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)
Jun 29, 2014, 1:58 pm
#316
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Anaheim, CA - Delta Platinum Medallion,Sky Team Elite Plus, American Airlines Platinum, OneWorld - Emerald, EK-Skywards Gold, VS Flying Club, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold. Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum, Intercontinental Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 547
I am flying to SJU in a few weeks in First/Business Class. I am going to do the PLT Challenge. During the challenge, will I have PLT status, or just my general status?
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
Jun 29, 2014, 4:11 pm
#317
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Tit LTP
Posts: 1,923
During the challenge you have whatever status you start the challenge with; some people (including me a few years ago) have been granted Gold at the start of the challenge which in my case may have been associated with some nonrefundable purchased tickets as well as some past travel.
Jun 30, 2014, 10:45 am
#318
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 289
I am going to do a lot of domestic travel with AA within the 3 months. I want to sign up for the gold challenge but I want to make sure I am understanding the points formula before I sign up for something and it does not work.
Example;
I am flying a roundtrip, 600 miles one way, 1200 roundtrip. If the booking code is Q, I will earn 600 points. (1200*0.5 ). If the booking code is L, for the same trip, I will earn 1200 points. Is this correct?
Example;
I am flying a roundtrip, 600 miles one way, 1200 roundtrip. If the booking code is Q, I will earn 600 points. (1200*0.5 ). If the booking code is L, for the same trip, I will earn 1200 points. Is this correct?
Jun 30, 2014, 11:02 am
#319
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
I am going to do a lot of domestic travel with AA within the 3 months. I want to sign up for the gold challenge but I want to make sure I am understanding the points formula before I sign up for something and it does not work.
Example;
I am flying a roundtrip, 600 miles one way, 1200 roundtrip. If the booking code is Q, I will earn 600 points. (1200*0.5 ). If the booking code is L, for the same trip, I will earn 1200 points. Is this correct?
Example;
I am flying a roundtrip, 600 miles one way, 1200 roundtrip. If the booking code is Q, I will earn 600 points. (1200*0.5 ). If the booking code is L, for the same trip, I will earn 1200 points. Is this correct?
See here.
Jun 30, 2014, 11:23 am
#320
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Anaheim, CA - Delta Platinum Medallion,Sky Team Elite Plus, American Airlines Platinum, OneWorld - Emerald, EK-Skywards Gold, VS Flying Club, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold. Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum, Intercontinental Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 547
During the challenge you have whatever status you start the challenge with; some people (including me a few years ago) have been granted Gold at the start of the challenge which in my case may have been associated with some nonrefundable purchased tickets as well as some past travel.
Jul 1, 2014, 11:19 am
#321
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Everywhere you wanna be
Programs: AA EP | UA 1K
Posts: 1,657
i too was granted gold when i started my challenge (2 months ago). all i had to do was say i had status on a different airline and he was like not a problem.
During my challenge run, i had multiple segments on one PNR. I got 25% bonus on most of them, but the very last segment i got the 100% bonus on (i was already 3000pts over the 10k threshold by then but it wasn't reflected as platnium yet)
During my challenge run, i had multiple segments on one PNR. I got 25% bonus on most of them, but the very last segment i got the 100% bonus on (i was already 3000pts over the 10k threshold by then but it wasn't reflected as platnium yet)
Jul 1, 2014, 1:33 pm
#322
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
i too was granted gold when i started my challenge (2 months ago). all i had to do was say i had status on a different airline and he was like not a problem.
During my challenge run, i had multiple segments on one PNR. I got 25% bonus on most of them, but the very last segment i got the 100% bonus on (i was already 3000pts over the 10k threshold by then but it wasn't reflected as platnium yet)
During my challenge run, i had multiple segments on one PNR. I got 25% bonus on most of them, but the very last segment i got the 100% bonus on (i was already 3000pts over the 10k threshold by then but it wasn't reflected as platnium yet)
Jul 1, 2014, 5:39 pm
#323
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Boston
Programs: AA Platinum, UA Silver, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 7
Question
I have a upcoming flight from BOS to LHR on BA business class. Will I have 10k points/miles after this flight to qualify for the Platinum challenge? I was using a mileage calculator online and it said i would get 9,760 miles, would hate to be so close but not 10k - not sure how accurate those things are. Also, does my current qualifying points count towards this or only the ones I fly after I sign up for the challenge? Thanks!
Jul 1, 2014, 7:53 pm
#324
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,546
I'm afraid the online calculators are pretty accurate. At 1.5 EQP for BA Club World, BOS-LHR-BOS will earn around 9,795 points. Is there any way you can add a connection? Or, you might be able to backdate the start of your challenge a bit if you have some flights in the last few weeks.
Jul 2, 2014, 4:07 am
#325
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 9
AA Gold Membership Challenge 2014
Hi Everyone
I have recently joined AAdvantage. I was thinking of doing the AA Gold Membership Challenge. I live in Australia and will be travelling to the USA for 4 weeks in September. I will be flying QANTAS SYD-LAX and LAX-SYD and have three Domestic Flights within the USA with American Air. I have been reading online about the challenge etc. I was wondering, However if the QANTAS Flights (Used to Gain the majority of the Required Points) have to be a Codeshare Flight booked with an AA Flight Number? I was reading that this may be the case. I booked my QANTAS Flight on QANTAS Website (QF Flight number)
Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated
Thankyou in advance!
Squaks
I have recently joined AAdvantage. I was thinking of doing the AA Gold Membership Challenge. I live in Australia and will be travelling to the USA for 4 weeks in September. I will be flying QANTAS SYD-LAX and LAX-SYD and have three Domestic Flights within the USA with American Air. I have been reading online about the challenge etc. I was wondering, However if the QANTAS Flights (Used to Gain the majority of the Required Points) have to be a Codeshare Flight booked with an AA Flight Number? I was reading that this may be the case. I booked my QANTAS Flight on QANTAS Website (QF Flight number)
Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated
Thankyou in advance!
Squaks
Jul 2, 2014, 5:11 am
#326
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
Please refer to this THREAD of GOLD/PLTINUM CHALLENGE
Yes apparently Qantas flight qualifies without being AA codeshare. But do take notice of the difference between EQP/EQM...
Yes apparently Qantas flight qualifies without being AA codeshare. But do take notice of the difference between EQP/EQM...
Jul 2, 2014, 10:02 am
#327
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
Hi Everyone
I have recently joined AAdvantage. I was thinking of doing the AA Gold Membership Challenge. I live in Australia and will be travelling to the USA for 4 weeks in September. I will be flying QANTAS SYD-LAX and LAX-SYD and have three Domestic Flights within the USA with American Air. I have been reading online about the challenge etc. I was wondering, However if the QANTAS Flights (Used to Gain the majority of the Required Points) have to be a Codeshare Flight booked with an AA Flight Number? I was reading that this may be the case. I booked my QANTAS Flight on QANTAS Website (QF Flight number)
Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated
Thankyou in advance!
Squaks
I have recently joined AAdvantage. I was thinking of doing the AA Gold Membership Challenge. I live in Australia and will be travelling to the USA for 4 weeks in September. I will be flying QANTAS SYD-LAX and LAX-SYD and have three Domestic Flights within the USA with American Air. I have been reading online about the challenge etc. I was wondering, However if the QANTAS Flights (Used to Gain the majority of the Required Points) have to be a Codeshare Flight booked with an AA Flight Number? I was reading that this may be the case. I booked my QANTAS Flight on QANTAS Website (QF Flight number)
Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated
Thankyou in advance!
Squaks
aa.com page on AA Points earning - Qualifications
aa.com page on earnings from Qantas flights
Remember, it's the points. Done in well-chosen fare classes, you could earn Platinum / oneworld Sapphire on your flights - or be very frustrated.
Jul 2, 2014, 7:32 pm
#328
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Everywhere you wanna be
Programs: AA EP | UA 1K
Posts: 1,657
Hi Everyone
I have recently joined AAdvantage. I was thinking of doing the AA Gold Membership Challenge. I live in Australia and will be travelling to the USA for 4 weeks in September. I will be flying QANTAS SYD-LAX and LAX-SYD and have three Domestic Flights within the USA with American Air. I have been reading online about the challenge etc. I was wondering, However if the QANTAS Flights (Used to Gain the majority of the Required Points) have to be a Codeshare Flight booked with an AA Flight Number? I was reading that this may be the case. I booked my QANTAS Flight on QANTAS Website (QF Flight number)
Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated
Thankyou in advance!
Squaks
I have recently joined AAdvantage. I was thinking of doing the AA Gold Membership Challenge. I live in Australia and will be travelling to the USA for 4 weeks in September. I will be flying QANTAS SYD-LAX and LAX-SYD and have three Domestic Flights within the USA with American Air. I have been reading online about the challenge etc. I was wondering, However if the QANTAS Flights (Used to Gain the majority of the Required Points) have to be a Codeshare Flight booked with an AA Flight Number? I was reading that this may be the case. I booked my QANTAS Flight on QANTAS Website (QF Flight number)
Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated
Thankyou in advance!
Squaks
compare those letters to the AAdvantage accrual chart for qantas. Usually the dirt bottom QF fares earn 25% miles and 0.5 points/mile earned. so a SYD-LAX return flight will be about 16000 regular miles, and at 25% that would be a mere 4000 miles, and at 0.5 pts/mile that would be only 2000 points.
On the upside, ALL AA flights will earn 100% miles but i'm guessing the discount fare classes you're in will still only earn 0.5pts. If you want to book an AA flight number then you'll have to book the flights on AA.com.
http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/ea...nes/qantas.jsp.
There really isn't any advantage to Ruby status with Qantas though, so i don't know if i would recommend this challenge... Hell there's not many sapphire benefits for qantas either (apart from qantas club access).
Jul 7, 2014, 7:36 am
#329
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: AA Gold, OW Ruby, IHG PLT, JB Mosiac, Delta Silver, VA Silver, AK MVP, Hyatt Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 151
Thinking of doing the Platinum Challenge for AA. From Sept-Dec of this year I have a long haul on BA BOS-LHR, and then short haul BOS or BDL to MCO planned. From what I am figuring out:
BOS-LHR/LHR-BOS is 6514 miles RT. I'm flying in T (Prem Econ) so I earn 100% miles plus the 1.5 EQM for a total of 9771 miles.
BDL-MCO (which is my closest airport but I can drive to BOS) is 2106 miles RT earned at 100%. Even in the cheapest Econ cabin at .5 EQM, that gives 3159 miles.
I double checked and the website said that miles and EQM's count (but cabin/class bonus doesn't- so I didn't figure it into my calculations here) but even taking EQM's out and adding in another run between CT and FL, I should go over 10k miles.
That just seems WAY too easy to achieve Platinum. Am I missing something?
Does this plan work?
Also, how is the 3 month period that they give you to achieve the miles figured? Is it three months from the day you call, or is it a 3 month calendar period that you pick or what?
Thanks in advance!!
EDIT:
I just realized this is based on points not miles (misread the sticky up top) but based on the above flights points earnings: 3527 points for the BOS-LHR/LHR-BOS and then the 1206 points for BDL-MCO/MCO-BDL run now in full economy x2 should still get me gold, right??
BOS-LHR/LHR-BOS is 6514 miles RT. I'm flying in T (Prem Econ) so I earn 100% miles plus the 1.5 EQM for a total of 9771 miles.
BDL-MCO (which is my closest airport but I can drive to BOS) is 2106 miles RT earned at 100%. Even in the cheapest Econ cabin at .5 EQM, that gives 3159 miles.
I double checked and the website said that miles and EQM's count (but cabin/class bonus doesn't- so I didn't figure it into my calculations here) but even taking EQM's out and adding in another run between CT and FL, I should go over 10k miles.
That just seems WAY too easy to achieve Platinum. Am I missing something?
Does this plan work?
Also, how is the 3 month period that they give you to achieve the miles figured? Is it three months from the day you call, or is it a 3 month calendar period that you pick or what?
Thanks in advance!!
EDIT:
I just realized this is based on points not miles (misread the sticky up top) but based on the above flights points earnings: 3527 points for the BOS-LHR/LHR-BOS and then the 1206 points for BDL-MCO/MCO-BDL run now in full economy x2 should still get me gold, right??
Last edited by sperkins921; Jul 7, 2014 at 7:43 am
Jul 7, 2014, 7:53 am
#330
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
EDIT:
I just realized this is based on points not miles (misread the sticky up top) but based on the above flights points earnings: 3527 points for the BOS-LHR/LHR-BOS and then the 1206 points for BDL-MCO/MCO-BDL run now in full economy x2 should still get me gold, right??
I just realized this is based on points not miles (misread the sticky up top) but based on the above flights points earnings: 3527 points for the BOS-LHR/LHR-BOS and then the 1206 points for BDL-MCO/MCO-BDL run now in full economy x2 should still get me gold, right??
And you still are...
So BOS-LHR-BOS flying BA in Premium Economy (T class) is 6,530 miles and will earn you:
- 7183 Redeemable Miles (which you can use for reward flights etc) - this is the flown miles of 6,530 plus the 10% bonus for T class
- 6530 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM)
- 9795 Elite Qualifying Points (1.5 times the EQM because it's T class)
So by the end of that trip you will be very close to the 10,000 EQP needed for the platinum challenge