Platinum threshold shortfall
 

I need 430 miles to make Platinum for 2005. This will be my 5th year in a row hitting this "Elite" level.

Problem is, we have a travel ban till the end of the year. Do you think they will give it to me or should I look for a cheap flight to put me over?

Buy a ticket.

I would recommend playing it safe, see if you can find a cheap ticket to secure Platinum status. There's a good chance CO would extend Platinum to you based on your current 2004 EQMs, but since there is no guarantee that they will, a cheap flight would be the way to go.

Gamble or buy a ticket.

What's that?

PLT Status
 

What's so bad about going back to Gold?

Either way, CO PLT status is not the best in comparison to other US carriers. Upgrading on CO even as a PLT is usually a hassle.

AA doesn't offer unlimited complimentary upgrades to their PLT members (which is their middle tier), yet I have never missed an upgrade with AA. CO on the other hand, is another story, the only reason I haven't missed any upgrades with them is b/c I ended up paying the fare difference at the airport. Oh, and those outrageous fees CO charges for upgrading to BF plus the many miles on intl flights! OK, AA has started to charge fees for upgrading but they are not as bad as CO's.

Your chances of an upgrade as Platinum are actually significantly higher than Gold, and the additional 25% mileage bonus can add up. Being only 430 miles away from Plat is a no-brainer. Go for it.

plat shortage
 

I will be 30 miles short of 75,000 miles after my last planned flight in 10 days. Do you think they will let me go to plat status or should i do a 500 mile run? Thanks :confused:

The end of the year, Upper Management oftens curtails "expenses" in order to "look good" for year end. I have had managers that won't pay the power bill etc until January to try and make a profit number. Crazy huh?

yes. and, also not consistent with GAAP (expenses are incurred in the period in which the good or services are consumed, not when paid).

buy a ticket with your own greenbacks.

Maybe buying a ticket is what you'll eventually have to do, but it's at least worth a shot. Call and ask for the miles and explain the situation. They aren't completely unreasonable at CO. Then again...

Little Boofette was short by 48 miles last year so we did a BWI-CLE-EWR-BWI milage run to play it safe. Cost was about $100.