Nov 4, 2020, 3:23 pm
Last edit by: aztimm
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 2020
Nov 4, 2020, 2:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: Free agent AAdvantage LT GLD
Posts: 221
Buy Back and Boost / Buy Up Status for 2020
Re-qualified for PLT this year for the first time in many years. I'm $2k EQDs and 5k EQMs short of PPRO and just received an email with an offer to buy up ("boost up" in their terms) to PPRO. Cost is $2985 or 298.5k miles
No thanks. (sorry the image has a bunch of blank space padding)
No thanks. (sorry the image has a bunch of blank space padding)
Nov 4, 2020, 3:01 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LFT
Programs: AA Plat, lots of AA, AS, DL, UA miles, former top level CO Elite (sigh...)
Posts: 10,795
I no longer have any status with AA and received an offer for lowly Gold for a mere $1,515.00 or 151.5K miles.
Gee whiz, such a wonderful and generous offer.....
However, I guess I'll have to pass as I'm now retired and am not flying very much these days....and when I do, I'm either buying domestic first class seats or using miles for international first or business class travel.
Gee whiz, such a wonderful and generous offer.....
However, I guess I'll have to pass as I'm now retired and am not flying very much these days....and when I do, I'm either buying domestic first class seats or using miles for international first or business class travel.
Nov 4, 2020, 3:10 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Admirals Club member
Posts: 419
I need 4 segments for Plat Pro. My offer was $1,395 or $140K in miles
I'm always surprised the offers aren't more proportionate to what is actually needed. There's simply no value in this offer....
I'm always surprised the offers aren't more proportionate to what is actually needed. There's simply no value in this offer....
Nov 4, 2020, 3:20 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
First I don't think that nearly $3K is worth it. Yes domestic upgrades will be complimentary but upgrading as an PP is a crapshoot, particularly if business travel begins to rebound next year. Second, if you $2K short I'd just go buy a few J tickets to get the miles and dollars. Ultimately you'd save yourself about $1K flying versus the buyup, assuming you have extra time to travel.
Nov 4, 2020, 8:50 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
I'm EXP w/ 8824 EQDs (176 away, will earn them tomorrow) and 69,101 EQMs (so, more than enough). Mine says "no offers available."
Wife is PLT w/ 5894 EQDs (so, 106 away from PPRO, will also earn them tomorrow) and 51,864 EQMs (also more than enough for PPRO). Her offer is $395 or 39,500 miles. No thanks!
Wife is PLT w/ 5894 EQDs (so, 106 away from PPRO, will also earn them tomorrow) and 51,864 EQMs (also more than enough for PPRO). Her offer is $395 or 39,500 miles. No thanks!
Nov 4, 2020, 9:10 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
$150 EQD short, was offered for $625 or 62.5k miles. Luckily have a few flights in the coming weeks so not even thinking about it. Too bad I can't use part of my flight credits towards this, if I really needed to.
Nov 5, 2020, 2:30 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
I no longer have any status with AA and received an offer for lowly Gold for a mere $1,515.00 or 151.5K miles.
Gee whiz, such a wonderful and generous offer.....
However, I guess I'll have to pass as I'm now retired and am not flying very much these days....and when I do, I'm either buying domestic first class seats or using miles for international first or business class travel.
Gee whiz, such a wonderful and generous offer.....
However, I guess I'll have to pass as I'm now retired and am not flying very much these days....and when I do, I'm either buying domestic first class seats or using miles for international first or business class travel.
,,,,,,,,,,,,, considering how easy it is to make Gold this year and the flights for the last quarter also count toward next year
Nov 5, 2020, 11:12 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 228
I'm Platinum, currently about $1,500 EQD and 7,000 EQM short of Platinum Pro, and only one more AA flight scheduled before the end of the year: ORD to LAX in Y, so not something that will take me close to the PP threshold. My AA offer is $2,445 or 244,500 miles. If I were going to spend $2,500 on AA I'd at least want to get a decent flight or two in J or F out of it! That amount of money just for a year of upgrade opportunities (when business travel will likely increase, at least a bit, and a load of EXPs will come back into the fold): not worth it.
Nov 10, 2020, 5:27 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: AA PPro
Posts: 632
Currently just under $1k EQD from Plat, offer to buy up $1,775. Even if I wasn’t going to qualify on my own this week that would be a solid no. We’ll see if they change the offer to Plat Pro once I qualify and for how much!
Nov 10, 2020, 9:04 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Have you met AA's analysts? Most couldn't crunch basic numbers if their frat lives depended on it.
Nov 12, 2020, 10:34 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Admirals Club member
Posts: 419
I'd like to think they've got some pretty smart, dual-degree people staffing those positions....but then I see these offers, or I get an offer to upgrade a short 3-segment trip for $2,400 and start thinking you're onto something.
Nov 12, 2020, 10:51 am
#15
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
My AA offer is $2,445 or 244,500 miles. If I were going to spend $2,500 on AA I'd at least want to get a decent flight or two in J or F out of it! That amount of money just for a year of upgrade opportunities (when business travel will likely increase, at least a bit, and a load of EXPs will come back into the fold): not worth it.
Most of my miles come from mileage runs I did in January. I took one personal trip on AA in August, but was not satisfied with the aircraft cleanliness nor how they handled safety to want to repeat it.
I'm considering using miles for my offer. I have tons of miles, and no plans to use them. But I'm not sure when I'll want to travel, and if there will be enough safe time in 2021 to take advantage of SWU's, and the status too.