Platinum Pro status after attaining Platinum by Elite Challenge
Jul 20, 2021, 7:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2021
Programs: AA Gold, UA PP
Posts: 13
Platinum Pro status after attaining Platinum by Elite Challenge
I am currently AAdvantage Gold with 851 EQD and 26841EQM and 24EQS to go until Elite Platinum.
I fly every week for work with 2 segments sub 500 miles always getting 500 EQM's. I have a trip to NYC for a family gathering and a work trip to LAX later in the year. I didn't start traveling like this for work until end of May/June this year.
With currently earning rates I would reach Platinum on my own by the end of the year.
Per customer service I could do a Platinum Challenge with goals of:
Meet the following requirements in a 3 month time frame after paying the applicable fee:
I fly every week for work with 2 segments sub 500 miles always getting 500 EQM's. I have a trip to NYC for a family gathering and a work trip to LAX later in the year. I didn't start traveling like this for work until end of May/June this year.
With currently earning rates I would reach Platinum on my own by the end of the year.
Per customer service I could do a Platinum Challenge with goals of:
Meet the following requirements in a 3 month time frame after paying the applicable fee:
- 12,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) + $1,500 Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs)
- 14 Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs) + $1,500 EQDs
My question is, for anyone that has achieved Platinum status by an elite challenge, is the progress to Platinum Pro shortcut after attaining Platinum or would I still have to meet the hard metrics of 7000 end 60,000eqm or 70 eqs?
Last edited by MountieHoosier; Jul 20, 2021 at 7:48 am Reason: Grammar corrections and info added
Jul 20, 2021, 7:52 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,466
I am currently AAdvantage Gold with 851 EQD and 26841EQM and 24EQS to go until Elite Platinum.
I fly every week for work with 2 segments sub 500 miles always getting 500 EQM's. I have a trip to NYC for a family gathering and a work trip to LAX later in the year. I didn't start traveling like this for work until end of May/June this year.
With currently earning rates I would reach Platinum on my own by the end of the year.
Per customer service I could do a Platinum Challenge with goals of:
Meet the following requirements in a 3 month time frame after paying the applicable fee:
I fly every week for work with 2 segments sub 500 miles always getting 500 EQM's. I have a trip to NYC for a family gathering and a work trip to LAX later in the year. I didn't start traveling like this for work until end of May/June this year.
With currently earning rates I would reach Platinum on my own by the end of the year.
Per customer service I could do a Platinum Challenge with goals of:
Meet the following requirements in a 3 month time frame after paying the applicable fee:
- 12,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) + $1,500 Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs)
- 14 Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs) + $1,500 EQDs
My question is, for anyone that has achieved Platinum status by an elite challenge, is the progress to Platinum Pro shortcut after attaining Platinum or would I still have to meet the hard metrics of 7000 end 60,000eqm or 70 eqs?
Jul 20, 2021, 7:55 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2021
Programs: AA Gold, UA PP
Posts: 13
Jul 20, 2021, 8:45 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: AA: Exec Plat; AC: 75K; JX: Explorer; HH: Dia; Bonvoy: Gold; Wyndham: Dia
Posts: 299
It's easier if you get your challenge earlier in the year. I was offered a Platinum challenge in January 2020. I hit the challenge target by 3/1/2020. Then the world shut down. I was able to do some flying in 4Q20 that got me to the (then-lowered) Platinum Pro target and carry that activity to 2021 qualification. I should requalify for Plat Pro next month and may hit EXP later this year. If they go back to normal targets and I do my normal flying, I will probably be Platinum/Plat Pro range qualifying in 2022.
Jul 20, 2021, 2:29 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,387
You've already got the answer to your main question. But by doing the challenge, (1) you get the status immediately and (2) you retain the status all through 2022 because you would be starting the challenge in the second half of the year, even if for some reason you didn't make PLT the "regular" way. And it costs you only $120. It would be a no-brainer for me.
Jul 20, 2021, 2:38 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Gold
Posts: 181
You've already got the answer to your main question. But by doing the challenge, (1) you get the status immediately and (2) you retain the status all through 2022 because you would be starting the challenge in the second half of the year, even if for some reason you didn't make PLT the "regular" way. And it costs you only $120. It would be a no-brainer for me.
Jul 20, 2021, 3:58 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2021
Programs: AA Gold, UA PP
Posts: 13
They only offered me a challenge price of $440 which includes Platinum status during the challenge. If it were only $180 including staying at my current Gold status I would've done it. If it would've shortcut me to PP then I would've definitely done it.
Jul 20, 2021, 4:11 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,387
My bad. I have no idea where I got the $120 number from. (I would do it even for $440 BTW.)
Jul 20, 2021, 5:26 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Gold
Posts: 181
Wow, I think when I did it (maybe 2015?) it was something like $200. Agree that $440 is tough to justify if you're already Gold and you'll likely make Plat anyway.
Aug 10, 2021, 9:27 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 132
I have what may be a silly question, but on a challenge that includes status during the challenge does one earn EQM's based on that status as well as class purchased, or do certain benefits not activate until the status is actually earned?
I'm looking at a flight in a couple weeks that would hit 12.4k EQM's alone (no status, biz class), and am considering a challenge to regain status lost during last year's hiatus. I'm planning a somewhat convoluted route to break 12k, but have more options if the EQM earn was based on Plat status. Hope that makes sense.
(I need to figure out a way to use the word status in this post one more time....)
I'm looking at a flight in a couple weeks that would hit 12.4k EQM's alone (no status, biz class), and am considering a challenge to regain status lost during last year's hiatus. I'm planning a somewhat convoluted route to break 12k, but have more options if the EQM earn was based on Plat status. Hope that makes sense.
(I need to figure out a way to use the word status in this post one more time....)
Aug 10, 2021, 10:25 pm
#12
Suspended
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: ,united 1k, AA EXP, HH Diamond,BA gold, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 974
I have what may be a silly question, but on a challenge that includes status during the challenge does one earn EQM's based on that status as well as class purchased, or do certain benefits not activate until the status is actually earned?
I'm looking at a flight in a couple weeks that would hit 12.4k EQM's alone (no status, biz class), and am considering a challenge to regain status lost during last year's hiatus. I'm planning a somewhat convoluted route to break 12k, but have more options if the EQM earn was based on Plat status. Hope that makes sense.
(I need to figure out a way to use the word status in this post one more time....)
I'm looking at a flight in a couple weeks that would hit 12.4k EQM's alone (no status, biz class), and am considering a challenge to regain status lost during last year's hiatus. I'm planning a somewhat convoluted route to break 12k, but have more options if the EQM earn was based on Plat status. Hope that makes sense.
(I need to figure out a way to use the word status in this post one more time....)
Aug 11, 2021, 7:07 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,387
Aug 12, 2021, 8:04 am
#14
Used to be 'Travelergcp'
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,826