Jan 2, 2016, 10:53 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
HELP DESK & FAQ: AAdvantage Elite Status Challenge (Gold and Platinum)
The 2016 AAdvantage Gold and Elite status challenges are now obsolete.
See HELP DESK & FAQ: 2017 Gold and Platinum status Challenge for the current Challenge thread
The 2016 AAdvantage Gold and Elite status challenges are now obsolete.
See HELP DESK & FAQ: 2017 Gold and Platinum status Challenge for the current Challenge thread
American Airlines initiated a new AAdvantage Gold and Platinum elite status challenge for 2016, available to anyone, (unless they have attempted or completed a recent challenge, or are trying to use a challenge to regain status). There is no publicly available documentation currently. Please update here as the information becomes available, e.g. signup fees.
Call +1.888.697-5636 for details and to sign up.
NOTE: There are also Corporate and Targeted status challenges offered to some levels of certain companies or targeted subgroups (LinkedIn had one, Founders Card may still offer one); some may offer up to Executive Platinum status. These differ significantly from this challenge offered the general flying public for a fee, and are discussed here.
Frequently Asked Questions and Requirements
Q. What are the requirements for successfully completing a Challenge?
- Gold status: earn 7,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) in 3 months (not 90 days). Signup fee (non-refundable): $120.00 for start date in Jan 2016, $100 in April 2016, $140 on June 16 2016
- Platinum status: earn 12,500 EQM in 3 months; signup fee (non-refundable) $200.00 for start date in Jan 2016, $180 in April 2016, $240 on June 16 2016. As of October 15 2016 it was $200.
Q. When can I sign up for a Challenge? Can I backdate to include flown flights? How far out can I enroll?
Start dates are now anytime, not a particular date, and may be backdated two weeks (although at least one member was denied in a request to backdate). You probably won't be allowed to engage farther than six weeks out.
Q. How long will Challenge-earned elite status last?
Challenges started prior to 16 June 2016 earn status good through 28 Feb 2017; challenges started 16 June or after earn status good through 31 Jan 2018. (It is the start date, not the date of the phone call or the date the challenge is completed, that matters.)
Q. Are there restrictions on earning EQM for the Challenge?
Yes. To qualify, EQM must be earned on flights marketed* by AA's Joint Business Venture partners:
- AA American Airlines
- AY Finnair
- BA British Airways
- IB Iberia
- JL Japan Airlines
- QF Qantas
* "AA marketed" = AA flight is displayed on your boarding pass
AA marketed fights earn as if flying AA, regardless of operating carrier. AY, BA and IB marketed flights must be operated by a oneworld airline; normally, JL and QF are the exceptions to this requirement.
Q. How many EQM do I earn per flown mile?
On AA marketed flights (AA flight on your boarding pass - regardless of operating carrier) you may earn, on qualifying paid fares:
- 3 EQM per base mile flown on full F, J fares
- 2 EQM per base mile flown in discounted Business and First fares
- 1 EQM minimum per base mile in all other qualifying fares
- 1.5 EQM maximum on all eligible First, Business and Premium Economy fares
- 1.0 EQM on the most expensive economy fares (full Y and maybe one or two other fares, depending on marketing airline)
- 0.5 or 0.25 EQM on most paid discount economy fares
- 0 EQM on some paid economy fares, dependent on marketing airline and fare class
Q. Will my credit card that pays to $200 incidental fees cover paying for the challenge?
Reports from members indicate your credit card might indeed credit you up to $200 for your challenge fee.
Q. Where can I learn more about earning EQM on AA and partner airlines?
Read Earning AA Elite Qualifying Miles / EQM on AA, oneworld, partner airlines 2016 (particularly the wikipost at the top of the page) for further information about earning EQM on AA and its partners.
Q. Do status or class of service bonus miles in Business and First count toward my Challenge or "normal" status?
No. Class of service, status (and all "bonus") miles are Award (Redeemable) miles, not Elite Qualifying.
Q. I know for "normal" status one must fly four segments at least marketed by AA, or AAdvantage elite status will not be granted. Is this true for completing a Challenge?
No. You may earn Gold or Platinum status flying qualifying AY, BA, IB, JL or QF marketed flights for Challenge-earned AAdvantage status. (The four AA marketed flights requirement for normal status earning will no longer be in place in 2017.)
Q. How can I calculate miles flown for EQM calculations on partner airlines?
Distance calculations may be made reasonably with Great Circle Mapper (link).
Q. Can I qualify by any other measure, such as EQD spend or Elite Qualifying Segments?
No. Only by EQM as defined previously.
Q. I've noticed some have been granted Gold upon enrollment. Can I?
Those with status on competing airlines may be granted interim AAdvantage Gold status while flying a Platinum challenge. A few others may get lucky, but don't expect being granted interim status easily.
Q. Do I automatically gain Gold status when I earn 7,000 EQM on my Platinum Challenge?
No, you will not. There may be reports of one or two members requesting Gold once they've earned 7,000 EQM and being granted Gold status, but this does not seem to be a norm.
Q. If I earn Platinum through a Challenge, can I earn Platinum Pro with 25,000 EQM or Executive Platinum (EP) with 50,000 more EQM?
No. You must earn the full number of required EQM, EQS (and EQD in or after 2017) to earn higher status, regardless of Challenge status.
Q. Do I earn bonus miles, etc. on the flight I cross my Challenge threshold?
No. Status is awarded after the flight upon which the required threshold was crossed (some years ago, it was during and miles earning benefits applied to the earning flight - that has changed).
Q. Will my new status update automatically on my account and previously booked flights? Will my new status benefits be available automatically? How long does it take?
Once your miles post in your account, your status will normally update. But you might have to call AAdvantage Customer Service to have Your existing PNRs updated. The AA agent will remove, re-enter your AAdvantage number, which will cause the record to update.
Q. How often can I sign up for a Challenge?
First, one can not extend or retain status made through a Challenge with a subsequent Challenge. As well, knowledgeable members have posted AA generally allows two "status exceptions" in a five year period, and the Challenge is considered as a status exception. Buying status back would be considered a status exception as well.
NOTE: AA has announced changes to Award (redeemable) Mile earning effective 1 Aug 2016. This has no effect on elite qualifying miles and therefore no effect on completing the challenge. See Earning AA Award ("Redeemable") Miles / RDM earning in later 2016 on American Airlines and its partner airlines]
Elite Status Challenge and Flyertalk History
The now defunct original AAdvantage elite Gold and Platinum status challenge is archived; thread can be read here.
The original EQ Points based challenge lasted a number of years. It was AFAIK first documented systematically by FT member FewMiles, who had it on his web pages with other status-earning information.
First FT thread about the challenge was started 17 Dec 1998: The Elite Challenge
On a fateful day, 26 Jun 2000, FewMiles asked about taking the challenge in this post; fish on!
On 27 Oct 2000, FewMiles starts a new thread announcing a web page for his Unofficial guide to AAdvantage - elite status, Gold/Plat challenge ....
It appears this 18 year old program has been selected by the new management to continue going forward so AA can offer a shortcut to status that they possibly feel is more rewarding (to AA) and effective than merely handing out status matches to anyone with status in another airline / alliance.
Updated 31 July by JDiver
Note: there is a "reingagement challenge" to get back miles lost for inactivity within the last five years, which can be read about here: How to Reactivate / Restore Expired Miles – Reengagement Challenge (consolidated)
ARCHIVE: HELP DESK & FAQ: 2016 AA Elite Status Challenge
Jan 9, 2016, 7:58 am
#151
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA Gold, SPG Gold, MR Gold, AA Plat Pro, HH Gold
Posts: 154
Has anyone been asked to show proof before they did platinum challenge? I was going to call and see if they would give me the option... Just for fun lol. I have no status with AA yet. ***Edit*** I did see someone responded and said they were NOT required to show proof. Has that been the case for everyone? Thanks 
Signed up for Plat today. I have a RT SFO-SJU next week that will net 11,100 EQM per the CSR. Asked for Gold to be honored right away since I'll pass the threshold in one flight, offered to send proof of status with UA as well and was denied. CSR stated that once I surpass 7,000 EQM I'll immediately be given Gold while completing my Plat challenge. I haven't heard of this being the case before. I'll update after.
Jan 9, 2016, 8:01 am
#152
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,305
For the challenge
BA flight# - even if AA operated - earns 150% for I class, right?
BA flight# - even if AA operated - earns 150% for I class, right?
Jan 9, 2016, 8:32 am
#153
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
Jan 9, 2016, 11:35 am
#154
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
Jan 9, 2016, 2:57 pm
#155
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3
Code Share
Hi, looking to do a PLT challenge - trying to understand the codeshare requirements. I will travelling from MEL-LAX on an AA flight number but QF metal in booking class N.
Will this receive the 1 EQM rate as it is an AA flight number, or the 0.5 EQM rate as it is a codeshare? Thanks
Will this receive the 1 EQM rate as it is an AA flight number, or the 0.5 EQM rate as it is a codeshare? Thanks
Jan 9, 2016, 7:16 pm
#156
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 21
Sorry to be the stupid question guy again but, following on from the above question about flying on QF metal: I'm flying on QF metal and flight number in class O, so is the EQM multiplier 50% or 25% of 50%? The AA chart says 'EQM per mile flown' as opposed to 'EQM per base mile' or 'mile earned' which is why i just wanted to clarify.
Also is it correct that AA plat status (from the 12.5k EQM challenge) gives you Oneworld business lounge access for a year?
Cheers
Also is it correct that AA plat status (from the 12.5k EQM challenge) gives you Oneworld business lounge access for a year?
Cheers
Jan 9, 2016, 7:16 pm
#157
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: NYC
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 28
First, this isn't the delta forum, so I'm not sure what MQM is... Sorry, sorry, I had to do it. 
If you sign up for and satisfy the challenge now, that sorts you for this year. You then have this calendar year to qualify for status "the normal way". So if you rack up 50,000 EQMs this year (even counting the ones you earned from the challenge), you'll be platinum for the rest of this year (if you weren't already) and all of next.
Sorry, sorry, I had to do it. If you sign up for and satisfy the challenge now, that sorts you for this year. You then have this calendar year to qualify for status "the normal way". So if you rack up 50,000 EQMs this year (even counting the ones you earned from the challenge), you'll be platinum for the rest of this year (if you weren't already) and all of next.
Jan 10, 2016, 5:48 am
#158
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Isn't Gold status the 25K level with AA?
Jan 10, 2016, 8:08 am
#159
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
Yes. In general, AA will temporarily "match" any elite status level on any (US-based, at least) airline to AA Gold during a Platinum challenge; AA won't, in general, match to any higher level, even for customers with a higher equivalent status on the competitor airline.
Jan 10, 2016, 2:48 pm
#160
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Gold Elite, Lowly kettle across every other loyalty program.
Posts: 778
I called. Two exceptions (challenge, purchase) for earning status within five years.
Jan 10, 2016, 6:13 pm
#161
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
"Two exceptions (challenge, purchase, misc. other exceptions) for earning status within five years."
As there are profitability-based exceptions, suuperclosetothreshold exceptions and a few others. No doubt that previous challenges and buy-backs are the vast majority, but it's -slightly- more complicated than you were told, unsurprisingly.
Jan 10, 2016, 6:31 pm
#162
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AA LP pleb, QR Plat., Bonvoy Ti, IHG Diamond Amb, Foolish Hoarder of Miles, Fid. Def.
Posts: 125
Hi, looking to do a PLT challenge - trying to understand the codeshare requirements. I will travelling from MEL-LAX on an AA flight number but QF metal in booking class N.
Will this receive the 1 EQM rate as it is an AA flight number, or the 0.5 EQM rate as it is a codeshare? Thanks
Will this receive the 1 EQM rate as it is an AA flight number, or the 0.5 EQM rate as it is a codeshare? Thanks
Jan 11, 2016, 11:30 am
#163
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1
I just called CS today (before reading this thread) and was informed:
Gold Challenge: $120 to enter, 7000 EQM
Platinum Challenge: $200 to enter, 12500 EQM, instant Gold status for the duration of the challenge
Both challenges can be backdated to 1/1/16 or postdated 2 weeks.
Gold Challenge: $120 to enter, 7000 EQM
Platinum Challenge: $200 to enter, 12500 EQM, instant Gold status for the duration of the challenge
Both challenges can be backdated to 1/1/16 or postdated 2 weeks.
Jan 11, 2016, 11:34 am
#164
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
As I understand it, if it's an AA marketed flight (which the AA flight number would tend to indicate), it earns miles under the AA terms regardless of whose metal is actually whizzing through the air. So 1 EQM/mile, which should cover a pretty good chunk of your PLT challenge requirement.
Jan 11, 2016, 2:15 pm
#165
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
As I understand it, if it's an AA marketed flight (which the AA flight number would tend to indicate), it earns miles under the AA terms regardless of whose metal is actually whizzing through the air. So 1 EQM/mile, which should cover a pretty good chunk of your PLT challenge requirement.