Older "rookie" to this site
Mar 18, 2008 | 4:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 25
Older "rookie" to this site
Been a business flyer for 40 odd years. Semi-retired but now back in the skies as of last year. Currently I am at 950,000 miles [nearly all actually flown miles w/bonus] and counting with American. Recently granted matching elite status by Alaska, Continental and United, just because I asked for matching status.
My question: any short cuts to acquiring those additional 50,000 miles needed for permanent elite status? I have two West to East coast trips planned in the next 30 days that will net about 10,000 miles each trip. I also use my Starwood account as much as possible.
thanks,
KX
My question: any short cuts to acquiring those additional 50,000 miles needed for permanent elite status? I have two West to East coast trips planned in the next 30 days that will net about 10,000 miles each trip. I also use my Starwood account as much as possible.
thanks,
KX
Mar 18, 2008 | 5:29 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Home
Programs: AA, Delta, UA & thanks to FTers for my PC Gold!
Posts: 7,674
Welcome to FT!
I believe AA status miles don't have to be actual flown (BIS) miles. It should be fairly easy to get the last 50K miles you needed from combining all the credit card sign up bonuses, SPG points transfers..etc. If you already have enough SPG points, you can do two transfers of 20K each (neating 5K bonus miles for each transfer) to get your 50K. If you need more ideas what are "convertible", you can visit our Webflyer Mileage Converter to figure out your available options.
If by flying, you didn't specify your home base, nor the two tran-con trips. I assume you have elite status with AA already? If you provide more details, folks probably can give you some ideas, such as Mileage Run (MR) or something. (I doubt you will enjoy any more MR if all your AA miles are BIS miles already.
)
Since you are asking an AA-specific question, I believe you will get more detailed replies from our AA forum. (I'd notified our mods to move your thread over as well.)
With your past flying history, I am sure you will have a lot to share with us in the future. Other than our AA Forum, you surely will enjoy other fora (such as Trip Reports Forum, TravelBuzz! Forum and DiningBuzz! Forum ). Again, Welcome to FT!
I believe AA status miles don't have to be actual flown (BIS) miles. It should be fairly easy to get the last 50K miles you needed from combining all the credit card sign up bonuses, SPG points transfers..etc. If you already have enough SPG points, you can do two transfers of 20K each (neating 5K bonus miles for each transfer) to get your 50K. If you need more ideas what are "convertible", you can visit our Webflyer Mileage Converter to figure out your available options.
If by flying, you didn't specify your home base, nor the two tran-con trips. I assume you have elite status with AA already? If you provide more details, folks probably can give you some ideas, such as Mileage Run (MR) or something. (I doubt you will enjoy any more MR if all your AA miles are BIS miles already.
) Since you are asking an AA-specific question, I believe you will get more detailed replies from our AA forum. (I'd notified our mods to move your thread over as well.)
With your past flying history, I am sure you will have a lot to share with us in the future. Other than our AA Forum, you surely will enjoy other fora (such as Trip Reports Forum, TravelBuzz! Forum and DiningBuzz! Forum ). Again, Welcome to FT!
Last edited by lin821; Mar 18, 2008 at 6:10 pm Reason: typos
Mar 18, 2008 | 6:07 pm
#3
In memoriam
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: AA EXP "Life is good! Really good.""
Posts: 4,923
Welcome!
lin821 pretty much nailed the answer. BTW, BIS on FT is not Business Class as I thought, but Butt-In-Seat miles flown. You probably knew that, but want to make sure.
Get a credit card for 25,000 miles, transfer some Starwood points if you wish, or get yet another credit card. Then sit back and enjoy the ride you've earned. American is maybe the only airline that allows miles earned by methods other than flying to count towards lifetime status.
lin821 pretty much nailed the answer. BTW, BIS on FT is not Business Class as I thought, but Butt-In-Seat miles flown. You probably knew that, but want to make sure.
Get a credit card for 25,000 miles, transfer some Starwood points if you wish, or get yet another credit card. Then sit back and enjoy the ride you've earned. American is maybe the only airline that allows miles earned by methods other than flying to count towards lifetime status.
Mar 18, 2008 | 8:41 pm
#5
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
look in the aa forum and read the stickies, particularly the challenge for platinum or gold....if you are on the right fare basis, you could get platinum status..quickly with the 2 transcons on aa....
good luck...
good luck...
Mar 19, 2008 | 11:56 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 25
Older 'rookie" reply.
Thanks to all for the input. I fly from a Southern Calif base. I do have two Starwood AmEx cards, two AA/Master Cards. I have already transfered 20k Starwood points to AA and received the 5k bonus.
What if I cancel the personal AA MasterCard and then renew it afterwards but continue to use my business AA MasterCard.
I noted yesterday that Citi/AmExp now has an AA affinity card good for 15,000 mile bonus. I signed up for it.
I have no issues playing the cc game as I have a 45+ year credit history, no black marks and I pay my statements in full every month, no balances. FICO is over 800.
Also, someone posted that AA has a lifetime elite status at 2mm miles. Is that true? I have never seen anything like that in print. Not that I will live long enough to hit 2mm, but it would be a kick to try for it!
Thanks again,
KXM
What if I cancel the personal AA MasterCard and then renew it afterwards but continue to use my business AA MasterCard.
I noted yesterday that Citi/AmExp now has an AA affinity card good for 15,000 mile bonus. I signed up for it.
I have no issues playing the cc game as I have a 45+ year credit history, no black marks and I pay my statements in full every month, no balances. FICO is over 800.
Also, someone posted that AA has a lifetime elite status at 2mm miles. Is that true? I have never seen anything like that in print. Not that I will live long enough to hit 2mm, but it would be a kick to try for it!
Thanks again,
KXM
Mar 19, 2008 | 1:33 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: BDL
Programs: NWA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, SPG, YX, AA
Posts: 5,354
Thanks to all for the input. I fly from a Southern Calif base. I do have two Starwood AmEx cards, two AA/Master Cards. I have already transfered 20k Starwood points to AA and received the 5k bonus.
What if I cancel the personal AA MasterCard and then renew it afterwards but continue to use my business AA MasterCard.
I noted yesterday that Citi/AmExp now has an AA affinity card good for 15,000 mile bonus. I signed up for it.
I have no issues playing the cc game as I have a 45+ year credit history, no black marks and I pay my statements in full every month, no balances. FICO is over 800.
Also, someone posted that AA has a lifetime elite status at 2mm miles. Is that true? I have never seen anything like that in print. Not that I will live long enough to hit 2mm, but it would be a kick to try for it!
Thanks again,
KXM
What if I cancel the personal AA MasterCard and then renew it afterwards but continue to use my business AA MasterCard.
I noted yesterday that Citi/AmExp now has an AA affinity card good for 15,000 mile bonus. I signed up for it.
I have no issues playing the cc game as I have a 45+ year credit history, no black marks and I pay my statements in full every month, no balances. FICO is over 800.
Also, someone posted that AA has a lifetime elite status at 2mm miles. Is that true? I have never seen anything like that in print. Not that I will live long enough to hit 2mm, but it would be a kick to try for it!
Thanks again,
KXM