Oct 21, 2017, 12:00 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
2018 Program Year Elite Status Buyback / Renew / Boost (as of EOY 2017)
"Grace" for those close to completing status requirements has not been offered since AA began the buyback / renew / boost program.
In previous years, AA (and US) have offered those who failed to requalify for elite status the opportunity to buy back or "boost" status for the following status year. That offer was extended for the 2017 programme year, and the 2018 offering is be discussed here. E-mails have gone out to many members (16 Nov) with tailored offers. To see if you are eligible and to see what your offers are, go to https://elite.americanairlines.com/e...ewal/login.cfm
NOTE: “Plus, your purchase price will count toward your Rolling Elite Qualifying Dollars, helping improve your upgrade priority.” - AA
List of members' offers for 2018 program year to be added below. See end for 2016 offers.
List current status, EQD & EQM / EQS, $ required for buyback or boost and status offered:
GOLD PLAT PPRO EXP
To read what each status tier offers, see:
What are AA Gold / GLD Benefits? Are they worth it? (Master thd) (link)
What are AA Platinum / PLT Benefits? Are they worth it? (Master thd) (link)
What are AA Platinum Pro Benefits? Are they worth it? (Master thd) (link)
What are AA Executive Platinum / EP / EXP Benefits? Are they worth it? (Master thd) (link)
For the thread discussing last year's programme, see this archived thread.
List of people's 2018 program year (1 Feb through 31 Jan) offers here. List is current up to post #147
Code:
Status EQM EQD GLD PLT PPR EXP
EXP 94k $17,960 ——————— ——————— ——————————— —————$1,895
PLT 24k $ 1,800 $ 699 $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
PLT 4k $ 1,000 $ 699 $ 1,999 ——————— ———————
EXP 86k $13,538 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,295
EXP 130k $11,940 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 345
PLT 12k $ 1,518 $ 699 $ 1,995 ——————— ———————
EXP 72k $16,000 ——————— ——————— $ 995 ———————
?(#16) 68k $ 9,315 ——————— ——————— $ 1,345 ———————
EXP 108k $11,855 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 225
EXP 101k $10,340 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,795
EXP 100k $10,000 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 2,995
None(#20)18k >$3,000 $ 495 ——————— ——————— ———————
GLD 46k $ 4,451 ——————— $ 1,865 ——————— ———————
PLT 34k $ 4,500 ——————— $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
???(#25) 66k $10,500 ——————— ——————— $ 1,345 ———————
PLT 26k $ 6,900 ——————— $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
PLT 46k $ 4,382 ——————— $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
EXP 10k $ 858 $ 699 $ 1,995 ——————— ———————
PLT 30k $ 2,264 $ 699 $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
PLT 58k $17,000 ——————— ——————— $ 1,945 ———————
PLT 19k $ 6,500 $ 500 $ 1,995 ——————— ———————
EXP 40k $ 5,383 ——————— $ 1,295 ——————— ———————
EXP 88k $ 8,000 ——————— ——————— $ 1,135 $ 4,155
EXP 102k $11,513 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 765
EXP 90k $14,361 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,795
PLT 45k $12,246 ——————— $ 695 ——————— ———————
GLD 19k $ 5,011 $ 495 ——————— ——————— ———————
???(#37)<80k $ 9,100 ——————— ——————— ——————— ———————
EXP 44.6k $ 2,230 $ 699 $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
EXP 93k $23,000 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,795
PPR 92k $13,000 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,795
EXP 45.5k $ 1,656 ——————— $ 1,479 ——————— ———————
PLT 63k $ 6,328 ——————— ——————— $ 2,885 ———————
None 14k $ 964 $ 2,215 ——————— ——————— ———————
PLT 65.7k $10,800 ——————— ——————— $ 1,345 ———————
PLT 42.4k $ 8,639 ——————— $ 1,075 ——————— ———————
PLT 44.9k $ 5,577 ——————— $ 995 ——————— ———————
EXP 57k $ 4,200 ——————— $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
PLT 40.6k $ 5,832 ——————— $ 995 ——————— ———————
PLT 40.5k $ 5,843 ——————— $ 895 ——————— ———————
EXP 84.6k $12,460 ——————— ——————— ——————— ———————
EXP 95.8k $11,679 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,395
PPR 81k $11,465 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 735
EXP 116k $11,870 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 225
EXP 90.6k $14,361 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,798
EXP 22k $ 1,100 $ 699 $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
EXP 92.5k $11,986 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,895
EXP 61k $ 8,800 ——————— ——————— $ 1,745 ———————
PPR 97k $20,000 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,295
EXP ~124k $11,296 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 935
EXP 94.8k $11,543 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,895
EXP 97.4k $14,228 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,295
PLT 73.6k $ 8,832 ——————— ——————— $ 995 ———————
EXP 98.4k $13,600 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,295
EXP 91.5k $11,660 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,895
PLT?(#80)62.6k $ 7,707 ——————— ——————— $ 1,645 ———————
EXP?(#81)99.9k $16,603 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,395
PLT 21k $ 1,500 $ 699 $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
PPR 93.3k $19,775 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,795
PLT 26.3k $ 4,172 ——————— $ 1,479 ——————— ———————
PLT 17k $ 2,221 $ 699 $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
EXP 88k $14,500 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 2,500
PLT 2k $ 230 ——————— $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
PLT 0 $ 0 $ 699 $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
GLD 72.3k $10,735 ——————— ——————— $ 995 ———————
PLT 75.9k $ 9,854 ——————— ——————— ——————— ———————
EXP 69.5k $ 9,950 ——————— ——————— $ 1,645 ———————
EXP 41.6k $ 8,077 ——————— $ 995 ——————— ———————
PLT 60.2k $ 8,200 ——————— ——————— $ 1,656 ———————
EXP 57.4k $ 6,067 ——————— $ 265 ——————— ———————
EXP 57k $ 6,000 ——————— ——————— $ 1,760 ———————
EXP 120k $10,500 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,850
EXP?(#100) 84.8k $13,025 ——————— ——————— ——————— ———————
EXP 99.9k $ 9,218 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 2,899
PPR 85k $ 9,200 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 2,985
PLT 36.2k $ 7,636 ——————— $ 1,295 ——————— ———————
GLD 44.7k $ 5,541 ——————— $ 895 ——————— ———————
PLT 46.5k $12,500 ——————— $ 650 ——————— ———————
PLT 43.1k $10,531 ——————— ——————— ——————— ———————
GLD 33.4k $ 4,966 ——————— $ 1,495 ——————— ———————
GLD 0 $ 0 $ 699 ——————— ——————— ———————
PPR 79.5k $19,295 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 3,575
GLD 39.6k $ 7,616 ——————— $ 1,195 ——————— ———————
None 35.1k $ 2,180 $ 995 ——————— ——————— ———————
PLT 25.2k $ 3,478 ——————— $ 1,479 ——————— ———————
EXP 99.5k $16,323 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,395
PLT 30k $ 4,988 ——————— $ 1,295 ——————— ———————
GLD 11k $ 1,652 $ 699 ——————— ——————— ———————
PLT 45.7k $12,250 ——————— $ 695 ——————— ———————
GLD 18.7k $ 5,000 $ 495 ——————— ——————— ———————
PLT 40.3k $ 3,050 ——————— $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
PLT 0 $ 0 ——————— ——————— $ 1,479 ———————
PPR 86k $21,500 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 2,495
EXP 92.3k $10,400 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,895
GLD ~9k ~$ 1,000 $ 699 ——————— ——————— ———————
EXP 99.4k >$14,000 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,299
EXP 95.5k $17,779 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 1,395
PLT 21k $ 2,200 $ 699 $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
EXP 115k $11,961 ——————— ——————— ——————— $ 225
EXP 53k $15,000 ——————— ——————— $ 1,765 ———————
EXP 30.5k $5,714 —————— $ 1,299 ——————— ———————
Program Year 2018 Elite Status Buy back / Buyback / Renew / Boost (master thd) .
Dec 12, 2017, 2:05 pm
#377
Join Date: May 2003
Location: San Antonio, Tx
Programs: UA gold, AA Plat, HHonors diamond, DL DM
Posts: 705
I reached 97K miles with 21K spending. They want 1295 for EXP. I cannot understand the thinking that AA is using. People with over 100K miles but just short of 12K in spending get offers that are little more than the additional travel spending that would be required to reach 12K spending. But spend 9K over the minimum spending requirement and they want much more for a buyback. In my case it does not matter, I cleared 100K miles last night. I am not sure what behavior AA wants to reward by means of its offer.
Dec 12, 2017, 6:09 pm
#380
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Chicago/NYC
Programs: AA EXP 1.9 MM; HH Diamond; Bonvoy Platinum; WOH Discoverist
Posts: 87
EXP
EQM: 86.4k
EQS: 119
EQD: 15.1k
Offer: $1,295.
This is the second one, identical to the previous one, and received today while I was in the air on my 120th segment, i.e. requalifying for EXP. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
EQM: 86.4k
EQS: 119
EQD: 15.1k
Offer: $1,295.
This is the second one, identical to the previous one, and received today while I was in the air on my 120th segment, i.e. requalifying for EXP. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Dec 12, 2017, 10:19 pm
#382
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 20
This doesn't bode well for me...
I can fly LAX to LAS for $98 return and 1000 EQM - why would I pay $795?
Seems their tables are a little crazy.
im Gold - my Platinum offer currently $1845
EQD $4464
EQM 38788
EQS 21
my SO has no status - her Gold offer $955
EQD $2110
EQM 25440
EQS 10
She'll get there (gold) with year end travel. I'm going to end up 712 miles short of Platinum.
Last edited by ScottishBloke; Dec 12, 2017 at 10:53 pm Reason: Giving actual data points
Dec 13, 2017, 8:07 am
#383
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: AA EXP; HH Diamond; Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 7
Received another offer yesterday. Offer was $1,795 for EXP.
Current stats:
EQD $17,126
EQM 72,438
EQS 112
I have 10 more segments booked before Dec 31 so I don't need to spend the money.
Current stats:
EQD $17,126
EQM 72,438
EQS 112
I have 10 more segments booked before Dec 31 so I don't need to spend the money.
Dec 13, 2017, 10:15 am
#384
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: AA PLT, Marriott Gold
Posts: 81
Seems like they are not looking at travel plans by year end in their targeting (or they are and are hoping people aren't keeping tabs on their accruals and pay up); I will re-qualify for PLT at Christmas with travel, but have been sent three offers (most recent being yesterday) looking for anywhere from $1,399 (first offer) to $635 (yesterday) to maintain PLT status. The price drops as I get closer to PLT, so they are checking my balance, but not factoring in upcoming trips.
Dec 13, 2017, 3:06 pm
#385
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; Marriott Titanium; Hilton Diamond; Hyatt Explorist; Vistana 5* Elite; Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 6,177
Seems like they are not looking at travel plans by year end in their targeting (or they are and are hoping people aren't keeping tabs on their accruals and pay up); I will re-qualify for PLT at Christmas with travel, but have been sent three offers (most recent being yesterday) looking for anywhere from $1,399 (first offer) to $635 (yesterday) to maintain PLT status. The price drops as I get closer to PLT, so they are checking my balance, but not factoring in upcoming trips.
Dec 13, 2017, 6:25 pm
#386
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EP; WN CP;UA SILVER; MARRIOTT TITANIUM; HH DIAMOND; IHG PLAT; RADISSON PLAT; HYATT GLOBAL
Posts: 1,938
Lifetime Platinum
EQM: 25K
EQD: $9K after Aviator $3k credit for cc spend
(A lot of short, expensive tickets)
No offer for PP.
Any DP of lifetime Platinum getting Pro offers?
I could have easily qualified for EXP if all the award travel I did counted.
EQM: 25K
EQD: $9K after Aviator $3k credit for cc spend
(A lot of short, expensive tickets)
No offer for PP.
Any DP of lifetime Platinum getting Pro offers?
I could have easily qualified for EXP if all the award travel I did counted.
Dec 13, 2017, 8:00 pm
#387
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Washington
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14
Started the year at Gold
EQD: $16,505
EQM: 78,936
EQS: 33
No offer given.
Unfortunately I had a TATL work trip that would have pushed me over 100k pushed into January so it doesn't look like I'll be getting EXP this year after all. Oh well.
From the data points in this thread it looks like you need to be over 80k EQM to get an offer for buy up to EXP, I have a short trip next week that will just push me over the 80k threshold so I'll update this if suddenly I have an offer.
EQD: $16,505
EQM: 78,936
EQS: 33
No offer given.
Unfortunately I had a TATL work trip that would have pushed me over 100k pushed into January so it doesn't look like I'll be getting EXP this year after all. Oh well.
From the data points in this thread it looks like you need to be over 80k EQM to get an offer for buy up to EXP, I have a short trip next week that will just push me over the 80k threshold so I'll update this if suddenly I have an offer.
Dec 13, 2017, 8:59 pm
#388
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: IHG Ambassador/Spire Elite/Kimpton Inner Circle. AA: Plat. SW, UA, DL, Alaska: nuttin'!
Posts: 68
Another data point, offered received yesterday:
PLT
EQM: 8475
EQS:8
EQD: 967
Offer: $1,299 for PLT, $699 for GLD.
I will not be flying with AA before January 1st, so I would not be reaching any level of status!
From what I can tell from this thread, I may have been lucky to get an offer at all, given how little flying I have done with them this year (since they ruined the awards program for me).
And given what others have posted, I think that I got a decent offer for either status level as long I give them more business next year and use the status.
I may have received a decent offer for my past AA history? 2012: EXP; 2013: EXP; 2014: EXP; 2015: EXP; 2016: PLT; 2017: PLT.
In other words, if a human (rather than a computer algorithm) were trying to entice me to return my previous extensive loyalty on AA 2012-2016 for 2018, maybe that's why I got a decent offer?
The main reason that I am considering buying at least Gold status is that I currently have 24 500-mile upgrades in my account that I could probably put to good use on a few domestic tickets or a single long-haul TATL.
I am a frugal self-funded solo business. I have switched almost all of my significant flying over to Alaska and Southwest. Alaska gave me a status match to MVP Gold that has worked out well this year; I will re-qualify for MVP Gold by year-end. I will make 25 legs or A-List on Southwest just before year-end.
PLT
EQM: 8475
EQS:8
EQD: 967
Offer: $1,299 for PLT, $699 for GLD.
I will not be flying with AA before January 1st, so I would not be reaching any level of status!
From what I can tell from this thread, I may have been lucky to get an offer at all, given how little flying I have done with them this year (since they ruined the awards program for me).
And given what others have posted, I think that I got a decent offer for either status level as long I give them more business next year and use the status.
I may have received a decent offer for my past AA history? 2012: EXP; 2013: EXP; 2014: EXP; 2015: EXP; 2016: PLT; 2017: PLT.
In other words, if a human (rather than a computer algorithm) were trying to entice me to return my previous extensive loyalty on AA 2012-2016 for 2018, maybe that's why I got a decent offer?
The main reason that I am considering buying at least Gold status is that I currently have 24 500-mile upgrades in my account that I could probably put to good use on a few domestic tickets or a single long-haul TATL.
I am a frugal self-funded solo business. I have switched almost all of my significant flying over to Alaska and Southwest. Alaska gave me a status match to MVP Gold that has worked out well this year; I will re-qualify for MVP Gold by year-end. I will make 25 legs or A-List on Southwest just before year-end.
Dec 13, 2017, 9:14 pm
#389
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Cambridge, MA
Programs: AAdvantage EXP
Posts: 278
That is about where I am - 59,000 EQM and $4750 EQD - I could buy a ticket for a mileage run for 1299 and make platinum myself - why would I do this program? I have been platinum for years and have 60 upgrades in the bank - I never get upgraded - and fly cross country monthly with a few other trips. The only advantage now is the chance to pick my seat in exit rows - and I am sure I will spend less than 1299 doing that next year if I choose to do so. I am a million miler (Gold for life anyway) and have have been a loyal flyer for years - My main trips are to Vegas from Boston - it may be time to switch to Jet Blue and take the direct flight - this all has me rethinking the benefit of my loyalty for years.
Dec 14, 2017, 5:45 am
#390
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,511
This one surprised me:
Currently EXP, dropping to PLT for 2018, I barely made it over the line for PLT, and did not expect an offer to get PPLT, but I got one:
EQM: 53,217
EQD: $6,015
EQS: 49
Offer to get PPLT: $1795.
I had figured that any new offer would have been close to $3,000 since I am that far away on EQD. In any case, I'm not going to take it because the difference in benefits is so small, especially since about half my miles are int'l.
Currently EXP, dropping to PLT for 2018, I barely made it over the line for PLT, and did not expect an offer to get PPLT, but I got one:
EQM: 53,217
EQD: $6,015
EQS: 49
Offer to get PPLT: $1795.
I had figured that any new offer would have been close to $3,000 since I am that far away on EQD. In any case, I'm not going to take it because the difference in benefits is so small, especially since about half my miles are int'l.