Recognition of newly achieved OW status while in transit on RTW trip
 

I’ve found a couple of older posts on this, but was curious if anyone had a recent experience to share. During my anticipated RTW for next year, if I rejigger the trip, I can become Platinum with AA during our initial flight into South America. We will then be flying around South America on, among others, LAN. Putting aside for the moment the anticipated 100% mileage bonus as an AA Platinum, as OW Sapphire I should also receive priority (business class) check-in, even while flying Economy on LAN. Because becoming Platinum on the way into South America will require a somewhat roundabout flight-route (causing us to lose about half a day), I’m trying to decide if it’s worth it, particularly from the standpoint of the priority check-in (without that routing change, we will still become Platinum, just later in the trip). Two questions: First, will I receive priority check-in on LAN flights immediately after achieving OneWorld Sapphire status by flying AA? Obviously I won’t have a physical OW Sapphire card to indicate status at that point, so will I be able to get onto a business class line with my Economy ticket and have LAN look up my newly acquired status in the computer, or will that not be possible because of a lag with AA transmitting my new status to LAN? Second question, is this a real benefit—i.e., will being able to use business class check-in while flying Economy on LAN result in a material saving of check-in time at the airport? fyi, I tried to ask some of these questions to the AA and LAN desks, but did not receive helpful answers.

There will be a delay of a few days, but if you play your cards right you could get some of PLT benefits early, even minutes after arrival of the qualifying flight. The way to do this is by calling AA Customer Service (NOT the regular AA reservations line) and ask them to notate your PNR to the fact you have just qualified. If they agree you are set, if they don't you just have to wait for the system(s) to recognize your status.

Removing (or not adding originally) and then readding your FF number may also enable the status to propogate correctly

Careful - the text I have bolded may prevent one's status from propagating at all. :eek:

Very interesting. I remember that when I made Starwood Platinum, I could print a copy of my Starwood Platinum card, and I showed that piece of paper to various hotels during our honeymoon. Is there an equivalent "printable" version for the OW card? Thanks.

Nope. For other FFPs, yes, but not for AAdvantage, AFAIK.

What I was more referring to was that if the FF number was not entered that the miles/qpoints are unlikely to post - hence no status increase as you fly.

Got it. My concern with this (partly because I don't speak Spanish) is that I'm going to have difficulty checking in on a business class line in Chile with coach tickets on LAN, and explaining to the ticket agent that I am, in fact, OW Sapphire. Because the LAN tickets would be booked with the LAN South America Pass, I'm not sure how easy it would be for AA to annotate my PNR (although maybe if I used the OW Visit South American Pass it would be easier). Thanks very much for the feedback.

Personally I'd be much more interested in having lounge access on the LA flights rather than worrying about the priority check in which they can only verify when you are actually at the desk so why not just go for it and explain your case if necessary? I cannot tell what is the exact situation with AA and LA but with AY/BA/CX the status is visible within 1-2 days after it's confirmed by the "home" carrier.

What I find really strange here is that as you say you'll get AA Plat status on your first flight you should be an AA Gold already? That alone will give you access to J check in on all OW flights? Sorry if I am wrong here with my assumptions and I also remember that there's this Plat challenge program with AA..

Thanks very much for the feedback regarding the lounge. And I guess you're right that by the time I get through the business class line it may be close to a moot point.

I would be making Platinum through a challenge (right now I'm OneWorld lead).

jgold,

If you are on a booked rtw ticket, you may also need to consider what is involved in "regiggering" your ticket. Change fees and reissuing for rerouting may involve some time and hassles. If you have not yet booked, this may be less of a consideration.
FWIW, my experience with LAN is that the value of the business class check in varies substantially from station to station and for specific routes. LAN is reasonably well organized for check ins and there may not be all that much to be gained, especially if the ticket adjustment only advances your qualification by one or two trips.
Not all the variables to consider are presented in your post, but what is involved in the "regiggering" needs to be weighted against the benefits achieved.

The status reflected on the booking is the one when the booking was made. So OP needs to call AA to annotate the PNR. However, even that may not be enough. I do not know about LAN, but BA needs the physical card to honour OP's status.

Even if you get the coverted PLT status with AA, the rest of the Oneworld partners may not get the update till the 'sweep' of the system happens - which varies between a few days to two weeks depending on the carrier. So even if your status may be recognised on say SABRE, it may not reflect the same on other airlines' systems and to gain entry into the lounges you need to show proof of status, as well as to present the physical card (in the case of BA).

AAdvantage might be able to provide you with a letter stating your status level but it will still be up to each partner airline whether they will let you in or give you Oneworld Sapphire benefits because your status does not show up on their system. well, ANYONE can write a letter from the airline these days...;)

Thank you everyone for the replies.

In answer to rens' question, I was holding, but had not yet ticketed, an RTW itinerary, so changes were free. I have now ticketed (very exciting) using the longer route, which should give me the "coveted" PLT status. As for what happens after that, I guess I'll take the suggestion of those on this board to annotate the PNR and maybe print the revised itinerary. There's only so much I can do, I suppose, if LAN won't accept it. Again, it's a bit sad that you can't apparently print a card out like I was able to do with Starwood. Anyway, thanks for the advice.

I have just got status matched with LAN to top tier (today). My online account shows upgraded status. I am currently on a DONE4 ex ICN and completed two segments. I am picking up my journey on this Friday on JL/QF/LA to DEL-NRT-SYD-EZE-LIM (where I have 12-28 hour layovers/stopover in each transit city). So I arrive in LIM on the 2nd of February. I wasn't expecting much from Lanpass, but rather surprising status match to OW Emerald status got me wondering if I'd be able to access the F lounge in NRT and SYD as well. Is there a way I can have JL and QF recognize my LAN status?