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)
Mar 7, 2019, 11:49 am
#106
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: USA
Programs: AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 310
International flight - no. Domestic award flight - yes (same rules apply as above I'm pretty sure - has been awhile since I same-day-standbyed on a domestic award but I'm fairly positive I've done it before).
Beware of agents that complicate the process, especially if you're checking bags. A competent agent will be able to check your bags on the earlier flight(s), but I've had multiple agents refuse to check my bags on an earlier connection for whatever reason. One agent told me "the flight is oversold by 10 so you're not going to make it" - well I show up at the gate and guess who gets the last seat - me. Then again I've also had agents that confirmed me on earlier flights for free and took care of everything. Also, being able to standby for free can help you violate MCT if your inbound is early - it's hard to believe AA could be early but it does happen!
Beware of agents that complicate the process, especially if you're checking bags. A competent agent will be able to check your bags on the earlier flight(s), but I've had multiple agents refuse to check my bags on an earlier connection for whatever reason. One agent told me "the flight is oversold by 10 so you're not going to make it" - well I show up at the gate and guess who gets the last seat - me. Then again I've also had agents that confirmed me on earlier flights for free and took care of everything. Also, being able to standby for free can help you violate MCT if your inbound is early - it's hard to believe AA could be early but it does happen!
Mar 7, 2019, 2:04 pm
#107
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
1) Both DL and UA silver charge $75 for same-day standby. And more importantly, only AA to my knowledge allows no-questions-asked standby for earlier or later flights, regardless of same day confirmed availability
2) DL tries to limit some elite security to Gold members. Not sure about UA
3) UA appears to charge close in award fees for all members except Platinum and 1K
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...ticketing.html
Delta doesn't appear to charge any close in award fees
4) Same at all three carriers
5) Delta requires upgrade availability, so it is more restrictive than AA (though in practice, I am always upgraded to Comfort Plus as a Delta Silver)
6) Totally route dependent. AA does require stickers for certain routes, though, while Delta is 100% complementary (this is worse or better depending on the situation)
7) Similar for all of the majors
2) DL tries to limit some elite security to Gold members. Not sure about UA
3) UA appears to charge close in award fees for all members except Platinum and 1K
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...ticketing.html
Delta doesn't appear to charge any close in award fees
4) Same at all three carriers
5) Delta requires upgrade availability, so it is more restrictive than AA (though in practice, I am always upgraded to Comfort Plus as a Delta Silver)
6) Totally route dependent. AA does require stickers for certain routes, though, while Delta is 100% complementary (this is worse or better depending on the situation)
7) Similar for all of the majors
Mar 12, 2019, 1:04 pm
#109
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
In a lot of ways, AA Gold is the most valuable of all of the "first rung" elite status
1) Same-day standby - Has saved me hundreds of dollars, and is one of the most valuable standby policies because of the ability to standby for later flights
2) Elite check-in and security - many limit that to the 50,000 mile tier
3) Waived $75 close-in award booking fee - again a money saver
4) Free bags
5) MCE at check-in
6) High upgrade percentage on regional fllights
7) Increased earnings for paid flights
1) Same-day standby - Has saved me hundreds of dollars, and is one of the most valuable standby policies because of the ability to standby for later flights
2) Elite check-in and security - many limit that to the 50,000 mile tier
3) Waived $75 close-in award booking fee - again a money saver
4) Free bags
5) MCE at check-in
6) High upgrade percentage on regional fllights
7) Increased earnings for paid flights
Mar 21, 2019, 9:44 am
#110
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: $9 Fare Club
Posts: 1,478
Can someone walk me through the standby process; so I buy the last flight of the day and if I show up early, register with an agent for an earlier flight I can take it? So potentially a lot of hanging around the airport? Vice versa too - I can standby for a later flight if I book an early one? Assume there's a risk of not getting on a flight that day at all if it was busy/storm delays etc?
Wondering as I'm PP until 1/31/20, but will only fly enough for GLD this year. Have never used standby before.
Wondering as I'm PP until 1/31/20, but will only fly enough for GLD this year. Have never used standby before.
Mar 21, 2019, 10:18 am
#111
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: GCM, formerly DFW
Programs: AA Exp
Posts: 271
Can someone walk me through the standby process; so I buy the last flight of the day and if I show up early, register with an agent for an earlier flight I can take it? So potentially a lot of hanging around the airport? Vice versa too - I can standby for a later flight if I book an early one? Assume there's a risk of not getting on a flight that day at all if it was busy/storm delays etc?
Wondering as I'm PP until 1/31/20, but will only fly enough for GLD this year. Have never used standby before.
Wondering as I'm PP until 1/31/20, but will only fly enough for GLD this year. Have never used standby before.
The problem is with Gold, no matter what time you arrive at the gate/get on the standby list, you're already behind all other levels of AA elite, plus anyone who has missed a connection because of mechanical issues, etc. That being said, that's generally only an issue on busy travel days and hubs
Feb 5, 2020, 9:37 pm
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,519
And, if MCE seats are available at T-24, you can select them at no extra charge. That's a big deal on such a long flight.
Mar 17, 2020, 12:44 pm
#114
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: New Jersey. USA
Programs: DL, BA, AA Plat Pro, MLIfe Gold, HH Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Gold, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 110
Basic Economy EQM earning rate?
Hello All. I am new to Gold AA status so please forgive me with such a basic question. Since I have attained status all my flights have been booked into paid Main Cabin or F tix. But the updated pricing on some routes I'm seeing are attractive but are reflective mostly of BE fare class. I understand regardless of status the EQM will earn 50% of the route flown with a BE ticket. But on flights shorter than 500 miles would I still be guaranteed the 500 EQM minimum on a BE fare with Gold status? And if not how would it award EQM? Thanks in advance for your help with this question as I love the ability to gain and share knowledge and experiences here!
Mar 18, 2020, 2:49 am
#115
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LGB
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 241
Hello All. I am new to Gold AA status so please forgive me with such a basic question. Since I have attained status all my flights have been booked into paid Main Cabin or F tix. But the updated pricing on some routes I'm seeing are attractive but are reflective mostly of BE fare class. I understand regardless of status the EQM will earn 50% of the route flown with a BE ticket. But on flights shorter than 500 miles would I still be guaranteed the 500 EQM minimum on a BE fare with Gold status? And if not how would it award EQM? Thanks in advance for your help with this question as I love the ability to gain and share knowledge and experiences here!
AAdvantage® members have a base of 500 EQMs for flights under 500 miles on American and oneworld® airlines (250 EQMs for flights under 500 miles on Basic Economy fares).
Mar 18, 2020, 5:44 am
#116
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: New Jersey. USA
Programs: DL, BA, AA Plat Pro, MLIfe Gold, HH Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Gold, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 110
May 6, 2020, 11:56 pm
#117
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,310
Hi all, I just became Gold AAvantage Elite. I knows the program very well. I can have 1 free checked bag for domestic US flight. I can get on boards early and main cabin extra seat, as well.
May 7, 2020, 9:27 am
#118
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 193
i've been a AA GOLD for a few years (7-ish), including a few at PLT. But in 2020 it lapsed (before COVID). Instead i got TSA Pre-check, Priority Pass lounge access, and the AA credit card for (some) free bags. Way better experience. The only thing i miss (if i was flying) is the free standby.
Jul 15, 2021, 12:13 am
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,310
Can I change the flight earlier? Can I have standby? I have fly back to PHX. I have go back home to watch Pimper Popper TV show at 9pm on next Wednesday night. Can I leave FLL at 1:08pm? I don't want stay in FLL for 7 hours.
Jul 15, 2021, 5:46 am
#120
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,085
