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)
Oct 7, 2014, 9:09 pm
#496
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
Great, thanks 
One more question. I am reading the challenge description and it says I can register from either 16th or 1st of any month.
- Let's say I have an outbound flight on June 25th.
- I would like to begin challenge after June 16 to get the longest status period, so sounds like I should start on July 1st?
- If I register for challenge from July 1st - does it mean my outbound flight on June 25th will not count? Or is there some "backdate" period?
Depending on the answer I can shift travel dates a bit.
One more question. I am reading the challenge description and it says I can register from either 16th or 1st of any month.
- Let's say I have an outbound flight on June 25th.
- I would like to begin challenge after June 16 to get the longest status period, so sounds like I should start on July 1st?
- If I register for challenge from July 1st - does it mean my outbound flight on June 25th will not count? Or is there some "backdate" period?
Depending on the answer I can shift travel dates a bit.
- before June 16, lasts until Feb next year
- on or after June 16, lasts one year longer
You can now choose your start date (no longer just the 1st or 16th of a month)
So in your example, choose a start date between June 16 and June 25
Oct 7, 2014, 9:10 pm
#497
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
Great, thanks
One more question. I am reading the challenge description and it says I can register from either 16th or 1st of any month.
- Let's say I have an outbound flight on June 25th.
- I would like to begin challenge after June 16 to get the longest status period, so sounds like I should start on July 1st?
- If I register for challenge from July 1st - does it mean my outbound flight on June 25th will not count? Or is there some "backdate" period?
Depending on the answer I can shift travel dates a bit.
One more question. I am reading the challenge description and it says I can register from either 16th or 1st of any month.
- Let's say I have an outbound flight on June 25th.
- I would like to begin challenge after June 16 to get the longest status period, so sounds like I should start on July 1st?
- If I register for challenge from July 1st - does it mean my outbound flight on June 25th will not count? Or is there some "backdate" period?
Depending on the answer I can shift travel dates a bit.
Oct 7, 2014, 11:20 pm
#499
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Programs: SPG/Marriott Gold, National Emerald Executive
Posts: 66
Follow Up
The challenge T&C's say that flights flown on US Airways are eligible to earn points toward the challenge, but do not say that you are required to credit to AA. Given this, and the merger, it would be helpful for those participating in the challenge to know that if you are flying US Airways metal you have to credit to AA in order to earn points toward the challenge.
Oct 8, 2014, 5:40 am
#500
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CUR
Posts: 2,170
The challenge T&C's say that flights flown on US Airways are eligible to earn points toward the challenge, but do not say that you are required to credit to AA. Given this, and the merger, it would be helpful for those participating in the challenge to know that if you are flying US Airways metal you have to credit to AA in order to earn points toward the challenge.
These are 2 separate programs, how would AA know that you flew the flight if you credited it to US?
If you fly BA or AA and credit it to BA, that wouldn't count for the challenge either.
Oct 8, 2014, 11:12 am
#501
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Gilette, France
Programs: AAdvantage (since 1987) PLAT. USAir Dividend, AF Flying Blue.
Posts: 312
Let me recalculate...
PRG-LHR BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 651 POINTS 325
LHR-IAH BOOKING CLASS "O" MILES 4829 POINTS 2417
IAH-LHR BOOKING CLASS "O" MILES 4829 POINTS 2417
LHR-PRG BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 651 POINTS 325
PRG-LHR BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 651 POINTS 325
LHR-LAX BOOKING CLASS "Q" MILES 5456 POINTS 2728
LAX-HNL BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 2556 POINTS 1278
HNL-LAX BOOKING CLASS "Q" MILES 2556 POINTS 1278
LAX-LHR BOOKING CLASS "Q" MILES 5456 POINTS 2728
LHR-PRG BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 651 POINTS 325
Total : 14148
Mileage is approximate (BA avios calculator was down right now).
You reach 10 000 pts when landing in LAX back from HNL. If your booking is on BA, there's no way the databases will be updated soon enough.
May be, if your flight HNL-LAX is on AA number, on AA booking, your new status will show up on aa.com and you'll get access to the LAX lounge for the return flight. May be.
PRG-LHR BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 650 POINTS 50%
LHR-IAH BOOKING CLASS "O" MILES 4829 POINTS 50%
IAH-LHR BOOKING CLASS "O" MILES 4829 POINTS 50%
LHR-PRG BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 650 POINTS 50%
PRG-LHR BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 650 POINTS 50%
LHR-LAX BOOKING CLASS "Q" MILES 2555 POINTS 50%
LAX-HNL BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 4113 POINTS 50%
HNL-LAX BOOKING CLASS "Q" MILES 4113 POINTS 50%
LAX-LHR BOOKING CLASS "Q" MILES 2555 POINTS 50%
LHR-PRG BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 650 POINTS 50%
LHR-IAH BOOKING CLASS "O" MILES 4829 POINTS 50%
IAH-LHR BOOKING CLASS "O" MILES 4829 POINTS 50%
LHR-PRG BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 650 POINTS 50%
PRG-LHR BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 650 POINTS 50%
LHR-LAX BOOKING CLASS "Q" MILES 2555 POINTS 50%
LAX-HNL BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 4113 POINTS 50%
HNL-LAX BOOKING CLASS "Q" MILES 4113 POINTS 50%
LAX-LHR BOOKING CLASS "Q" MILES 2555 POINTS 50%
LHR-PRG BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 650 POINTS 50%
PRG-LHR BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 651 POINTS 325
LHR-IAH BOOKING CLASS "O" MILES 4829 POINTS 2417
IAH-LHR BOOKING CLASS "O" MILES 4829 POINTS 2417
LHR-PRG BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 651 POINTS 325
PRG-LHR BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 651 POINTS 325
LHR-LAX BOOKING CLASS "Q" MILES 5456 POINTS 2728
LAX-HNL BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 2556 POINTS 1278
HNL-LAX BOOKING CLASS "Q" MILES 2556 POINTS 1278
LAX-LHR BOOKING CLASS "Q" MILES 5456 POINTS 2728
LHR-PRG BOOKING CLASS "S" MILES 651 POINTS 325
Total : 14148
Mileage is approximate (BA avios calculator was down right now).
You reach 10 000 pts when landing in LAX back from HNL. If your booking is on BA, there's no way the databases will be updated soon enough.
May be, if your flight HNL-LAX is on AA number, on AA booking, your new status will show up on aa.com and you'll get access to the LAX lounge for the return flight. May be.
Oct 8, 2014, 2:30 pm
#502
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,319
deleted
Last edited by br2k; Oct 8, 2014 at 2:38 pm Reason: Move to more appropriate thread
Oct 8, 2014, 3:00 pm
#503
Join Date: May 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, WN A+, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Amb, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,129
Did not receive a status match from UA 1K but was offered a platinum challenge for $200.
I was able to backdate 2 weeks and am now Gold. Will complete the challenge on Monday. Anyway to check my progress online? It still shows I need 10k miles to earn upgrade stickers.
I was able to backdate 2 weeks and am now Gold. Will complete the challenge on Monday. Anyway to check my progress online? It still shows I need 10k miles to earn upgrade stickers.
Oct 13, 2014, 1:07 pm
#504
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Programs: SPG/Marriott Gold, National Emerald Executive
Posts: 66
The US Airways flight automatically credited to my Dividend Miles account, and not AAdvantage. The challenge T&C's say that flights on US Airways count toward the challenge, but do not say you need to credit to AAdvantage in order for a US Airways flight to count toward the challenge. This will be resolved in my favor by deducting the miles from Dividend Miles and crediting to AAdvantage.
It is not obvious to everyone because it was not obvious to me. It is not obvious to everyone because the T&C's do not say that you need to credit to AAdvantage in order for a US Airways flight to count toward the challenge.
My post will help those that may not know that if you are in a challenge, and you are flying on US Airways, you must credit to AAdvantage in order to earn points toward the challenge.
It is not obvious to everyone because it was not obvious to me. It is not obvious to everyone because the T&C's do not say that you need to credit to AAdvantage in order for a US Airways flight to count toward the challenge.
My post will help those that may not know that if you are in a challenge, and you are flying on US Airways, you must credit to AAdvantage in order to earn points toward the challenge.
Last edited by grinch26; Oct 13, 2014 at 1:21 pm Reason: Update.
Oct 13, 2014, 8:29 pm
#506
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
The US Airways flight automatically credited to my Dividend Miles account, and not AAdvantage. The challenge T&C's say that flights on US Airways count toward the challenge, but do not say you need to credit to AAdvantage in order for a US Airways flight to count toward the challenge. This will be resolved in my favor by deducting the miles from Dividend Miles and crediting to AAdvantage.
It is not obvious to everyone because it was not obvious to me. It is not obvious to everyone because the T&C's do not say that you need to credit to AAdvantage in order for a US Airways flight to count toward the challenge.
My post will help those that may not know that if you are in a challenge, and you are flying on US Airways, you must credit to AAdvantage in order to earn points toward the challenge.
It is not obvious to everyone because it was not obvious to me. It is not obvious to everyone because the T&C's do not say that you need to credit to AAdvantage in order for a US Airways flight to count toward the challenge.
My post will help those that may not know that if you are in a challenge, and you are flying on US Airways, you must credit to AAdvantage in order to earn points toward the challenge.
The terms and conditions do not say you need to fly flights that would earn 10,000 elite qualifying points if you credited them to AAdvantage.
Oct 13, 2014, 10:09 pm
#507
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Programs: SPG/Marriott Gold, National Emerald Executive
Posts: 66
The terms and conditions say you need to earn 10,000 elite qualifying points. I know of no other frequent flyer program that offers elite qualifying points, so if you don't credit to AAdvantage, you don't earn any elite qualifying points.
The terms and conditions do not say you need to fly flights that would earn 10,000 elite qualifying points if you credited them to AAdvantage.
The terms and conditions do not say you need to fly flights that would earn 10,000 elite qualifying points if you credited them to AAdvantage.
Last edited by grinch26; Oct 13, 2014 at 10:18 pm
Oct 14, 2014, 3:11 am
#508
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
To enjoy AAdvantage PLATINUM status,... please earn 10,000 elite qualifying points....
Oct 14, 2014, 3:41 am
#509
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Programs: SPG/Marriott Gold, National Emerald Executive
Posts: 66
The email I received for my challenge said, right in second first paragraph,
If you don't credit to AA, you don't earn elite qualifying points. I'm sorry you didn't read the email carefully, but you are incorrect that the terms and conditions don't require you to credit to AA.
If you don't credit to AA, you don't earn elite qualifying points. I'm sorry you didn't read the email carefully, but you are incorrect that the terms and conditions don't require you to credit to AA.
Last edited by grinch26; Oct 14, 2014 at 3:47 am
Oct 14, 2014, 12:04 pm
#510
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: nyc
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 5
Just wanted to follow-up on my previous post. I signed up for the PLT challenge today. The agent was great and immediately agreed to give me Gold status during the challenge. I told her I was United Silver but she did not ask for proof.
She also confirmed that my Open Skies flights (BA code share) are eligible. I was charged $200 for the challenge and receipt came through while on the phone. Gold status showed up on AA.com immediately and I was able to choose preferred seats for upcoming flights but not showing up on BA.com yet. I will try again in a few days.
Thanks again for the great info and advice on this thread.
She also confirmed that my Open Skies flights (BA code share) are eligible. I was charged $200 for the challenge and receipt came through while on the phone. Gold status showed up on AA.com immediately and I was able to choose preferred seats for upcoming flights but not showing up on BA.com yet. I will try again in a few days.
Thanks again for the great info and advice on this thread.