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 5, 2016, 11:37 am
#91
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,508
Why on god's earth would I lie. Go ahead and call AA yourself. I got the email in my inbox. Have no idea about what the fee is if any.
35K EQM's in 90 days, that's it. Doesn't do me any good unfortunately. I fly no more than 110K a year so I'll do the plat challenge and be at EXP by year's end at 100K EQM's.
35K EQM's in 90 days, that's it. Doesn't do me any good unfortunately. I fly no more than 110K a year so I'll do the plat challenge and be at EXP by year's end at 100K EQM's.
I did the PLT challenge yesterday.
Just called AAdvantage and they said that there might be something of a status match/challenge with United's Top Tier where you send in proof. But my 303,000 MQMs with DL mean nothing to them. And he checked with two supervisors.
Jan 5, 2016, 11:43 am
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,968
I already have 60,000 EQMs booked for the next 90 days.
I did the PLT challenge yesterday.
Just called AAdvantage and they said that there might be something of a status match/challenge with United's Top Tier where you send in proof. But my 303,000 MQMs with DL mean nothing to them. And he checked with two supervisors.
I did the PLT challenge yesterday.
Just called AAdvantage and they said that there might be something of a status match/challenge with United's Top Tier where you send in proof. But my 303,000 MQMs with DL mean nothing to them. And he checked with two supervisors.
Signing up for plat challenge today. How much are the E+ seats as a gold? I figure I didn't sit up front anyway with UA as a 1K (CPU rate 8% last year, not a misprint) so what difference does it make. I'm 6'1" though so getting a bulkhead or exit row is very important.
Jan 5, 2016, 11:45 am
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,383
Yes, AA told me it was only available to UA 1K flyers.
Signing up for plat challenge today. How much are the E+ seats as a gold? I figure I didn't sit up front anyway with UA as a 1K (CPU rate 8% last year, not a misprint) so what difference does it make. I'm 6'1" though so getting a bulkhead or exit row is very important.
Signing up for plat challenge today. How much are the E+ seats as a gold? I figure I didn't sit up front anyway with UA as a 1K (CPU rate 8% last year, not a misprint) so what difference does it make. I'm 6'1" though so getting a bulkhead or exit row is very important.
Jan 5, 2016, 11:54 am
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,968
Quote:
Originally Posted by enviroian
Yes, AA told me it was only available to UA 1K flyers.
Signing up for plat challenge today. How much are the E+ seats as a gold? I figure I didn't sit up front anyway with UA as a 1K (CPU rate 8% last year, not a misprint) so what difference does it make. I'm 6'1" though so getting a bulkhead or exit row is very important.
If it's only available for UA 1k that's an extremely important piece of info you omitted. Which is why we asked. We didnt accuse you of lying, we asked you to elaborate.
Originally Posted by enviroian
Yes, AA told me it was only available to UA 1K flyers.
Signing up for plat challenge today. How much are the E+ seats as a gold? I figure I didn't sit up front anyway with UA as a 1K (CPU rate 8% last year, not a misprint) so what difference does it make. I'm 6'1" though so getting a bulkhead or exit row is very important.
If it's only available for UA 1k that's an extremely important piece of info you omitted. Which is why we asked. We didnt accuse you of lying, we asked you to elaborate.
Jan 5, 2016, 12:42 pm
#95
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
HUCA! Today is different than yesterday.
Just spoke with AA. Agent and a supervisor confirmed EXP is only available to UA 1K. If anyone else is able to get it, they suggested that those people may have received either a targeted email or other form of contact. I was told a separate team/group handles that and it is not the same as the Gold/Plat Status Challenge.
Just spoke with AA. Agent and a supervisor confirmed EXP is only available to UA 1K. If anyone else is able to get it, they suggested that those people may have received either a targeted email or other form of contact. I was told a separate team/group handles that and it is not the same as the Gold/Plat Status Challenge.
Jan 5, 2016, 1:12 pm
#96
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 3
AA Gold members earn 25% elite mileage bonus. Do I understand correctly that that would mean sign up for Plat challenge, get Gold status granted during the 90-day window, fly 10k EQMs, receive a 25% bonus, and meet the 12.5k qualification for Plat? Traveling PHL SFO in a few weeks and could make that work with a discounted Business (5k miles 2X EQM) flight?
Jan 5, 2016, 1:17 pm
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,383
AA Gold members earn 25% elite mileage bonus. Do I understand correctly that that would mean sign up for Plat challenge, get Gold status granted during the 90-day window, fly 10k EQMs, receive a 25% bonus, and meet the 12.5k qualification for Plat? Traveling PHL SFO in a few weeks and could make that work with a discounted Business (5k miles 2X EQM) flight?
Jan 5, 2016, 1:31 pm
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,383
Award tickets earn the cash-flight class.
So Y->J miles upgrade earns Y and an award flight itself earns nothing.
So Y->J miles upgrade earns Y and an award flight itself earns nothing.
Jan 5, 2016, 1:42 pm
#101
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
A very, very important distinction. GLD/PLT challenge is available to anyone (except for certain criteria of x # of challenges/status exceptions/buy-ups in X # of years)-- call, ask, pay, signed up.
EXP challenge/match is by "invite only" -- not to say that asking can't produce a positive result-- but it is ENTIRELY different that GLD/PLAT challenge, and most definitely not as presented at times in this thread.
Last edited by JonNYC; Jan 5, 2016 at 1:47 pm
Jan 5, 2016, 4:10 pm
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
Then that would be a departure from the past. IIRC, AA code-shares on AS metal did not count in these challenges. All of AA's code-share have specific flight number ranges. So it is possible for AA to flag those flight numbers. Perhaps if someone who has signed up for this new challenge can reprint the e-mailed instructions sent by AA.
Jan 5, 2016, 5:40 pm
#103
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Mundelein, Il
Programs: Executive Platinum
Posts: 482
If it was in your inbox, maybe it's targeted. I just called (twice, I used the HUACA technique) and was told by both agents that the highest challenge available was Platinum.
I successfully registered for Platinum despite having completed a previous one in November 2013. I was also given gold immediately. The first agent said it wasn't possible despite the fact that I have 11 trips already booked during the challenge period. The 2nd agent kept me waiting a while but got it done.
I successfully registered for Platinum despite having completed a previous one in November 2013. I was also given gold immediately. The first agent said it wasn't possible despite the fact that I have 11 trips already booked during the challenge period. The 2nd agent kept me waiting a while but got it done.
Thanks
Jan 5, 2016, 5:56 pm
#104
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
Then that would be a departure from the past. IIRC, AA code-shares on AS metal did not count in these challenges. All of AA's code-share have specific flight number ranges. So it is possible for AA to flag those flight numbers. Perhaps if someone who has signed up for this new challenge can reprint the e-mailed instructions sent by AA.
Jan 5, 2016, 6:01 pm
#105
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
This is from the email confirmation I received. It is the generic portion that does not include personal info or dates etc. Each airline partner listed in the email is a live link back to AA's site.
"Thank you for registering for an AAdvantage® challenge.
......
Qualifying flights on American Airlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection®, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines and Qantas and their eligible codeshare flights count toward your challenge.
Since the number of elite qualifying miles you earn is based on the fare you purchase and the miles flown, you can view these details for each airline:
American Airlines
British Airways
Finnair
Iberia
Japan Airlines
Qantas
We wish you every success in attaining the elite status level you desire. "
------
So for eg. if you click BA, you'll get this page on AA
http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/ea...es/british.jsp
