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)
Nov 18, 2015, 9:16 am
#61
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYZ/SFO
Programs: AS MVPG, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 271
Nov 18, 2015, 9:26 am
#62
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: United 1K; AA Platinum
Posts: 326
Is it really garbage? It seems like free MCE and the higher status level to use 500-mile upgrade certs would make it worth boosting to PLT over gold. I considered doing a status match challenge with UA (hub in my hometown), but as United Gold (the match tier for AA PLT) my upgrade chances would be literally 0%.
Nov 18, 2015, 10:35 am
#63
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago O'Hare
Programs: AA EXP, LT PLT 2.6MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 678
Incorrect. I am EXP, at 95K EQM right now. The offer is $1199 for me. I have two trips planned in December which should get me there, however. But, if they somehow cancel, I can still boost to EXP without hitting the 100K EQM threshold.
Nov 18, 2015, 10:55 am
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,698
Gold with 31K miles this year and no offer given to me when I log in. I'm thinking that once I hit 35K miles, there will be an offer to boost to Plat.
Nov 18, 2015, 11:11 am
#65
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Plat at 53K and change so far this year. No offer and not surprised.
Safe Travels
Safe Travels
Nov 18, 2015, 11:32 am
#66
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Gold Elite, Lowly kettle across every other loyalty program.
Posts: 778
$649 to maintain Gold. 9K miles/10 segments coming in December, majority in P. Will check at end of year, but only reasons would be 40% RDM bonus under new program, and free preferred seats. Lots of STL-PHL trips next year (at least 1/month), so not sure if it's worth it.
Nov 18, 2015, 12:01 pm
#67
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 387
Sorry if I missed this. What's the minimum EQM to get an EXP boost offer? And, is that offer the same for Plats as it is for EXP?
Nov 18, 2015, 12:04 pm
#68
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago O'Hare
Programs: AA EXP, LT PLT 2.6MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 678
Nov 18, 2015, 12:42 pm
#69
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: AA Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 1,199
At 28,393 EQP, offered $1199 for PLT, will drop to GLD next year
Nov 18, 2015, 1:03 pm
#70
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BUR
Programs: AA, DL Platinum, AS, AF/KL, UA, VS, HA, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,788
Nov 18, 2015, 1:05 pm
#71
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 125
Nov 18, 2015, 2:01 pm
#72
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
$649 to maintain Gold status. Will pass, since I have an AUS-DFW-MAD flight (Y and I booking codes) in December which should give me enough EQPs to keep Gold.
Nov 18, 2015, 6:03 pm
#73
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 122
Current Status = EXP
=============
Points: 74,688 of 100,000 (YTD)
Miles: 87,402 of 100,000 (YTD)
Segments: 118 of 120 (YTD)
Booked Travel through 12/31
==================
6 segments
6,711 miles
Offer
=============
$1199 to retain EXP
My Response
========
No thanks...
=============
Points: 74,688 of 100,000 (YTD)
Miles: 87,402 of 100,000 (YTD)
Segments: 118 of 120 (YTD)
Booked Travel through 12/31
==================
6 segments
6,711 miles
Offer
=============
$1199 to retain EXP
My Response
========
No thanks...
Nov 18, 2015, 10:18 pm
#74
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 12
Worth it to get Gold?
Hey guys,
I'm a relatively light traveler, but have been doing some short-haul flights from BOS to PHL lately. This year I've done 17 segments so I can pay $650 to get Gold. I've never had status before so this is new to me. I expect to do around 1-2 short haul round-trip flights a month (so I estimate ~30 segments a year), and I'll prob do a few longer flights, possibly 1 international and 2-3 cross-country flights.
I've been reading up on the benefits of Gold and seems like for short-haul flights under 500 miles, there's the potential for upgrades there (obviously it depends on availability).
Do you guys think this is worth it?
I think the under-500 miles upgrade chances is prob the strongest selling point for me but I honestly don't have a great idea of how often this will happen for BOS-PHL flights. Also curious as to what you guys think about the other benefits of Gold.
I also just got the citi prestige card so AC lounge access is nice and I'm not thinking about getting the Exec card.
Thanks!
I'm a relatively light traveler, but have been doing some short-haul flights from BOS to PHL lately. This year I've done 17 segments so I can pay $650 to get Gold. I've never had status before so this is new to me. I expect to do around 1-2 short haul round-trip flights a month (so I estimate ~30 segments a year), and I'll prob do a few longer flights, possibly 1 international and 2-3 cross-country flights.
I've been reading up on the benefits of Gold and seems like for short-haul flights under 500 miles, there's the potential for upgrades there (obviously it depends on availability).
Do you guys think this is worth it?
I think the under-500 miles upgrade chances is prob the strongest selling point for me but I honestly don't have a great idea of how often this will happen for BOS-PHL flights. Also curious as to what you guys think about the other benefits of Gold.
I also just got the citi prestige card so AC lounge access is nice and I'm not thinking about getting the Exec card.
Thanks!
Nov 18, 2015, 10:50 pm
#75
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 743
$649 to boost to Gold. No current status. Going to pass since I have 32K EQM booked for the first two weeks of January. 
Have only about 12k EQM for 2015. Flew about twice that but the rest was awards.
Have only about 12k EQM for 2015. Flew about twice that but the rest was awards.