Jan 1, 2015, 3:04 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
What are AAdvantage Gold Benefits? Are they worth it?
C/Y 2019 Gold status requirements: $3,000 EQD* earned, AND 30 segments or 25,000 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 AA elite status. This requirement ended in 2017.
Status will last the status year when status is earned and the following status year. E.g. Status earned in 2020 will end 31 Jan 2022.
American Airlines AAdvantage Gold benefits, as stated on aa.com (chart), as of September 2015:
Preferred benefits:
Link to aa.com guide to AAdvantage Elite benefits (all levels)
Link to archive of older posts from this thread.
C/Y 2019 Gold status requirements: $3,000 EQD* earned, AND 30 segments or 25,000 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 AA elite status. This requirement ended in 2017.
Status will last the status year when status is earned and the following status year. E.g. Status earned in 2020 will end 31 Jan 2022.
American Airlines AAdvantage Gold benefits, as stated on aa.com (chart), as of September 2015:
Preferred benefits:
- Half price Main Cabin Extra or Free within 24 hours (extends to up to 8 traveling companions) (NOTE: 50% discount ends 5 Sep 2018)
- Courtesy Preferred Seats
- One (1) free checked bag (extends to all traveling companions same PNR)
- Minimum mileage guarantee (as of 1 Aug 2016, only applies to EQM)
- 25% elite mileage bonus (7 miles per "fare dollar" (base fare plus carrier fees, not taxes) spent as of 1 Aug 2016)
- Priority through the airport at check-in, security and boarding
- Checked bag fee waived for one (1) bags
- Complimentary same-day standby
- Discounted Admirals Club® membership
- NOTE Complimentary same-day flight change on American Airlines NOT available
- 24-hour upgrade window
- 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) 24 hours
- *Upgrades on American 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 24 hours prior to departure; 50% discounted otherwise (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
Link to aa.com guide to AAdvantage Elite benefits (all levels)
Link to archive of older posts from this thread.
What are AA ♦️Gold / GLD Benefits? Are they worth it? (Master thd)
Nov 1, 2017, 7:14 am
#61
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA PLT, IHG Spire
Posts: 551
Thanks for confirming. They moved the verbiage around and it was in a collapsed section so didn't see it at first glance. So I have a flight with a slight difference for 'Basic' Economy vs regular. Looks like the only real perk is the possibility of an upgrade (remote as it may be for Gold) and the ability to select my seat in advance. Otherwise my Gold benefits override the restrictions of Basic Economy. Am I reading that right, too?
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ic-economy.jsp
Does this also extend to a companion if booked on a basic economy PNR for the group?
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ic-economy.jsp
Does this also extend to a companion if booked on a basic economy PNR for the group?
May 1, 2018, 11:49 am
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,584
https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/oneworld-benefits
May 1, 2018, 11:58 am
#64
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
I doubt it, as additional baggage allowance is not a published benefit of AAdvantage Gold status, or its equivalent, oneworld Ruby:
https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/oneworld-benefits
https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/oneworld-benefits
May 1, 2018, 12:02 pm
#65
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
No. Gold gets complimentary first checked bag, not a complimentary extra checked bag. Certain (but by no means all) international itineraries also provide a complimentary first checked bag. But just because there are multiple reasons why you would be entitled to a complimentary first checked bag, does not mean you would get a second bag (just like if you were Gold and also held an AA credit card, you would not get a second bag).
Jun 5, 2018, 11:26 am
#66
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: BOS
Posts: 12
It appears that with the "enhancements" to MCE, Golds will no longer receive 50% off MCE seats at purchase. Email from aa today:
"Starting today, enjoy complimentary beer, wine and spirits when you fly in Main Cabin Extra.1 That’s on top of the other great benefits you already enjoy like:
Beginning September 5, AAdvantage® Gold members will no longer receive 50% off the purchase of Main Cabin Extra seats at the time of booking. You will continue to receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra within 24 hours of your flight."
"Starting today, enjoy complimentary beer, wine and spirits when you fly in Main Cabin Extra.1 That’s on top of the other great benefits you already enjoy like:
- Extra legroom
- Earlier access to overhead bin space2
Beginning September 5, AAdvantage® Gold members will no longer receive 50% off the purchase of Main Cabin Extra seats at the time of booking. You will continue to receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra within 24 hours of your flight."
Jun 5, 2018, 11:31 am
#67
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BMI
Programs: AA EXP, Delta, Amtrak, Hertz PC
Posts: 657
This is one of the few Gold benefits left that actually had some value. Does anyone have a success rate for 24 hour availability of MCE seats. I almost always purchase mine in advance.
Jun 5, 2018, 11:38 am
#68
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
I usually find MCE window/aisle seats available at T-24. Traveling during non-peak times (outside of Monday mornings, Thursday/Friday afternoon) helps with MCE availability.
Jun 5, 2018, 1:30 pm
#70
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,666
It appears that with the "enhancements" to MCE, Golds will no longer receive 50% off MCE seats at purchase. Email from aa today:
"Starting today, enjoy complimentary beer, wine and spirits when you fly in Main Cabin Extra.1 That’s on top of the other great benefits you already enjoy like:
Beginning September 5, AAdvantage® Gold members will no longer receive 50% off the purchase of Main Cabin Extra seats at the time of booking. You will continue to receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra within 24 hours of your flight."
"Starting today, enjoy complimentary beer, wine and spirits when you fly in Main Cabin Extra.1 That’s on top of the other great benefits you already enjoy like:
- Extra legroom
- Earlier access to overhead bin space2
Beginning September 5, AAdvantage® Gold members will no longer receive 50% off the purchase of Main Cabin Extra seats at the time of booking. You will continue to receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra within 24 hours of your flight."
Jun 5, 2018, 2:50 pm
#71
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 83
It appears that with the "enhancements" to MCE, Golds will no longer receive 50% off MCE seats at purchase. Email from aa today:
"Starting today, enjoy complimentary beer, wine and spirits when you fly in Main Cabin Extra.1 That’s on top of the other great benefits you already enjoy like:
Beginning September 5, AAdvantage® Gold members will no longer receive 50% off the purchase of Main Cabin Extra seats at the time of booking. You will continue to receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra within 24 hours of your flight."
"Starting today, enjoy complimentary beer, wine and spirits when you fly in Main Cabin Extra.1 That’s on top of the other great benefits you already enjoy like:
- Extra legroom
- Earlier access to overhead bin space2
Beginning September 5, AAdvantage® Gold members will no longer receive 50% off the purchase of Main Cabin Extra seats at the time of booking. You will continue to receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra within 24 hours of your flight."
Aug 14, 2018, 3:47 pm
#72
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: USA
Programs: AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 310
It appears that with the "enhancements" to MCE, Golds will no longer receive 50% off MCE seats at purchase. Email from aa today:
"Starting today, enjoy complimentary beer, wine and spirits when you fly in Main Cabin Extra.1 That’s on top of the other great benefits you already enjoy like:
Beginning September 5, AAdvantage® Gold members will no longer receive 50% off the purchase of Main Cabin Extra seats at the time of booking. You will continue to receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra within 24 hours of your flight."
"Starting today, enjoy complimentary beer, wine and spirits when you fly in Main Cabin Extra.1 That’s on top of the other great benefits you already enjoy like:
- Extra legroom
- Earlier access to overhead bin space2
Beginning September 5, AAdvantage® Gold members will no longer receive 50% off the purchase of Main Cabin Extra seats at the time of booking. You will continue to receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra within 24 hours of your flight."
Aug 14, 2018, 4:43 pm
#73
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: AAdvantage EXP | United Silver | HH Diamond | Bonvoy Platinum | Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 718
Nov 11, 2018, 1:12 pm
#75
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
If it was me, the ability to have free checked bags (especially when I travel with family), the bonus miles, the ability to upgrade some fights, and the ability to have at least preferred seats would be a yes for me.