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 4, 2016, 3:20 pm
#31
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, IC Amb
Posts: 5,522
Jan 4, 2016, 3:23 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 136
Huh? AA does not have PQDs (United's premier qualifying dollars) or any equivalent. In the past, AA's challenges have been based on elite qualifying points, which no longer exist; 2016 EQMs are more like 2015 EQPs than like 2015 EQMs. AA has never offered a segment challenge (at least not to the general public).
Jan 4, 2016, 4:00 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: AA
Posts: 5
Is there any trick (extra fee or whatnot) to getting PLT status during the challenge period?
Jan 4, 2016, 4:04 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 39
Just signed up for the Plat challenge. There is no offer for ExPlat, they would not give me gold benefits off the bat, and FWIW the gold challenge costs $120.
Jan 4, 2016, 4:23 pm
#35
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Just signed up for the Plat.
Agent said 2 emails are sent within 24 hours - one with receipt for fee, second one with the challenge info.
He confirmed that the 4 AA segments are not required for this challenge.
He confirmed status will run until Feb 28, 2017. (Should I fly to achieve EXP prior then, status will be updated.)
Thanks aabrad for your suggestion to sign up. For those of us with tickets/routes that will earn well past the minimum EQM requirement, it is well worth it.
Just a suggestion - make sure to get your receipt # anyway and confirm your start date. He set mine at just prior to my first flight.
Agent said 2 emails are sent within 24 hours - one with receipt for fee, second one with the challenge info.
He confirmed that the 4 AA segments are not required for this challenge.
He confirmed status will run until Feb 28, 2017. (Should I fly to achieve EXP prior then, status will be updated.)
Thanks aabrad for your suggestion to sign up. For those of us with tickets/routes that will earn well past the minimum EQM requirement, it is well worth it.
Just a suggestion - make sure to get your receipt # anyway and confirm your start date. He set mine at just prior to my first flight.
Jan 4, 2016, 5:11 pm
#36
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, AA Platinum Pro, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 215
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 4, 2016, 5:13 pm
#37
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: OW Sapp, SPG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 291
What is the fee? Just would like to clarify, because two different messages were there.
Jan 4, 2016, 5:25 pm
#38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, AA Platinum Pro, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 215
I do have a dilemma though..
I currently have Alaska MVP Gold:
- Equivalent of AA Plat
- Free preferred/MCE seats access
- 100% miles bonus
- AS miles is worth at least as much as AA miles
AA Plat (Gold for duration of challenge):
- Free preferred seats access (Gold), MCE access (Plat)
- 25% miles bonus (Gold) / 100% miles bonus (Plat)
- oneworld Sapphire (although i just signed up for the Airberlin match so i should have that status anyway)
I will easily qualify for AA Plat through the challenge since I'm flying at the very least 3 more transcon in 90 days for work (LAX-RDU). However, I will likely not be able to make it to EP since i'll only fly short flights afterwards. LAX-PHX/SFO/SEA/SLC.
My main concern for not signing up for the challenge:
1) $200 extra since i already have status with AS
2) 25% bonus miles (instead of 100%) for the duration of challenge
3) Lack of early MCE selection (since i fly popular routes anyway LAX/DFW/ORD/SFO).
4) I don't really care for complimentary AA first class upgrades (since i fly out from LAX)
What would you do? Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated!
I currently have Alaska MVP Gold:
- Equivalent of AA Plat
- Free preferred/MCE seats access
- 100% miles bonus
- AS miles is worth at least as much as AA miles
AA Plat (Gold for duration of challenge):
- Free preferred seats access (Gold), MCE access (Plat)
- 25% miles bonus (Gold) / 100% miles bonus (Plat)
- oneworld Sapphire (although i just signed up for the Airberlin match so i should have that status anyway)
I will easily qualify for AA Plat through the challenge since I'm flying at the very least 3 more transcon in 90 days for work (LAX-RDU). However, I will likely not be able to make it to EP since i'll only fly short flights afterwards. LAX-PHX/SFO/SEA/SLC.
My main concern for not signing up for the challenge:
1) $200 extra since i already have status with AS
2) 25% bonus miles (instead of 100%) for the duration of challenge
3) Lack of early MCE selection (since i fly popular routes anyway LAX/DFW/ORD/SFO).
4) I don't really care for complimentary AA first class upgrades (since i fly out from LAX)
What would you do? Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated!
Last edited by jazzmailman; Jan 4, 2016 at 5:57 pm
Jan 4, 2016, 5:25 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, AA Platinum Pro, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 215
Jan 4, 2016, 5:51 pm
#40
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 13
How do the EQM multipliers work for a discounted business class on an AA-operated flight booked under a BA codeshare number? Would I get the 2xEQM or is it just 1.5x because I booked a flight with a BA number?
Jan 4, 2016, 5:58 pm
#41
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,065
Well that's a bummer and also a first. They've always granted the status you were shooting for during the trial period.
FWIW I called the Advantage desk earlier today (before actually seeing this thread) and they said there is no information currently about an EXP challenge but to periodically call back to check.
I'm a 1K with UA and will most likely do the plat challenge for a few reasons:
1. I moved to PHX last year
2. My company just announced AA is the preferred carrier (if UA is even $1 higher I still can't choose it).
3. I hate United.
4. Look forward to more non stops
5. I hate United.
FWIW I called the Advantage desk earlier today (before actually seeing this thread) and they said there is no information currently about an EXP challenge but to periodically call back to check.
I'm a 1K with UA and will most likely do the plat challenge for a few reasons:
1. I moved to PHX last year
2. My company just announced AA is the preferred carrier (if UA is even $1 higher I still can't choose it).
3. I hate United.
4. Look forward to more non stops
5. I hate United.
Jan 4, 2016, 6:03 pm
#42
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Jan 4, 2016, 6:15 pm
#43
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 21
Apologies if this has been answered: can flights booked and paid for before the initialization of the challenge be counted towards it?
Thanks,
-Z
Thanks,
-Z
Jan 4, 2016, 6:23 pm
#44
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Yes. I bought one of mine months ago, but the flights are in 2016
I also gave the agent my record locators/booking ref #s and he accessed those tickets.
Jan 4, 2016, 6:25 pm
#45
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,065
Well three years ago when I did the EXP challenge as a 1K I had EXP during the challenge period. Definitely did.