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 30, 2015, 11:43 am
#1081
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've got a question about the Platinum Challenge. I saw an answer up thread, but I wanted to clarify.
If I sign up for the Platinum Challenge and fail to complete the 10,000 EQP, as right now I only have around 7,500 EQP planed, would I still earn Gold status? I would like to try to get to Platinum, but I will have to will have to do a MR.
I've search the web and seen comments (see below) that it is possible to downgrade the challenge, without a refund, but I want to know if anyone had first hand experience.
http://www.flyerguide.com/Challenge_(AA)
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...enges-matches/
I was interested in signing up for the Platinum challenge to see if I can earn the status, but also to see if AA would match my Delta Gold status to Gold during the challenge. Has anyone had any success matching status during a Gold challenge. Thanks for the help.
If I sign up for the Platinum Challenge and fail to complete the 10,000 EQP, as right now I only have around 7,500 EQP planed, would I still earn Gold status? I would like to try to get to Platinum, but I will have to will have to do a MR.
I've search the web and seen comments (see below) that it is possible to downgrade the challenge, without a refund, but I want to know if anyone had first hand experience.
http://www.flyerguide.com/Challenge_(AA)
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...enges-matches/
I was interested in signing up for the Platinum challenge to see if I can earn the status, but also to see if AA would match my Delta Gold status to Gold during the challenge. Has anyone had any success matching status during a Gold challenge. Thanks for the help.
You can ask for interim Gold status when you request the challenge, and mention your DL Gold might improve the chances.
Apparently AA allows the "downgrade" and would great Gold if you fly over 4,999 points.
If you begin the challenge June 16 or after, you'll get status for one more year than if you sign up before.
Jun 1, 2015, 4:31 am
#1082
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Antwerp
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT, Hilton Diamond, IC Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 17
I signed up for my Plat challenge on May 12th, super friendly agent on the phone. She had my challenge start on June 15th, the day before a trip to the US (DUB-JFK-LAX and back 9 days later). I only had to pay $ 180 for my challenge and afterwards received following confirmation email:
"To enjoy AAdvantage PLATINUM status through February 2017, please earn 10,000 elite qualifying points between now and 09/15/2015. 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."
My trip should earn me 11310 EQP, so looking forward to being Plat soon.
"To enjoy AAdvantage PLATINUM status through February 2017, please earn 10,000 elite qualifying points between now and 09/15/2015. 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."
My trip should earn me 11310 EQP, so looking forward to being Plat soon.
Jun 1, 2015, 9:57 am
#1083
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: GVA/ZRH/ASU
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 20
I've just signed up for the platinum challenge. First agent told me that I could only sign up for the gold challenge since I had no AA status?! I HUACA. Second agent was very friendly and had no problem in granting me gold status during the challenge after telling her that I was an *A elite member. Got charged 240$ for the challenge beginning on the 18th of June.
Jun 1, 2015, 6:26 pm
#1084
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've just signed up for the platinum challenge. First agent told me that I could only sign up for the gold challenge since I had no AA status?! I HUACA. Second agent was very friendly and had no problem in granting me gold status during the challenge after telling her that I was an *A elite member. Got charged 240$ for the challenge beginning on the 18th of June.
Jun 1, 2015, 10:21 pm
#1085
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: GVA/ZRH/ASU
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 20
I was trying to change seat assignments on some upcoming flights but for some reason the system would only let me choose preferred seats that are not reserved for elites. Whenever I try to choose a free seat that's not even necessarily preferred but reserved for elites, it shows an error that the seat I requested is not available..
Does anyone know why?
-Update: I guess the system wasn't fully updated on my status yet. I was able to select those seats after receiving the confirmation email for the challenge today.
Does anyone know why?
-Update: I guess the system wasn't fully updated on my status yet. I was able to select those seats after receiving the confirmation email for the challenge today.
Last edited by chpy; Jun 2, 2015 at 3:16 am
Jun 2, 2015, 10:15 am
#1086
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AA, IHG
Posts: 1
Gold/Platinum Challenge
I just signed up for the Platinum Challenge and I really appreciate all of the information on this thread. It helped a lot! I did get some information that I hadn't seen or was different than I saw discussed on here .
I only had to pay $180 for the Platinum Challenge and the rep added two flights from a week ago with no issue. I originally asked about the Gold Challenge, but said that I might be willing to go for Platinum. My next flight is to Puerto Rico and it will put me over the 5K points needed for Gold. I explained that I would not hit 10K until August, but that I had a bunch or shorter flights and didn't want to have no status for those. She said that they would grant me Gold status as soon as I hit 5K. She even asked when my next flight would be after that. When I said that it would be two weeks later, she told me to wait a week after the flight and to call if the system didn't reflect me as Gold so that I would be able to fly at that level.
I am VERY pleased with both the call and the ability to obtain Gold and Platinum so quickly. I realize that I'm doing this right before the 16 Jun cutoff that would get me a whole extra year. However, it saves $60 and I'll qualify for at least Gold on my own anyway.
Big thanks to everyone on this thread for the information!
I only had to pay $180 for the Platinum Challenge and the rep added two flights from a week ago with no issue. I originally asked about the Gold Challenge, but said that I might be willing to go for Platinum. My next flight is to Puerto Rico and it will put me over the 5K points needed for Gold. I explained that I would not hit 10K until August, but that I had a bunch or shorter flights and didn't want to have no status for those. She said that they would grant me Gold status as soon as I hit 5K. She even asked when my next flight would be after that. When I said that it would be two weeks later, she told me to wait a week after the flight and to call if the system didn't reflect me as Gold so that I would be able to fly at that level.
I am VERY pleased with both the call and the ability to obtain Gold and Platinum so quickly. I realize that I'm doing this right before the 16 Jun cutoff that would get me a whole extra year. However, it saves $60 and I'll qualify for at least Gold on my own anyway.
Big thanks to everyone on this thread for the information!
Jun 2, 2015, 5:33 pm
#1087
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: DAY
Programs: Marriott Platinum, HHonors Diamond, AA ExPLT
Posts: 116
HUCA for instant Gold
Jun 2, 2015, 7:16 pm
#1088
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: AA-EXP Hilton-Diamond AAvis-First National-EE
Posts: 33
I signed up for the Platinum challenge at the beginning of May it was $180 with gold status granted immediately. They back dated travel 2 weeks. I completed the flight that brought me over the miles needed for my status yesterday and my status was updated to Platinum this morning. How long does it take for me to be able to select MCE seats? I tried calling in and having the 2 different agents remove my AAdvantage number or "refresh" my reservations but both said I was still showing in the system as Gold even though they see I'm now Platinum. I have a red eye Thursday night so check in is tomorrow anyway, but I hope it's updated so I can make MCE selections soon for my flight next week.
Jun 3, 2015, 8:20 am
#1089
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA Plat; CM Plat; AZ Gold;Hyatt Diamond; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; SPG Gold
Posts: 4
Signed up for Platinum challenge today and charged $240 for challenge beginning on 16th of June. The agent granted me gold during challenge due to my elite status with CX. The granted gold status need to take up to 48 hours to fully update to their system,although my account status has shown Gold immediately, all gold benefits will be effective after you receive challenge confirmation letter from AA.
Hoping to fininsh my platinum challenge soon
Hoping to fininsh my platinum challenge soon
Jun 3, 2015, 9:50 am
#1090
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 214
im currently in a plat challenge, and called the service desk to backdate my start date. the agent i talked to tried to do it, but said his system wouldnt let him. he then talked to his supervisor who told him he couldnt do it. is that true? or should i try calling back again
Jun 3, 2015, 10:15 am
#1091
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
im currently in a plat challenge, and called the service desk to backdate my start date. the agent i talked to tried to do it, but said his system wouldnt let him. he then talked to his supervisor who told him he couldnt do it. is that true? or should i try calling back again
Jun 3, 2015, 10:38 am
#1092
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: AA-EXP Hilton-Diamond AAvis-First National-EE
Posts: 33
I signed up for the Platinum challenge at the beginning of May it was $180 with gold status granted immediately. They back dated travel 2 weeks. I completed the flight that brought me over the miles needed for my status yesterday and my status was updated to Platinum this morning. How long does it take for me to be able to select MCE seats? I tried calling in and having the 2 different agents remove my AAdvantage number or "refresh" my reservations but both said I was still showing in the system as Gold even though they see I'm now Platinum. I have a red eye Thursday night so check in is tomorrow anyway, but I hope it's updated so I can make MCE selections soon for my flight next week.
MCE seat were available for me to choose this morning. So about 24 hrs after gaining the new status.
Jun 3, 2015, 1:21 pm
#1093
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Norway
Programs: EB*D, Hilton Diamond, Carlson Gold Elite, Amex Plat
Posts: 159
Does anyone know why Qatar flights is not part of the challenge/count towards status ? A lot of other OW-companies are eligible.
Jun 3, 2015, 1:32 pm
#1094
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
The eligible oneworld partners are the ones with whom AA has joint business ventures and thus shares revenue. Qatar and the other non-joint business venture oneworld airlines just have marketing agreements with AA (ie frequent flyer and codeshare partnerships). Therefore, AA has less to gain financially from customers flying partners like QR.
Jun 4, 2015, 4:20 am
#1095
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: BA, AA, SQ, UA, AC, WS, MR TIT
Posts: 8,659