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 28, 2017, 3:07 pm
#436
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP 1.0mm, not sure where I am with hotels these days
Posts: 2,795
If you accept the offer made by AA to "buy up", does the amount paid for said "buy up" count toward your 12-month trailing EQDs for purposes of establishing upgrade priority for a given flight?
Dec 28, 2017, 3:56 pm
#438
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,590
I thought AA specifically said it did count toward EQD in the offer
From my offer:
From my offer:
AAdvantage® elite status gives you access to exclusive benefits designed to add more comfort to your journey at each membership level – Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum. New this year, your base purchase price will count toward your Rolling Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs), helping improve your upgrade priority.
Dec 28, 2017, 4:33 pm
#439
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,252
Dec 28, 2017, 7:00 pm
#440
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Here and there
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,551
Dec 29, 2017, 10:58 pm
#441
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: American Ex Plat, Avis Presidents, Hertz - Preidents Circle, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 176
The year is ending and I am 7,580 miles short of Executive Platinum ..... I know, bad planning on my part. The buyback amount I have been offered is now down to $1,795. I know I will reach at least 15K in spending next year and I will probably barely hit Plat Pro. Is it worth it to purchase the Executive Platinum?
Update 12/30 - I found a PHL/LAX RT that I could do in First Class for $1,100 on 12/31. Do a mileage run is always a good story too ..... I think this was a perfect solution to get EXPLAT
Update 12/30 - I found a PHL/LAX RT that I could do in First Class for $1,100 on 12/31. Do a mileage run is always a good story too ..... I think this was a perfect solution to get EXPLAT
Last edited by travelingbob; Dec 30, 2017 at 8:22 am Reason: Additional Information
Dec 30, 2017, 10:02 pm
#442
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.
Final flights of the year on 12/27 brought me to:
EQD: $16,942
EQM: 82,626
EQS: 37
Received an offer on 12/29 to buy up to EXP for $2,995
Dec 30, 2017, 11:45 pm
#443
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: AA LTP 2MM, Marriott/SPG Rabid Plat w/Ambassador, HHonors Gold
Posts: 696
PlatPro:
EQD: 5,314
EQM: 52,495
EQS: 44
NO OFFER. (I'm already lifetime platinum, so that may be why I didn't get an offer to buy up to platinum). I'm a bit surprised AA wouldn't take my money for Platinum Pro (since in the past few years it's been possible to retain any status except EXP by paying, not that I ever would as I'm sure it would be a hefty sum), but I guess it's a good sign for those of you concerned about status dilution. With mileage devaluation, fewer upgrades, and other downgrades in loyalty to the customer from AA these last 2 years, I've correspondingly adjusted my spending loyalty away from AA. I used to make it a point to hit EXP every year, but the benefits I get for that for the new AA just aren't worth it like they used to be.
EQD: 5,314
EQM: 52,495
EQS: 44
NO OFFER. (I'm already lifetime platinum, so that may be why I didn't get an offer to buy up to platinum). I'm a bit surprised AA wouldn't take my money for Platinum Pro (since in the past few years it's been possible to retain any status except EXP by paying, not that I ever would as I'm sure it would be a hefty sum), but I guess it's a good sign for those of you concerned about status dilution. With mileage devaluation, fewer upgrades, and other downgrades in loyalty to the customer from AA these last 2 years, I've correspondingly adjusted my spending loyalty away from AA. I used to make it a point to hit EXP every year, but the benefits I get for that for the new AA just aren't worth it like they used to be.
Dec 31, 2017, 5:53 am
#444
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
Offer for Plat still sits at $895. Kind of disappointed as I hoped it would go down to $595 or so.
I’ll probably buy up to Plat in March or so... or should I stick with Gold for a year?
Dec 31, 2017, 8:02 am
#445
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
I feel being about to MCE seats at booking is worth being PLT. Being Gold you can pick MCE seats at booking but pay 50%. Since you have a high EQD that would give you a nice boost in the upgrade list.
Dec 31, 2017, 5:46 pm
#448
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,213
Offer Update Data Point
As a data point: Was short of PPRO yesterday and offer was for a buy-up to PPRO. Flights (from yesterday) qualifying me for PPRO posted overnight and as of this morning my offer was for a buy-back to EXP. The price point is almost exactly the EQD I'm short of for EXP, plus $100 or so.
Dec 31, 2017, 5:51 pm
#450
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,213