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)
May 31, 2014, 3:49 pm
#271
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Sydney
Programs: SPG Plt, AA Exec Plt
Posts: 206
Sorry my profile is out of date.
May 31, 2014, 3:53 pm
#272
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CUR
Posts: 2,170
Challenges can be backdated 2 weeks and there is no cutoff on the 1st/16th anymore.
Please do try using the search function or the sticky threads at the top. This helps keep the forum less cluttered and makes information easier to find.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-platinum.html
Please do try using the search function or the sticky threads at the top. This helps keep the forum less cluttered and makes information easier to find.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-platinum.html
May 31, 2014, 4:59 pm
#273
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Sydney
Programs: SPG Plt, AA Exec Plt
Posts: 206
Thank you, but this is where I got the idea that by starting it on or after the 1st would make my flights from the 31st unusable. Apologies if I have it wrong.
As per the wiki
For example, if you last flew on the 14th of the month, and call AA on the 18th, the earliest you can backdate the challenge is the 16th of the month, and therefore won't be able to include those miles in your challenge. However, if you flew on the 14th and you called AA by the 15th, you could backdate your enrollment date to the 1st of the month and be able to include those miles.
As per the wiki
For example, if you last flew on the 14th of the month, and call AA on the 18th, the earliest you can backdate the challenge is the 16th of the month, and therefore won't be able to include those miles in your challenge. However, if you flew on the 14th and you called AA by the 15th, you could backdate your enrollment date to the 1st of the month and be able to include those miles.
May 31, 2014, 5:16 pm
#274
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CUR
Posts: 2,170
Thank you, but this is where I got the idea that by starting it on or after the 1st would make my flights from the 31st unusable. Apologies if I have it wrong.
As per the wiki
For example, if you last flew on the 14th of the month, and call AA on the 18th, the earliest you can backdate the challenge is the 16th of the month, and therefore won't be able to include those miles in your challenge. However, if you flew on the 14th and you called AA by the 15th, you could backdate your enrollment date to the 1st of the month and be able to include those miles.
As per the wiki
For example, if you last flew on the 14th of the month, and call AA on the 18th, the earliest you can backdate the challenge is the 16th of the month, and therefore won't be able to include those miles in your challenge. However, if you flew on the 14th and you called AA by the 15th, you could backdate your enrollment date to the 1st of the month and be able to include those miles.
Changes as of November: You can start a challenge on any date and backdate it 2 weeks.
Also, the threshold crossing flight no longer earns bonus miles.
May 31, 2014, 6:47 pm
#275
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: BWI,BAH
Programs: Gulf Air Silver, MR Plat, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6
Good to know...
Thanks lawyertalk... I was about to book my ~13K of nonrefundable travel but came back to FT to read up on the PLT challenge. So I can go ahead and book before I call the challenge desk, right? What exactly do I have to tell the agent in order to get gold on the spot?
May 31, 2014, 7:11 pm
#276
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: AA PLT, DL GM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 241
Just explain that you have a lot of nonrefundable travel already booked, more than enough to complete the platinum challenge, and ask them if they can submit a request for an instant upgrade to gold during the challenge.
May 31, 2014, 9:35 pm
#277
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
Older posts have been archived (in many cases they contain obsolete information): Archive: Help Desk: AAdvantage Gold, Platinum Elite Status Challenge
I've deleted references to the FlyerGuide wiki in this thread, as most of the information that is useful is contained here, the FlyerGuide wiki is often spammed and with the ability to create wikiposts here on FT, the maintenance of effort is lower and disseminated amongst all of us (easier for helpful folks like Djokison!)
/Moderator
I've deleted references to the FlyerGuide wiki in this thread, as most of the information that is useful is contained here, the FlyerGuide wiki is often spammed and with the ability to create wikiposts here on FT, the maintenance of effort is lower and disseminated amongst all of us (easier for helpful folks like Djokison!)
/Moderator
Jun 1, 2014, 12:21 am
#278
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Sydney
Programs: SPG Plt, AA Exec Plt
Posts: 206
Jun 4, 2014, 11:48 am
#279
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dallas
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, IHG Spire, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,523
Has anyone ever done a PLT challenge for a underage minor? My son is going to Germany (in J) and will without any issue, hit the EQPs for the PLT challenge. It would be nice to have him as a PLT for upgrades, as I cant upgrade all 3 of us (my two kids and me). Just wasnt sure if there was a rule on the challenge to need to be 18.
Jun 6, 2014, 7:59 pm
#280
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Australia
Programs: QF WP, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 47
I notice that AA is now enforcing its 4 segment on AA rule. I was wondering whether this will affect the Challenge?
Jun 8, 2014, 9:56 am
#282
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: GRU
Programs: SPG Platinum, LH Senator, UA Premier Executive, RG Diamante
Posts: 129
Customer service in Brazil
I called AA customer service in Brazil and they didn't know nothing about any challenge.
Is there a special desk for asking the challenge ?
Any phone number or email ?
Thanks !!
Is there a special desk for asking the challenge ?
Any phone number or email ?
Thanks !!
Jun 9, 2014, 10:12 am
#285
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Da World (GOT usually)
Programs: Oneworld, Hilton, IHG
Posts: 409
39 points shy of challenge, granted status
Partner was 39 points shy of challenge, yet AA granted status.
Unusual?
Unusual?