Mar 21, 2013, 3:13 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
HELP DESK: AAdvantage Elite Status Challenge (Gold and Platinum)
Challenges may no longer be enrolled in as of 6 Oct; hard end date 23 Dec 2015 -
but some reporting success 6 Oct backdating to 23 Sep by supervisors
This is the archived thread about the now defunct AAdvantage elite Gold and Platinum status challenge. The current thread can be read here.
Challenges may no longer be enrolled in as of 6 Oct; hard end date 23 Dec 2015 -
but some reporting success 6 Oct backdating to 23 Sep by supervisors
This is the archived thread about the now defunct AAdvantage elite Gold and Platinum status challenge. The current thread can be read here.
NOTE: Challenges were closed off September 23 2015, at least for the remainder of 2015 - some have succeeded in enrolling and backdating to 23 Sep.
It is possible a new, remodeled challenge will be announced in or for 2016. That discussion is here: Original Gold / Platinum Challenge Ended 23 Sep '15. New program to come?
This thread is now dedicated to requests for assistance and responses to clarify challenge requirements for those members currently engaged in challenges and related issues. To discuss the potential and form of any future challenge, please use the link provided above.
NOTE: The rules for the Challenge at the time of closure are preserved below. The date by which the last person would have completed this challenge would be 23 December 2015.
It is possible a new, remodeled challenge will be announced in or for 2016. That discussion is here: Original Gold / Platinum Challenge Ended 23 Sep '15. New program to come?
This thread is now dedicated to requests for assistance and responses to clarify challenge requirements for those members currently engaged in challenges and related issues. To discuss the potential and form of any future challenge, please use the link provided above.
NOTE: The rules for the Challenge at the time of closure are preserved below. The date by which the last person would have completed this challenge would be 23 December 2015.
Note: The four AA segment minimum required for regular status qualification does not apply to completing the challenge.
Class of service, status or other bonus miles are redeemable miles and thus do not count for the challenge. Class of service is the reigning factor in calculating the points earned per mile flown: the base points per mile charts for the various fare buckets on qualifying airlines are here.
Note: The "Reach elite status faster" promotion awarding 2 or even 3 EQ Points per mile for flying premium fares through 2015 does not apply to the challenge; challenge flyers will only have a maximum of 1.5 base EQP per base EQ Mile considered for challenge-earned status. The extra points are considered bonus points and are only applicable for earning "normal", non-challenge status.
Though one earned status bonus miles on the qualifying flight at one time, that is no longer possible. Status bonus miles will accrue on the next eligible flight after your status qualifying flight.
Also see (FT) Help Understanding Status, Points / Miles & Segments: EQM vs EQP (merged thread) for further assistance with the miles-EQMiles-points issue.
For miles calculations, many use the Great Circle Mapper tool
*for Platinum, Jan-Jun $200, Jul - Dec $240 - presumably for the max nine months of status vs. the max of 20 months $240 of status. Occasionally, there are "sales" reductions; they seem to be about 10%.
Challenges begun before June 16 of a given year earn status for the remainder of that year and the first two months of the following year (8-14 months total); challenges begun on or after June 16 grant status for the remainder of that year, the following year, and the first two months of the year after (14-20 months total). Challenges can begin anytime (not previously the case) and can even be backdated up to two weeks as far as we know (as of Nov 2013).
To sign up for a challenge, call AAdvantage Customer Service at +1-800-882-8880.
Link to cyclingpilot post about being granted a back-dated challenge (2 weeks)
You cannot use a challenge to requalify for status. There is no longer a "soft landing" to the next lower level of status. The flight on which the challenge is completed no longer earns the redeemable miles bonus for the new status level.
Some have been granted Gold status whilst flying a Platinum challenge, particularly those with current elite status (any level) on an airline of a competing alliance, but this is not a given.
Based on multiple reports from FT members, as of mid-2015 AA is only allowing one status challenge over a five year period.
August 2014 e-mail received by a Challenger, shared by ashill:
Thank you for registering for an AAdvantage® challenge.
To enjoy AAdvantage PLATINUM status through February 2016, please earn 10,000 elite qualifying points between now and [redacted]. Qualifying flights on American Airlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection®, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas, US Airways and their eligible codeshare flights count toward your challenge.
Since the number of elite qualifying points you earn is based on the fare you purchase and the miles you earn, you can view these details for each airline:We wish you every success in attaining the elite status level you desire.
Sincerely,
Janet L F[redacted]
Director
AAdvantage Customer Service
Thank you for registering for an AAdvantage® challenge.
To enjoy AAdvantage PLATINUM status through February 2016, please earn 10,000 elite qualifying points between now and [redacted]. Qualifying flights on American Airlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection®, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas, US Airways and their eligible codeshare flights count toward your challenge.
Since the number of elite qualifying points you earn is based on the fare you purchase and the miles you earn, you can view these details for each airline:We wish you every success in attaining the elite status level you desire.
Sincerely,
Janet L F[redacted]
Director
AAdvantage Customer Service
ARCHIVE: HELP DESK: AA Elite Status Challenge (CLOSED: "hard end" 23 Dec 2015)
Sep 20, 2015, 5:36 am
#1501
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 Gold, AA Platinum
Posts: 50
Gold after 5k EQP waiting for Plat
Doing the Platinum challenge. Asked for but did not receive temporary Gold, although the agent said I'd receive Gold after reaching 5k EQP. My most recent flight just posted, getting me past 5k EQP/10k EQM, but how long should it take for it to upgrade my status?
Would it be wise to call on Monday? Flying again in a week on a long-haul TATL, so the 25% bonus would be good to have.
Would it be wise to call on Monday? Flying again in a week on a long-haul TATL, so the 25% bonus would be good to have.
Sep 20, 2015, 10:02 am
#1502
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Doing the Platinum challenge. Asked for but did not receive temporary Gold, although the agent said I'd receive Gold after reaching 5k EQP. My most recent flight just posted, getting me past 5k EQP/10k EQM, but how long should it take for it to upgrade my status?
Would it be wise to call on Monday? Flying again in a week on a long-haul TATL, so the 25% bonus would be good to have.
Would it be wise to call on Monday? Flying again in a week on a long-haul TATL, so the 25% bonus would be good to have.
You are likely to see your Gold status reflected as soon as your miles post to your account. On weekends, AA runs batch processes, etc. so things can delay a bit.
Your booked itineraries may or may not reflect your new status, however; if not, you'll probably want to call to have them updated.
Sep 21, 2015, 7:41 am
#1503
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1
Just called to start on the Platinum challenge for $200. Agent actively told me September 23rd is indeed the last day to sign up or start any challenge, without me having to ask. I have Silver over at UA and the agent initially wouldn't give me temporary Gold for the duration of the challenge but after some wrangling she gave a "one-time exception" and let me have the Gold (what would multiple times be in this case? 
). Also said if I went over 5K EQP but under 10K I will get Gold but they won't refund the difference in challenge pricing (Gold challenge was quoted to be $140, for $60 difference it's a no-brainer).
). Also said if I went over 5K EQP but under 10K I will get Gold but they won't refund the difference in challenge pricing (Gold challenge was quoted to be $140, for $60 difference it's a no-brainer).
Sep 23, 2015, 7:36 am
#1504
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BGO
Programs: SK Diamond, QR Platinum, AA Platinum, BA Silver, IHG Gold Ambassador
Posts: 297
Signed up for the challenge today. Initially the system wouldn't do it (they seemingly already made some changes/preparations for closing it down), but after a while on hold it went through. $200, 3 Months, got temporary gold just by asking for it.
Time to replace the FF# on all my bookings from BA/QR to AA
Time to replace the FF# on all my bookings from BA/QR to AA
Sep 23, 2015, 9:48 am
#1505
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Glad you got through. I was -just- about to post "looks like they may have shut things down early!" (based on a single PM'd report just now) but that member, too, succeeded after originally being told "uh oh"
Sep 23, 2015, 11:26 am
#1507
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Posts related to EXP / corporate status challenge have been moved to
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-platinum.html
/Moderator
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-platinum.html
/Moderator
Sep 23, 2015, 1:45 pm
#1508
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 333
I just called and signed up today for Platinum. I was told it's not Executive Platinum, just platinum. It was $200. Did I screw up here?
Sep 23, 2015, 2:06 pm
#1509
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BGO
Programs: SK Diamond, QR Platinum, AA Platinum, BA Silver, IHG Gold Ambassador
Posts: 297
Sep 23, 2015, 2:10 pm
#1510
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Under the terms of this challenge, which you can read in the wiki, one can challenge for Gold or Platinum, not for Executive Platinum.
Sep 23, 2015, 3:17 pm
#1512
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 333
Thank you. I wasn't sure if I did something wrong or not.
Sep 23, 2015, 4:56 pm
#1513
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL MM (thanks PMNW!), DL PM, UA PLT, just about every darn hotel program-generally GOLD type level
Posts: 783
I was keeping my eye on challenges when a "Y" fare paid for by the military fell in my lap. I look forward to checking out the product as a simple Plat
Sep 23, 2015, 5:14 pm
#1514
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,690
So I did a status match challenge to AA Exp Plat and I need 25K. I noticed this wording
"** Travel on eligible airlines includes American Airlines, American
Eagle, the AmericanConnection® carrier, US Airways, British Airways,
Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, and Qantas as well codeshare flights
marketed and operated by eligible carriers. Bonus elite-qualifying
points do not count toward your qualification for this offer. You must
re-qualify for AAdvantage elite status membership annually"
So would a AA flight number operated by CX qualify?
Like AA8938 LAX-HKG operated by CX?
"** Travel on eligible airlines includes American Airlines, American
Eagle, the AmericanConnection® carrier, US Airways, British Airways,
Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, and Qantas as well codeshare flights
marketed and operated by eligible carriers. Bonus elite-qualifying
points do not count toward your qualification for this offer. You must
re-qualify for AAdvantage elite status membership annually"
So would a AA flight number operated by CX qualify?
Like AA8938 LAX-HKG operated by CX?
Sep 23, 2015, 5:32 pm
#1515
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
So I did a status match challenge to AA Exp Plat and I need 25K. I noticed this wording
"** Travel on eligible airlines includes American Airlines, American
Eagle, the AmericanConnection® carrier, US Airways, British Airways,
Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, and Qantas as well codeshare flights
marketed and operated by eligible carriers. Bonus elite-qualifying
points do not count toward your qualification for this offer. You must
re-qualify for AAdvantage elite status membership annually"
So would a AA flight number operated by CX qualify?
Like AA8938 LAX-HKG operated by CX?
"** Travel on eligible airlines includes American Airlines, American
Eagle, the AmericanConnection® carrier, US Airways, British Airways,
Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, and Qantas as well codeshare flights
marketed and operated by eligible carriers. Bonus elite-qualifying
points do not count toward your qualification for this offer. You must
re-qualify for AAdvantage elite status membership annually"
So would a AA flight number operated by CX qualify?
Like AA8938 LAX-HKG operated by CX?
Please read the wiki for the proper thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-platinum.html.
Thank you,
/Moderator