Jul 10, 2013, 9:53 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
What are AAdvantage Platinum / PLT Benefits? Are they worth it?
Platinum status requirements*: in one calendar year, earn 50,000 EQ Miles or fly 60 EQ Segments (in 2017, AND earn $6,000 EQDs)
C/Y Platinum status requirements: $6,000 EQD*, PLUS 60 segments or 50,000 EQ Miles
*See FT: Earning EQD / Elite Qualifying Dollars on AA and partner airlines (2017 on)
Members no longer must fly at least 4 segments on American during the qualifying year to receive elite status; this requirement was eliminated in 2017.
Status will last that status year and the following status year - status earned in 2018 will last through 31 Jan 2020.
Preferred benefits:
- Complimentary Main Cabin Extra and Preferred Seats (extends to up to 8 traveling companions)
- Two (2) free checked bags (extends to all traveling companions same PNR)
- Minimum mileage guarantee (as of 1 August 2016, only applies to EQM)
- 60% elite mileage bonus NOTE: (8 miles per "fare dollar" (base fare + carrier imposed fees, not taxes) as of 1 Aug 2016)
- Business class lounge access longhaul international and MEX** (see below)
- oneworld benefits (see below)
- Alaska Airlines benefits (see below)
- Priority through the airport at check-in, security and boarding
- Checked bag fee waived for two (2) bags
- Priority baggage delivery
- Complimentary same-day standby
- NOTE: Complimentary same-day flight change on American Airlines NOT available
- Discounted Admirals Club® membership
- 48-hour upgrade window (changed from 72 hours in 2017)
- Flights 500 miles or less: Unlimited, auto-requested complimentary upgrades*
- Flights over 500 miles: Use earned or purchased 500-mile upgrades*
- Upgrade one companion traveling with you on the same flight with 500-mile upgrades*
- Upgrades confirmed before departure (as early as) 72 hours (48 in 2017)
- *Upgrades are valid on American marketed and operated flights, within and between the U.S. (including Hawaii) and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda and Central America (based on availability). Upgrades are valid from the Main Cabin to the next class of service.
- Gold and Platinum members will get four 500-mile upgrades for every 12,500 elite-qualifying miles you earn during the membership year after you achieve status.
- "Exclusive service desk" (actual prioritized number to Reservations lines)
- Complimentary preferred seats (extends to up to 8 traveling companions)
- Complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats (extends to up to 8 traveling companions)
- Exclusive partner offers
- Award processing charge waived (awards within 21 days of travel)
- Special discounts on hotel and car awards
- NOTE: Extended award availability is only an Executive Platinum benefit
- oneworld priority check-in and standby
- oneworld priority boarding
- oneworld partner lounge access** Business Class and frequent flyer lounges
**Access to Qantas Domestic Business Lounges excluded. AAdvantage member access to American Airlines lounges excluded (regardless of status or class of service) if traveling within North America or between the U.S., Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
Alaska Airlines Benefits ended 1/1/2018
Can only earn EQ on AA codeshares and AS International flights
Link to aa.com guide to AAdvantage Elite benefits (all levels)
Link to AA Platinum Member's Guide in PDF form (2013).
Link to Archive of older posts from this thread.
Updated 16 Jan 2018 - JDiver
What are AA 🔹Platinum / PLT Benefits? Are they worth it? (master thd)
Jun 7, 2013, 7:52 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Delta Silver Medallion, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 14,104
Jun 7, 2013, 8:26 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ORD
Posts: 986
For me, it is a simple process to decide whether or not I should do a milage run:
Q: Do I enjoy sitting in a plane/airport for several hours?
A: Yes I do. I should do a mileage run.
I'm on track to mileage run about 70 segments this year to get to EXP instead of just Gold. It's worth it to me, because I enjoy sitting in planes and airports--I think it's fun.
In your case, it sounds like you're not going to get much benefit out of a mileage run--the 25% bonus RDM and the priority phone line, since you'll get everything else from your J/F fares. In that case, it comes down to whether or not you would rather be on a plane or not.
Q: Do I enjoy sitting in a plane/airport for several hours?
A: Yes I do. I should do a mileage run.
I'm on track to mileage run about 70 segments this year to get to EXP instead of just Gold. It's worth it to me, because I enjoy sitting in planes and airports--I think it's fun.
In your case, it sounds like you're not going to get much benefit out of a mileage run--the 25% bonus RDM and the priority phone line, since you'll get everything else from your J/F fares. In that case, it comes down to whether or not you would rather be on a plane or not.
Jun 7, 2013, 9:45 pm
#33
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,714
Jun 9, 2013, 6:44 pm
#34
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Based in Michigan, but I could be anywhere!
Programs: Hilton, American, Club Carlson, United, Marriott, Starwood
Posts: 409
The only reason I would even consider a mileage or mattress run is if I were already this >< close to making a status and a single flight or weekend would push me over the top for some usable perks.
In your case, you already purchase premium accommodations, so any perks of status are of negligible incremental value.
In your case, you already purchase premium accommodations, so any perks of status are of negligible incremental value.
Jun 9, 2013, 7:19 pm
#35
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/SFO & ORD
Programs: LT Gold/BA Executive Club/AS MP/Marriott
Posts: 1,646
For me, it is a simple process to decide whether or not I should do a milage run:
Q: Do I enjoy sitting in a plane/airport for several hours?
A: Yes I do. I should do a mileage run.
I'm on track to mileage run about 70 segments this year to get to EXP instead of just Gold. It's worth it to me, because I enjoy sitting in planes and airports--I think it's fun.
Q: Do I enjoy sitting in a plane/airport for several hours?
A: Yes I do. I should do a mileage run.
I'm on track to mileage run about 70 segments this year to get to EXP instead of just Gold. It's worth it to me, because I enjoy sitting in planes and airports--I think it's fun.
That being said, I know after a few weeks I will want to be back on an airplane/airport to some destination..
Jun 9, 2013, 7:52 pm
#36
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT
Posts: 1,467
As OP is F/J flyer, I think a notable difference between GLD and PLT is elite bonus RDM, so it depends on how many op will fly next year and how much op values RDM.
If OP will fly 40k miles next year, 30k(= 40k * 75%) more RDM OP will earn if OP is PLT.
If Op values RDM at $0.02/mile, 30K miles is worth $600.
So the cost of MR for PLT is less than $600, it may worth doing it.
For me, as we can likely buy RDM at around $0.02/mile outright, I set my target RDM cost is $0.01/mile for MR worth.
In this case, I may want to pay $300 max to get PLT.
If OP will fly 40k miles next year, 30k(= 40k * 75%) more RDM OP will earn if OP is PLT.
If Op values RDM at $0.02/mile, 30K miles is worth $600.
So the cost of MR for PLT is less than $600, it may worth doing it.
For me, as we can likely buy RDM at around $0.02/mile outright, I set my target RDM cost is $0.01/mile for MR worth.
In this case, I may want to pay $300 max to get PLT.
Jun 10, 2013, 2:23 am
#37
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
I can probably fit in a MR or two to get myself to Plat between July and September, but I am not sure if it would be worth it to do so. I have only been back to American for about a year and a half now, and my TATLs have been on SQ during that time, but I got a little taste of the new F on a short haul recently, and if that is what is to come in the future . . . well, American may be getting more of my attention on TATL, too. I just don't know if going for Platinum is worth it.
~Moderator
Jul 2, 2013, 9:05 am
#38
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern California
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, HH Gold, SPG Gold, National EC Executive, AA Platinum
Posts: 606
I am considering going for platinum status and have a quick question about upgrades. Do I have to use the 500mile upgrades or are there occasions I would be upgraded without them just based on the platinum status?
Jul 2, 2013, 9:08 am
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,247
Unless there is an oversell in Y and they do a cabin roll/you get an operational upgrade, you need to use stickers. AA only has unlimited upgrades for EXP.
Jul 10, 2013, 6:21 pm
#42
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 946
How often do PLT flyers find their domestic upgrade requests going through? I'd be flying out of BOS and BDL mainly, if I'd have luck getting a First or Business seat most of the time then it'd be worth flying the additional miles this year to qualify I think.
Jul 10, 2013, 6:33 pm
#43
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DCA | DEN
Programs: AA EXP/2.9mm | Marriott LT Titanium 1.6k nights | NEXUS
Posts: 981
You should do OK, but I don't have much experience with travel originating in BOS on business-dense time windows. There are plenty of EXPs around DCA or going back via ORD or DFW but when I was PLT I did pretty well. Maybe 50%, but I was pretty happy with that.
Jul 10, 2013, 8:12 pm
#45
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
That said, last year I made the decision to do a MR to get back into PLT because 1) I wanted higher standby priority(something I have to do quite frequently because of my job) 2) Lounge access for when I travel internationally in Y.