stant

Man what a buzzkill this thread is! you guys have this newbie CK downing bottle after bottle of tums worrying about requalifying! Ive already transferred most all my spend to my citi card, and just canceled an international j saver award for a $8k revenue seat. I'm like an addict jonesing for my next loyalty point...

StiTChEs37

If they don’t allow for rollover, then unless you are relatively certain you’d meet the thresholds for each 4-month block, then I’d be hesitant.

My sense is that successfully completing this challenge would (effectively) earn CK at the end of this year, which would last through March ‘25 - and I’d be worried that accepting, but then failing to complete it might jeopardize your chance of CK for the upcoming qualification period (for status ending March ‘25).

If memory serves me correctly, previous CK challenges were often saying to earn ~15k - 20k EQD in the last quarter to make qualification. Whereas this is… spend ~90k throughout the year (or charge a fortune on your credit card).

I very much hope that they would do their typical mid-year CK evaluation (if not more frequently this year given how many are rapidly resuming travel). So unless you can hit the 1M LP, then I’d prob wait it out for the typical evaluation cycles.

I already have equivalent of ~30k EQD in mostly premium TATL travel on AA metal - will prob end the year at equivalent of 70 or 80k EQD - and if that doesn’t get CK through the next review cycle, then that’ll be my cue to switch to UA.

StiTChEs37

3M is an impressively high number! May I ask what portion would be on AA metal - so, what would have been your EQD in the old system.

They used to care mostly about profitability - as I knew several folks with 50 to 60k EQD, but was doing multiple domestic Econ flights a week… and they didn’t make the cut. Seems with significant CC spend (likely as a business credit card), profitability isn’t as much of a concern.

ikwia

I ended up doing the 4 AC passes. I probably won't have a good opportunity to use any of the options, and I figure I'll have more opportunities to use AC passes. Also, my most likely connection point is DFW and it is generally not worth heading over to the D gates to use the FL (even when I was CK I rarely headed over there).

BigVOP

Agree, Go for the loyalty points. The more loyalty points the better your chances to get invited. forget about flying, just use your credit card to pay your compan expenses, college expense, everything. The problam that AA is going to face and I think this is the massive mistake they make this year, is that they are rewarding the credit card users and forgetting about the loyal flyers that pay for the last minute plane ticket. Those loyal flyers are switching to other airlines that are offering similar level status as CK.

HaleiwaFlyer

Can I give you a personal spoiler for how your new year CK will end? Or you don’t want to know, keep the addiction going, and just keep on spending?

stant

I dont know, I didnt have a huge number of LPs last year, the only reason I can think I got CK was i transfered enough bonvoy points for a bit under a million aadvantage points on top of earning LPs. fortunately I earn a few million bonvoy points a year and rarely spend them, so I can sustain that level of conversions into the future.

Do you know the qualifications for CK? do tell. let the rest of us know.

astebel

If you are referring to my post and me as a newbie CK, I am not. I had CK for many years and then was let go. So I, as others, started in with UA since we got the status match to 1K. The promotion in my account says, this offer is being extended to select CK members. And the person I spoke with indicated there were few people he was calling. I don't know how I was selected. I really had made peace with switching metal but it was like they knew!!?? not really but out of left field and it's like an old boyfriend asking if you want to try again.

astebel

I also was preboarded with my agents who knew me for many years. Did you qualify for EP now? If so, then you got your .... YOU MADE IT TO THE TOP..... letter. In that it specifically states, "whether you qualified by credit card spend, flying, partner spend or a combination of the 3" . I remember when I had 150k+ spend for my company on the old AA card and was EP but the frequent fliers complained and you couldn't get miles. That was when it was EQD, etc. Then they started in the with the new card that went for miles several years ago and now LPs where you don't have a clue. And now they have those reward levels where you earn more with dining and shopping. I was kind of happy to have gotten off this merry go round but damn, they got me. I even got an AU AMEX plat card to use Centurion lounges to make up for FL. I am just pretty sad that my 100k+k LPs I have already accrued don't count. I would love to hear from others who were contacted.

golfer20

Am EXP, called in to the EXP desk and got routed to CK - really nice service - does that happen sometimes?

ikwia

Unless you're lying, apparently it does ;-)

On a more serious note, I had this happen a few times before I became CK. On at least one occasion I inquired, and the agent revealed she had simply answered the phone incorrectly.

snydert

With last year in the bag, we can all uncomfortably fidget for the next 9 months as we await next year's requalification...or not...

stant

? no. read what I wrote again.

HaleiwaFlyer

I was referencing your prior quote: "Ive already transferred most all my spend to my citi card, and just canceled an international j saver award for a $8k revenue seat. I'm like an addict jonesing for my next loyalty point."

My comment was not about qualification, as no one knows. But I was going to advocate to not spend more than you would organically on AA. To give up an award ticket using miles that depreciate in value, versus using your hard earned post-tax dollars is painful to watch as an outsider.

At the end: You will get occasional golf cart rides, occasional tarmac rides, very good customer service line, and very good IRROPs handling. Worth it or not is up to you. My honest opinion is that outside organic spending, CK is not worth chasing. There are poster's here with high spend, I believe one based out of Vail who spent 70k, and did not get a CK invite. Better to use that money to get: Five Star Service or other airline's chauffeur service; or if you fly out of LAX, private lounges. Don't get me wrong, CKs get treated very well on the ground, but I would use those funds for other international airline's J/F class if they provide similar routes/times.

stant

up until the introduction of loyalty points I always would spend at least the minimum amount to get executive platinum. after last year, I didn't have to. I had a big stash of miles, and a fairly large credit card spend. I could have qualified on spend alone and not bought a single ticket for a very, very long time. That said, miles are still very valuable to me as I use them for travel when my son or better half is tagging along. I often get 5 or more cents per mile out of them and since I actually buy first or business if I dont use miles, every dollar saved by using miles is an actual dollar earned.

Most of my travel is for leisure, but that said I live a busy life. Getting delayed a day here or there could literally be not quite the end of the world, but close. Not too long ago I had a million dollar deal that I came literally seconds from missing out on, and only snagged it because I got desperate and tired of being on hold to rebook a canceled flight, so I called my home admirals lounge and got someone on the line who knows me and was willing to make other passengers wait while they helped me re-book. And even then I was doing 100 mph down the expressway, running all the way through the terminal and LITERALLY jumped over a small child, old oj simpson tv commercial style when the kid darted out from behind the mom... Having someone watch out for me during irrops is absolutely priceless to me. I had actually been considering buying an airpass, even though for my most frequent flights it would be a money loser for me, just to get CK...

My only, and I mean my ONLY complaint about CK is that there is no published qualifications. I was surprised when i got it this year. Last year I had x spend y credit card spend and Z points transferred in from Marriott. I know I can do better than XYZ this year without any trouble. If that doesnt get me renewed for CK again, well then I'll have a bunch of miles to burn and AA will have made me a loyal united customer I guess.