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)
Aug 24, 2014, 8:34 pm
#436
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
As American Airlines and US Airways are still operating as distinct airlines, this question is being moved to the appropriate pre-merger airline forum. We'll merge this into the existing thread in that forum.
Please note the sticky at the top of the consolidated thread which is titled PLEASE READ ME BEFORE POSTING! Welcome to the New American Airlines Forum!. With all of the changes about, it is important to know where to post, and reading that thread before posting (as the title suggests
) will help get you in the right place.
~Moderator
Please note the sticky at the top of the consolidated thread which is titled PLEASE READ ME BEFORE POSTING! Welcome to the New American Airlines Forum!. With all of the changes about, it is important to know where to post, and reading that thread before posting (as the title suggests
) will help get you in the right place.~Moderator
Aug 24, 2014, 8:37 pm
#437
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
Sorry guys. I am new to Miles-Run and just heard about this Advantage Elite Status Challenges (Platinum).
I understand I have to reach 10,000 points (not miles) within 3 months.
So if I fly one round trip (7,000 miles) in First class. (booking: A in US airways)
Will I achieve Platinum challenge already? 7000 miles x 1.5 =10500 points
Or should I have to fly this route (7000 miles) twice?
Thank you for your help..
I understand I have to reach 10,000 points (not miles) within 3 months.
So if I fly one round trip (7,000 miles) in First class. (booking: A in US airways)
Will I achieve Platinum challenge already? 7000 miles x 1.5 =10500 points
Or should I have to fly this route (7000 miles) twice?
Thank you for your help..
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-platinum.html
Your calculations are correct - a 7,000mile round trip in F on US will get you 10,500 elite qualifying points, which are sufficient for the platinum challenge
Last edited by pandaperth; Aug 24, 2014 at 9:17 pm Reason: I see JDiver moved this thread while I was typing :))
Aug 25, 2014, 11:45 pm
#438
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: not far from MUC
Posts: 6,620
Do you still need (four?) flights on AA metal to gain status as well as flying the EQPs for the challenge?
(Now that the challenges allow non-AA metal it would be perfectly possible to fly 10k EQPs without going near a AA flight)
(Now that the challenges allow non-AA metal it would be perfectly possible to fly 10k EQPs without going near a AA flight)
Aug 26, 2014, 1:10 am
#439
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
(Four AA-metal flights are however required for achieving status the 'normal' way)
Aug 26, 2014, 6:05 am
#440
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: AA ExP;HHonors Diamond;IHG GOLD;SPG Gold
Posts: 8
Sync Quicker
Just show them when you check in at a desk or at the lounges of any OW.
Aug 27, 2014, 3:41 pm
#441
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1
Does anyone know if you can apply miles that you've already booked (but haven't flown) to a challenge?
For example, I just booked a flight to Africa (It should yield 7k miles after the 0.5 discount is applied since it's a deep discount ticket), but I have not flown yet. Can I essentially pay AA $150 and get gold status?
For example, I just booked a flight to Africa (It should yield 7k miles after the 0.5 discount is applied since it's a deep discount ticket), but I have not flown yet. Can I essentially pay AA $150 and get gold status?
Aug 27, 2014, 4:26 pm
#442
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,220
Does anyone know if you can apply miles that you've already booked (but haven't flown) to a challenge?
For example, I just booked a flight to Africa (It should yield 7k miles after the 0.5 discount is applied since it's a deep discount ticket), but I have not flown yet. Can I essentially pay AA $150 and get gold status?
For example, I just booked a flight to Africa (It should yield 7k miles after the 0.5 discount is applied since it's a deep discount ticket), but I have not flown yet. Can I essentially pay AA $150 and get gold status?
Edited to add: Pardon my manners, really lack thereof. Welcome to Flyertalk, jlearman!
Last edited by United747; Aug 27, 2014 at 8:31 pm Reason: See above
Aug 27, 2014, 7:19 pm
#443
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
Does anyone know if you can apply miles that you've already booked (but haven't flown) to a challenge?
For example, I just booked a flight to Africa (It should yield 7k miles after the 0.5 discount is applied since it's a deep discount ticket), but I have not flown yet. Can I essentially pay AA $150 and get gold status?
For example, I just booked a flight to Africa (It should yield 7k miles after the 0.5 discount is applied since it's a deep discount ticket), but I have not flown yet. Can I essentially pay AA $150 and get gold status?
The answer is 'Yes'. And in fact the two times Mrs pandaperth enrolled in the challenge the agent actually checked her future bookings and advised they'd be sufficient for the challenge.
And, by the way, the challenge is based on elite qualifying points, not miles
Sep 2, 2014, 12:42 pm
#444
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: AA Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 1,200
I signed up for the Plat challenge today, flew LAX/MIA on a 1.5 EQP rate this weekend so already 7/10 of the way there. A few things of interest, you can set a past date as the start date within the past 2 months. However, the agent has to do something to apply the already flown flights to the challenge, it takes a couple minutes and you see some interesting activity on AA.com it looks they they manually repost and remove the flight from your history. Start date can be any calendar day doesn't have to be 1 or 16. Will report back if anything else of interest happens.
Sep 2, 2014, 1:07 pm
#445
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AA Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 174
I signed up for the Plat challenge today, flew LAX/MIA on a 1.5 EQP rate this weekend so already 7/10 of the way there. A few things of interest, you can set a past date as the start date within the past 2 months. However, the agent has to do something to apply the already flown flights to the challenge, it takes a couple minutes and you see some interesting activity on AA.com it looks they they manually repost and remove the flight from your history. Start date can be any calendar day doesn't have to be 1 or 16. Will report back if anything else of interest happens.
Sep 2, 2014, 3:40 pm
#446
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: AA Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 1,200
Just to clarify, you signed up for the challenge today, as in 9/2/14, but flew this past weekend (before signing up) and then called and had those segments applied to your challenge? Did it take only one phone call, or did you first call and set the challenge start date to sometime in the past and then called back and asked to apply those segments?
Sep 4, 2014, 2:08 pm
#447
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: ORD, SJD, VNO, sandy places
Programs: AA 1.2MM BIS 'LT' Gld, BA Bronze, AA Plat, now considering SWA.....
Posts: 451
Interesting to observe including "past segments" to your Plat challenge.....
As for your 7/10's "of the way there".....
FlyerCalc App, is something you should acquire ....
Lists:
LAX>MIA as 2337 flown miles
Base RDM 2337
Assuming you are a 'Gold' bonus of 584..
Total points 3506
Total EQM 2337
And you flew in fare code 'Y'
Total points 3506 x 1.5 = 5259......
How do you perceive that you are "7/10's there" ?
Just curious......
As for your 7/10's "of the way there".....
FlyerCalc App, is something you should acquire ....
Lists:
LAX>MIA as 2337 flown miles
Base RDM 2337
Assuming you are a 'Gold' bonus of 584..
Total points 3506
Total EQM 2337
And you flew in fare code 'Y'
Total points 3506 x 1.5 = 5259......
How do you perceive that you are "7/10's there" ?
Just curious......
Last edited by aafreq; Sep 4, 2014 at 2:12 pm Reason: 'Y' fare inclusion
Sep 4, 2014, 2:10 pm
#448
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Tit LTP
Posts: 1,923
Interesting to observe including "past segments" to your Plat challenge.....
As for your 7/10's "of the way there".....
FlyerCalc App, is something you should acquire ....
Lists:
LAX>MIA as 2337 flown miles
..
How do you perceive that you are "7/10's there" ?
Just curious......
As for your 7/10's "of the way there".....
FlyerCalc App, is something you should acquire ....
Lists:
LAX>MIA as 2337 flown miles
..
How do you perceive that you are "7/10's there" ?
Just curious......
Sep 4, 2014, 2:59 pm
#449
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: ORD, SJD, VNO, sandy places
Programs: AA 1.2MM BIS 'LT' Gld, BA Bronze, AA Plat, now considering SWA.....
Posts: 451
Sep 4, 2014, 3:11 pm
#450
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: Delta Platinum, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 308
The challenge only requires 10,000 points.