No More AA Platinum Challenge
 

It looks like the Gold and Platinum challenges for AAdvantage miles have been drastically curtailed.

I've currently got no status with AA, but am going to be flying about 12,000 miles in the next 6 weeks. So of couse I called and asked for the Platinum challenge..... and I was asked if I had received a letter with a promotional code.

When I didn't have a promotional code to provide, I was told that these challenges are now invitaton-only. I tried to protest, but the AA rep was pretty rude and direct in telling me to get lost, and that was the end of that.

This conversation was the morning of 5/4/06.

That is very very scary....1st rule of flyertalk, call call again - and see if you get a different response

I just called to try to set up a platinum challenge for my husband & myself beginning Sept 1 & was told that it's too early to enroll in a September challenge. But according to agent with whom I spoke, they're currently enrolling people as far out as June 16th. He didn't say anything about needing a promotional code. So, try again & you'll probably be successful. There are those who suggest calling in the middle of the night for best results. Good luck.

This should be in the AA forum, but the promo code is supposedly AA400. See this thread: Mysterious Promo codes: AA100/AA200/AA400

Would be good to know whether having the code would've helped in this situation...

I'm in the middle of a Plat challenge (that it turns out I won't be able to finish), but I just started it recently with no problems, so if this is true, it's VERY new.

I just signed up for the Gold Challenge on 5/1 with no problems. I also asked if I could take the Plat Challenge after I completed the Gold and was told that I could. I wasn't asked for any codes.

I also signed up on 5/1 for a Platinum challenge. Received my confirmatory
e-mail also on 5/1.

From two different CSRs and their supervisors: AA300 and AA400 are right codes for Gold and Plat challenges, but they do not work when the customers enter them on aa.com.

edit: you will get an email from entering any these codes, but no joy unless you are targeted (in the case of AA100 and AA200) or enrolled by a CSR (in the acse of AA300 and AA400), according to the CSRs. However, based on the acknowledgment email, you do have a case that is winnable in a phone call(s) with AAdvantage CS (not reservations CS, AAdvantage CS).

Are those codes targetted?

Just to be clear: I didn't say they would work on AA.com. I think they might have on the phone with the CSR who asked for a code though.

Apologies, no offense intended. Clarity is good

You make an interesting point: displaying a bit of inside knowledge might get a recalcitrant CSR off the dime. Though I'd keep mum if the CSR already is cooperating.

Probably best you were turned down as you would have been very disappointed after flying 12,000 miles to find out you didn't qualify.

I believe the flood gates were opened by someone on slickdeals

I send an e-mail through the AA website inquiring about the Gold challenge and received an e-mail back within 24 hours informing me in detail about the challenges and their start dates. I replyed and was signed up as of 5/1. No problem at all.

Are you sure you called American Airlines and not that other AA? ;) Because if I had to give this post a call sign, it would begin with "Bravo Uniform Lima Lima."

One other little bit of dissuasion to a CSA to tell you to s°d off is the prefactory statement "This call may be recorded for quality control purposes." It's possible, but...

Perhaps a dumb question...........

what exactly is a challange?

I ask because I was recently downgraded from Plat to Gold because I missed by just a small bit. I sent an email to CS off of AA.com and was told "sorry" here is 4K miles for your trouble. I am thinking that a challange is a commitment to achieve the plat status again (I will), but I don't know the ins and outs.

Thanks in adavance for your help!

Welcome to FlyerTalk. For all you need to know about AA challenges, read the sticky at the top of the AA forum:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=342145

Thanks for the response!

I had gone through that post (as well as some others) looking for the information and could not find anything. The link to the challange page from FewMiles' http://aa.fewmiles.net/ website is inactive so I could not read it. So, unless I am total goof and just can't find the information any help that you all could give would be greatly appreciated!

BTW, what a great site. I have been a frequent traveler for about four years and have never stumbled across such vast amounts of information before. Good thing that I read that story about airlines, hotels, and travel sites posting the wrong pricing by mistake because that is where a referance to this site was listed. I could get lost in here for days! :cool:

Never mind.....................I just came across FewMiles' old site. Thanks!

Thanks to all those who provided advice. I guess I was just cursed with an uncooperative AA rep. I'll call back, play the "CSR lottery," and try to use the "AA400" code and see if I have any better luck.

To the person who said that 12,000 miles won't qualify me anyway: Can you clarify that statement? According to http://members.shaw.ca/fewmiles/AA/, it's 10,000 miles in 90 days to qualify for the plat challenge.

Oh, and to the jerk who posted the lengthy retort suggesting that I made this all up: Get bent, loser. You might have all day to come up with elaborate conspiracy theories about people misleading you on nonprofit discussion forums, or make up stories about airline reps, but I'm a busy traveler and the last thing I have energy for is yanking your pathetic chain.

Elambeth,

I am curious to know if you were successful in your efforts to register for the Platinum Challenge because, after watching my family reach Platinum, my brother is ready to go for it this summer. Also, remember it's 10K points not miles that you need to acquire in 90 days, which are not necessarily the same thing.

Good Luck in your endeavor.

AA's challenges are based on Q-points, not Q-miles - you need 10k points in 90 days, which could be as many as 20,000 miles.

There are numerous threads in the AA forum (which contain more up-to-date info than the FewMiles site, which is outdated in many places) that will give a lot of info regarding the challenge and its requirements.

Mike

The Platinum Challenge is definitely alive and well
 

"Hello. I have recently become aware of your Platinum Challenge, and I would like to sign up. I'm going to be doing a lot of flying."

"Ok, would you like me to send you an email with all of the terms and conditions?"

"Yes, Please. Can I ask some specific questions while you do that?"

"Go ahead, sir."

<blah blah blah>

"Very good, sir. You are registered for the challenge. Good luck!"

It was just that easy. No codes needed nor asked for. I just signed up a few minutes ago to begin my challenge on May 16.

Don't give up. Just call again for another rep.

Direct number to the correct reps (if you want to skip the computer) is 800-421-0600.

Hope this helps someone as the rest of the board has helped me.

What on Earth are you referring to? :confused:
We're duly impressed. :rolleyes:

It's those voices again.

They keep telling me to go home and clean my guns.

This is exactly the type of insightful travel advice that I hope to find each time I visit FT. :D

Valuable frequent traveller advice is priceless, but a good laugh is also important.

elambeth was referring to the post that called the OP "Bravo Uniform Lima Lima".

Can we close this thread or at least change the title, which is very misleading and alarming. :eek:

I believe JDiver was simply trying to say that the rumor was BS. Perhaps he could have done it less facetiously. But ...

Lengthy retort? Conspiracy theories?? Nonprofit discussion forums???

Non profit???

I don't know about anyone else, but I've earned a bunch of extra miles and saved some money on flights, hotels and cars by getting clues from everyone here!

FT has helped my bottom line! ^ :)

Thanks everyone!

Actually, it could be as many as 80,000 miles if you're flying longhaul deep deep discount tickets on BA... :)

Just 40,000 (I think).

Hi, elambeth. Welcome to Flyertalk. :)

And goodbye, it seems! :(

G, Q, S, and V earn miles at a 25% rate and 0.5 q-points/mile earned. So 1 q-point for every 8 miles flown or 10k for 80k flown.

I just completed a Platinum challenge a few weeks ago. No problem signing up.

I also completed the PLT challenge a few weeks ago on my DAL/AUS trips. 10 round trips = 10,000 Q points.

The title of this thread is very misleading and simply not true. Assuming that the OP really called AA in the first place and was a "busy" traveller as he states, I do not understand why he posted this thread in the first place before calling back and getting another agent. Anyone who flies often knows that information you get from CSRs is not always accurate. If you do not get the informtation you were expecting, most of us have the common sense to call back and see if the next agent gives us the same information. I would hope that people would do that before posting a thread with a title that simple is not true.

Q Points on Qantas
 

Hi:
I am hoping to sign up for the challenge soon - and need one little detail before I call.

I am flying to Australia in July on Qantas - on N and Q fares. I need to know how many Qpoints can be accrued on these fares. The AA website does not mention N or Q fares on the section on Qantas (http://www.aa.com/apps/AAdvantage/Vi...artnersContent)

According to FewMiles, (http://members.shaw.ca/fewmiles/AA/new/fares.html) the N fares give you 50% Q points - would anyone know about the Q fares on Qantas?

Thanks!
FoT

I would assume that N and Q fares on QF earn no AAdvantage points or miles.