we have 243 (47 members & 196 guests) reading and participating in this forum alone.
We hope you will find our forum and Flyertalk welcoming and most helpful to your travel.
/Moderator
As to your question, I'd use Google Flights, enter your starting point and define which airline(s) you want and go flying, myself. AA has been much less prone to grant exceptions now that they've monetized keeping status when there's even a small EQM deficit.
Dec 26, 2015, 9:32 am
#246
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
Agree. I'd fly and just not worry about it. I certainly wouldn't rely on AA CS to get you an exception and I definitely wouldn't pay $1199 for 379 miles either.
Dec 26, 2015, 8:31 pm
#247
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 818
Does anyone know if you can use AA gift cards for a status boost? I got the Gold upgrade offer for 6 hundred something. I have several gift cards that I'd like to use if I end up going ahead with it.
Dec 26, 2015, 9:24 pm
#248
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 818
Alright, I got too impatient and decided to just purchase with my card! I'll use the GCs down the road anyways.
Next question - anyone have anecdotal evidence on how long it typically takes for the elite status to go into effect? They said "within five business days," but I'm just curious if they're typically quicker than that or not. Thanks!
Next question - anyone have anecdotal evidence on how long it typically takes for the elite status to go into effect? They said "within five business days," but I'm just curious if they're typically quicker than that or not. Thanks!
Dec 27, 2015, 3:27 pm
#249
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 2
Ended up booking a roundtrip (ALB-DCA) for $320 on Dec 25. A couple days later i realized i probably should have booked a 1 way which would have given me 500 miles, and would have cost less. O well...
Dec 27, 2015, 6:25 pm
#250
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT, SPG PLT
Posts: 2
So, I'm currently ~250 miles short of requalifying for PLT. Tonight i was supposed to fly LIT-DFW-LAX, but LIT-DFW was cancelled. Now, i've been rebooked on United (no available AA flights for three days) flying tomorrow. Will I be given credit and thus retain my status? These are my last two segments for the year. What should i do? Thanks in advance for any advice/help.
Dec 27, 2015, 6:54 pm
#251
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PBI/FLL/MIA
Programs: DL DM/2MM, MR Ambassador, National EE
Posts: 1,614
So, I'm currently ~250 miles short of requalifying for PLT. Tonight i was supposed to fly LIT-DFW-LAX, but LIT-DFW was cancelled. Now, i've been rebooked on United (no available AA flights for three days) flying tomorrow. Will I be given credit and thus retain my status? These are my last two segments for the year. What should i do? Thanks in advance for any advice/help.
Dec 28, 2015, 8:18 am
#252
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 818
I bought Gold boost on Saturday evening. Account is now Gold as of this morning (Monday) at 10 am ET. Woohoo! Have a couple flights tomorrow so hope I can get upgraded 
Dec 28, 2015, 8:41 am
#253
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 464
Welcome to FT. Are they short flights? Or are you buying stickers? Maybe you can use your GCs on buying stickers? I know vouchers are usually accepted at counter, not sure about GC.
Dec 28, 2015, 9:00 am
#254
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 818
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 9_2 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/601.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) CriOS/47.0.2526.107 Mobile/13C75 Safari/601.1.46)
One is just over 500 (ABQ-DFW) and one is just under 1000 (DFW-TPA). Not worth the two 500 milers for the short flight, but I'll see about using my GCs for em at check-in tomorrow. Thanks!
One is just over 500 (ABQ-DFW) and one is just under 1000 (DFW-TPA). Not worth the two 500 milers for the short flight, but I'll see about using my GCs for em at check-in tomorrow. Thanks!
Dec 28, 2015, 9:07 am
#255
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,716
I would just caution that with the cancellations/delays that have hit DFW the last few days, I wouldn't count on getting the upgrades on any flights through DFW today or tomorrow (especially with only gold status and such a late request for upgrades). Let it be a pleasant surprise if it happens.
