Dec 13, 2018, 1:35 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AAdvantage Buy Back and Boost / Buy Up Status
AA generally offers members reasonably close to requalifying for status near the end of the year the option to buy back their existing status, or on occasion to buy up to the next highest status tier.
These offers are generally made by email to AAdvantage members beginning some time in November.
If you have not received an offer or would like to see your offer (if any), you can see it by visiting https://elite.aa.com
If you haven’t flown sufficiently, you’ll probably sign in and see
Please peruse this thread to see offers reported by members.
AA generally offers members reasonably close to requalifying for status near the end of the year the option to buy back their existing status, or on occasion to buy up to the next highest status tier.
These offers are generally made by email to AAdvantage members beginning some time in November.
If you have not received an offer or would like to see your offer (if any), you can see it by visiting https://elite.aa.com
If you haven’t flown sufficiently, you’ll probably sign in and see
No offers available
Thanks for visiting. Our records show that you’re not eligible to receive an fifer at this time. If you need more information about your account, visit aa.com/youraccount
Thanks for visiting. Our records show that you’re not eligible to receive an fifer at this time. If you need more information about your account, visit aa.com/youraccount
Buy Back and Boost / Buy Up Status for 2019
Dec 23, 2018, 12:53 pm
#301
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: SLC
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium + LT Gold
Posts: 198
Ways To Get 80 EQDs
Need about 80 EQDs to qualify for the next status tier. I don't have any flights coming up. Is there a way to meet the EQD without actually flying? Can I purchase a one way flight and no show?
Dec 23, 2018, 1:00 pm
#302
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Dec 23, 2018, 1:01 pm
#303
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
No show, no EQ-anything. Must fly, as when you’re checked in boarding atbthe gate is the trigger.
Dec 23, 2018, 1:05 pm
#304
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Dec 24, 2018, 3:33 pm
#305
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA EXP; (HP-FF>US DM - RIP);Marriott Lifetime Plat and a bunch of others
Posts: 74
Last miles finally posted and my "offer" did come down. If I do the Buy Back on January 2nd (my read is I have until July to do so....is that correct?), will this count as EQD's for 2019? That would also put the spend on the CC for 2019.......
Thx
Thx
Dec 24, 2018, 3:39 pm
#306
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Bay Area
Programs: WN A-List, AA good-riddance, Safeway Club Card Extraordinaire
Posts: 3,851
EQDs are computed on a 12-month rolling basis, not by calendar year. So they would likely be included in your total for 12 months after you purchase the buy-up.
Dec 24, 2018, 8:34 pm
#307
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ
Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,109
I think the point was that the spend would count towards 2019 EQD qualifications. If the EQD in 2018 has no benefit, moving it to 2019 has value.
Dec 25, 2018, 12:25 pm
#308
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA EXP; (HP-FF>US DM - RIP);Marriott Lifetime Plat and a bunch of others
Posts: 74
Best of the holiday season to all.
Dec 25, 2018, 12:53 pm
#309
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
Have been PLT for a few years. Just got back to GLD over the weekend with no further flying planned. Before hitting GLD my offers were $445 to buy GLD or $1465 to buy PLT. Now the GLD offer has disappeared but the PLT offer is the same. Surely a better PLT offer is coming now that I've hit GLD?
Dec 25, 2018, 2:06 pm
#310
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Francisco area
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott T
Posts: 455
I think AA prices the buy up offers at roughly $200/hr for flight times, which would roughly come to $200/(300-400 miles range). I was ~2500 miles short and my offer was $1395. Luckily I found a $290 F fare for PDX-PHX-SFO and on my way from Alaska hopped off at PDX to take this long route home which netted me 3500 EQM.
$200/hr is roughly what a good solo practitioner in finance, consulting, law, IT charges, the core of the AA business traveller. The bean counters at AA HQ know what they are doing.
$200/hr is roughly what a good solo practitioner in finance, consulting, law, IT charges, the core of the AA business traveller. The bean counters at AA HQ know what they are doing.
Dec 28, 2018, 10:43 am
#311
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: US CP, *wood Gold, Marriott gold, Hilton something
Posts: 1,458
adding some data:
My partner is $113 EQDs short of EXP with more than enough EQMs. Her buy up offer is $395. She'll probably do, stings a bit but worth it.
My partner is $113 EQDs short of EXP with more than enough EQMs. Her buy up offer is $395. She'll probably do, stings a bit but worth it.
Dec 31, 2018, 3:08 pm
#312
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DEN
Programs: DL PM, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 396
Alright, could use some opinions in making my decision here. The year is about to end and I'm $1,046 EQDs short of hitting EXP.
My wife and I are moving to Amsterdam in less than 2 weeks and I think we're going to go with BA as our new airline for crediting FF to. My buy up offer is $1,435. EXP would get me OWE which really would get me access to 1st class lounges + Fast Track (not concerned about 1st class check-in). Plus the 4 SWUs which I could probably get some good use out of next year. Simple question, do you think those additional benefits are worth $1,435?
My wife and I are moving to Amsterdam in less than 2 weeks and I think we're going to go with BA as our new airline for crediting FF to. My buy up offer is $1,435. EXP would get me OWE which really would get me access to 1st class lounges + Fast Track (not concerned about 1st class check-in). Plus the 4 SWUs which I could probably get some good use out of next year. Simple question, do you think those additional benefits are worth $1,435?
Last edited by Youngtraveldude; Dec 31, 2018 at 3:33 pm
Jan 1, 2019, 2:55 pm
#313
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ
Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,109
Alright, could use some opinions in making my decision here. The year is about to end and I'm $1,046 EQDs short of hitting EXP.
My wife and I are moving to Amsterdam in less than 2 weeks and I think we're going to go with BA as our new airline for crediting FF to. My buy up offer is $1,435. EXP would get me OWE which really would get me access to 1st class lounges + Fast Track (not concerned about 1st class check-in). Plus the 4 SWUs which I could probably get some good use out of next year. Simple question, do you think those additional benefits are worth $1,435?
My wife and I are moving to Amsterdam in less than 2 weeks and I think we're going to go with BA as our new airline for crediting FF to. My buy up offer is $1,435. EXP would get me OWE which really would get me access to 1st class lounges + Fast Track (not concerned about 1st class check-in). Plus the 4 SWUs which I could probably get some good use out of next year. Simple question, do you think those additional benefits are worth $1,435?
If you use the 4 SWUs on TATL flights, that will save you $1400 plus 100k miles - so basically you pay the same but save 100k miles (almost 1 RT J Saver TATL)
Plus OWE benefits as an AA flyer (and given you'll be in AMS that's basically all flights where there is a OW lounge).
As long as you use the 4 SWUs, it's a no brainer.
ADDED: I'd think about whether you want to credit to AA or BA. For those SWUs I'm not sure you can pull that off without booking an AA ticket. Whether you can then use your BA # for credit isn't clear to me.
Last edited by JMN57; Jan 1, 2019 at 3:17 pm
Jan 2, 2019, 11:23 pm
#314
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 108
Exactly. No need to add to the 2018 spend but 2019 gets me spend towards 2019 CC spend and the 2019 EQD. I have read the fine print over and over and am pretty sure that the Buy Up will work after Jan 1 (until July). Am I missing anything?
Best of the holiday season to all.
Best of the holiday season to all.
Jan 14, 2019, 3:44 pm
#315
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Left Coast
Programs: UA 1K & 1MM, HH Diamond, Marriott/SPG Gold (UA comp)
Posts: 1,353
Offered $1075 for Gold. Hit 23.5K EQM in 2018. Nothing booked for 2019 (yet).