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Note this thread has been locked for brevity.
For any Question, Answers, Comments and Inputs in relation to the AAdvantage Challenges, please use the following thread:
AA Challenges - Questions and General Discussion
modified May 2016
CHALLENGES
What are the AA Challenges
AA provides fast track methods to achieve status to Gold ( OW Ruby ) and Platinum ( OW Sapphire ). A challenge can be completed by attaining 7,000 "Elite Qualifying Miles" (EQM's) for Gold or 12,500 EQM's for Platinum within 90 days of registering. Earning rates are given further down
American Airlines initiated a new Gold and Platinum elite status challenge in 2016 (unless they have attempted or completed a recent challenge, or are trying to use a challenge to regain status).
Requirements of the new challenge:
Start dates are now anytime, not particular date, and may be backdated two weeks. It is the start date, not the date of the phone call or the date the challenge is completed, that matters.
Status is awarded after the flight upon which the required threshold was crossed (some years ago, it was during and miles earning benefits applied to the earning flight - that has changed).
To qualify, EQM must be earned on flights marketed by:
How do I Join the AA AAdvantage scheme
go to Airline Tickets and Airline Reservations from American Airlines | AA.com and you can sign up for free online
How do I sign up for the challenge
Phone AAdvantage Customer Service in the US on +1 888 697 5636 ( from Australia , replace the + with 0011 )
How do I earn qpoints
American Airlines
QANTAS
How do I know what class my ticket is booked in on AA
If booking online on AA.com, before selecting flights click the [+] and the view for the option will expand showing the booking class fare bucket for each relevant segment.
If you have a booking with AA already made, go to aa.com and go to the reservations -> my reservations link. Locate the booking and it will display the booking class for each sector
How do I know what the distance of my trip will be
go to Great Circle Mapper and put in the from and to points in ( e.g. for Sydney to Los Angeles enter either SYD-LAX or, if you do not know the airport codes, Sydney-Los Angeles.
How long will my status last
Challenges can be timed to start at any time and 90 days are allowed to complete the challenge.
At this stage it is unknown - older challenges used to depand upon start date. At this stage, any successful challenge in 2016 should allow status until at least 31st January 2017.
What are the benefits of status
Please look at Airline Tickets and Airline Reservations from American Airlines | AA.com where the handbooks can be downloaded and check out oneworld - Home
How can I check how I am doing
Log into your account at aa.com and go to view your miles. You will see in the mileage summary column a field where it says
YTD Elite Qualifying Points: n
When this crosses the 7000/12500 threshold, within a day you will see an additional entry in the Personal Information field saying
Status: PLATINUM
or
Status: GOLD
as appropriate
Note: If you embark on a challenge near the end of the year and be continuing into January, you will need to keep track yourself as the field is the Year To Date points and will reset to zero in January
I have completed the challenge - what now
In approximately 2 weeks time you will receive a new membership card and a benefit book from AA. Use the card when necessary to show your entitlement to the associated benefits ( e.g. lounge access )
I 'failed' the challenge (or did one two years ago) - what now
Indication on FlyerTalk is challenges (successful or not) may be undertaken no more frequently than once every five years.
But I am flying again before the card will arrive and so I want to get my benefits now?
Phone the local AA office ( check the aa site to find the local phone number ) and they can fax you a letter confirming your status which will hopefully deal with the short term issues
How do I ensure that I keep status
You will need to meet the normal re-qualifying requirements as detailed on aa.com. This must include at least 4 segments "on American" during the qualifying year.
Executive Platinum : 120 sectors or 100k EQM's
Platinum : 60 sectors or 50k EQM's
Gold : 30 sectors or 25k EQM's.
If I fail to meet platinum status requalification requirements, will my status be entirely dropped to nothing at renewal time
Yes, there is no 'soft' landing. If, as an AA Plat you fail to meet Plat or Gold requalification, you will be drop back to no status.
EARNING MILES
Miles can be earned on Qualifying fares on One World Carriers and partner airlines. Do note that miles flown on non OW airlines (other than AS) do not count towards annual qualifying mileage for attaining or renewing status
To see how many miles will be earned per flight, please see American Airlines AAdvantage Airline Partners | aa.com and check the earning levels for the carrier being flown.
For the first half at least of 2016, Elite members will earn at least 500 miles for flights under 500 miles on American Airlines and American Eagle (including codeshare flights booked as an American Airlines flight number) and participating AAdvantage and oneworld airlines:Elite status benefits - AAdvantage elite status - American Airlines
e.g. flying a 800 mile flight on Qantas in S class
S class earns 0.5 miles per miles flown , so would earn 400. Since 400 is less than the min earning of 500, the min of 500 will be earned
If the member has Gold status , then a 25% bonus will be earned on the 500 giving 625 miles
If the member has Platinum or Executive Platinum status , then a 100% bonus will be earned on the 500 giving 1000 miles
In the second half of 2016, award miles for travel on American marketed flights will be calculated based on what you pay for your ticket (base fare plus carrier-imposed fees, excluding any government-imposed taxes and fees) and your elite status; the higher your status, the more you’ll earn.
REDEEMING MILES
If wanting to redeem a one way trip within Australia, the cost from March 22nd 2016 will be
10,000 miles in Economy Class
20,000 miles in Business Class
If wanting to redeem a one way trip between Australia and New Zealand, the cost from March 22nd 2016 will be
15,000 miles in Economy Class
25,000 miles in Business Class
For the redemption costs for AA awards: American Airlines award chart
For the redemption costs of other partner awards: oneworld and other airline award chart
EARNING MILES ON QANTAS
When travelling domestically on Qantas
Some cheap red-e-deals book in the ineligable class E - this need to be avoided when wanting to earn AA miles.
For travel on or after January 1, 2016
[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TH="align: left"]Class of service[/TH]
[TH="align: center"]Purchased fares booked in[/TH]
[TH="align: center"]Base miles[/TH]
[TH="align: center"]Class of service bonus miles[/TH]
[TH="align: center"]EQMs per mile flown[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]First[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]A, F[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]100%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]50%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Business[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]C, D, I, J[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]100%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]25%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Premium Economy[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]R, T, W[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]100%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]10%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Full-Fare Economy[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Y, B[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]100%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]–[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Economy[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]H[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]100%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]–[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Discount Economy[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]K, L, M, V, N, G, S[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]50%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]–[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Discount Economy[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]O, Q[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]25%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]–[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
If booked in a class other than those listed , NO miles or points will be accrued
How can I make sure that I get my points without unnecessary difficulty
For AA flights
Locate the reservation on AA.com and add the FF number there
For BA Flights
Go to British Airways , locate the booking in Manage My Booking and add the number.
Note: Only do this if BA is the only carrier in the itinerary since it will only associate the number with BA flights in the booking
If reservation includes QF flights
Qantas Manage My booking should now allow you to add the number. If that does not work then phone Qantas on 131211 and ask them to add the number
For any Question, Answers, Comments and Inputs in relation to the AAdvantage Challenges, please use the following thread:
AA Challenges - Questions and General Discussion
modified May 2016
CHALLENGES
What are the AA Challenges
AA provides fast track methods to achieve status to Gold ( OW Ruby ) and Platinum ( OW Sapphire ). A challenge can be completed by attaining 7,000 "Elite Qualifying Miles" (EQM's) for Gold or 12,500 EQM's for Platinum within 90 days of registering. Earning rates are given further down
American Airlines initiated a new Gold and Platinum elite status challenge in 2016 (unless they have attempted or completed a recent challenge, or are trying to use a challenge to regain status).
Requirements of the new challenge:
- Gold status: earn 7,000 EQM in 3 months (not 90 days); signup fee US$120.00 for start date from Jan 2016, US$100 from April 2016, US$140 from June 16 2016
- Platinum status: earn 12,500 EQM in 3 months; signup fee US$200.00 for start date from Jan 2016, US$180 from April 2016, US$200 from June 16 2016
Start dates are now anytime, not particular date, and may be backdated two weeks. It is the start date, not the date of the phone call or the date the challenge is completed, that matters.
Status is awarded after the flight upon which the required threshold was crossed (some years ago, it was during and miles earning benefits applied to the earning flight - that has changed).
To qualify, EQM must be earned on flights marketed by:
- AA American Airlines
- AY Finnair
- BA British Airways
- IB Iberia
- JL Japan Airlines
- QF Qantas
AA marketed fights earn as if flying AA, regardless of operating carrier. AY, BA and IB marketed flights must be operated by a oneworld airline; normally, JL and QF are the exceptions to this requirement.
How do I Join the AA AAdvantage scheme
go to Airline Tickets and Airline Reservations from American Airlines | AA.com and you can sign up for free online
How do I sign up for the challenge
Phone AAdvantage Customer Service in the US on +1 888 697 5636 ( from Australia , replace the + with 0011 )
How do I earn qpoints
American Airlines
Code:
RDM per EQM per
flown flown Fare Bases
mile mile
1.50 3.00 F (Full Fare First) J (Full Fare Business)
1.50 2.00 A P (Discount First) D I R (Discount Business)
1.00 1.50 Y B W (Full Fare Economy)
1.00 1.00 H, K, M, L, W, V, G, Q, N, O, S (Discount Economy)QANTAS
Code:
RDM per EQM per
flown flown Fare Bases
mile mile
1.50 1.50 F A (First)
1.25 1.50 J D I C (Business)
1.10 1.50 W T R (Premium Ecomomy)
1.00 1.00 Y B (Full Economy)
1.00 0.50 H (Economy)
0.50 0.50 K L M V N G S (Discount Economy)
0.25 0.50 O Q (Deep Discount Economy)How do I know what class my ticket is booked in on AA
If booking online on AA.com, before selecting flights click the [+] and the view for the option will expand showing the booking class fare bucket for each relevant segment.
If you have a booking with AA already made, go to aa.com and go to the reservations -> my reservations link. Locate the booking and it will display the booking class for each sector
How do I know what the distance of my trip will be
go to Great Circle Mapper and put in the from and to points in ( e.g. for Sydney to Los Angeles enter either SYD-LAX or, if you do not know the airport codes, Sydney-Los Angeles.
How long will my status last
Challenges can be timed to start at any time and 90 days are allowed to complete the challenge.
At this stage it is unknown - older challenges used to depand upon start date. At this stage, any successful challenge in 2016 should allow status until at least 31st January 2017.
What are the benefits of status
Please look at Airline Tickets and Airline Reservations from American Airlines | AA.com where the handbooks can be downloaded and check out oneworld - Home
How can I check how I am doing
Log into your account at aa.com and go to view your miles. You will see in the mileage summary column a field where it says
YTD Elite Qualifying Points: n
When this crosses the 7000/12500 threshold, within a day you will see an additional entry in the Personal Information field saying
Status: PLATINUM
or
Status: GOLD
as appropriate
Note: If you embark on a challenge near the end of the year and be continuing into January, you will need to keep track yourself as the field is the Year To Date points and will reset to zero in January
I have completed the challenge - what now
In approximately 2 weeks time you will receive a new membership card and a benefit book from AA. Use the card when necessary to show your entitlement to the associated benefits ( e.g. lounge access )
I 'failed' the challenge (or did one two years ago) - what now
Indication on FlyerTalk is challenges (successful or not) may be undertaken no more frequently than once every five years.
But I am flying again before the card will arrive and so I want to get my benefits now?
Phone the local AA office ( check the aa site to find the local phone number ) and they can fax you a letter confirming your status which will hopefully deal with the short term issues
How do I ensure that I keep status
You will need to meet the normal re-qualifying requirements as detailed on aa.com. This must include at least 4 segments "on American" during the qualifying year.
Executive Platinum : 120 sectors or 100k EQM's
Platinum : 60 sectors or 50k EQM's
Gold : 30 sectors or 25k EQM's.
If I fail to meet platinum status requalification requirements, will my status be entirely dropped to nothing at renewal time
Yes, there is no 'soft' landing. If, as an AA Plat you fail to meet Plat or Gold requalification, you will be drop back to no status.
EARNING MILES
Miles can be earned on Qualifying fares on One World Carriers and partner airlines. Do note that miles flown on non OW airlines (other than AS) do not count towards annual qualifying mileage for attaining or renewing status
To see how many miles will be earned per flight, please see American Airlines AAdvantage Airline Partners | aa.com and check the earning levels for the carrier being flown.
For the first half at least of 2016, Elite members will earn at least 500 miles for flights under 500 miles on American Airlines and American Eagle (including codeshare flights booked as an American Airlines flight number) and participating AAdvantage and oneworld airlines:Elite status benefits - AAdvantage elite status - American Airlines
e.g. flying a 800 mile flight on Qantas in S class
S class earns 0.5 miles per miles flown , so would earn 400. Since 400 is less than the min earning of 500, the min of 500 will be earned
If the member has Gold status , then a 25% bonus will be earned on the 500 giving 625 miles
If the member has Platinum or Executive Platinum status , then a 100% bonus will be earned on the 500 giving 1000 miles
In the second half of 2016, award miles for travel on American marketed flights will be calculated based on what you pay for your ticket (base fare plus carrier-imposed fees, excluding any government-imposed taxes and fees) and your elite status; the higher your status, the more you’ll earn.
- 5 miles/U.S. dollar – AAdvantage member
- 7 miles/U.S. dollar – Gold
- 8 miles/U.S. dollar – Platinum
- 11 miles/U.S. dollar – Executive Platinum
REDEEMING MILES
If wanting to redeem a one way trip within Australia, the cost from March 22nd 2016 will be
10,000 miles in Economy Class
20,000 miles in Business Class
If wanting to redeem a one way trip between Australia and New Zealand, the cost from March 22nd 2016 will be
15,000 miles in Economy Class
25,000 miles in Business Class
For the redemption costs for AA awards: American Airlines award chart
For the redemption costs of other partner awards: oneworld and other airline award chart
EARNING MILES ON QANTAS
When travelling domestically on Qantas
Some cheap red-e-deals book in the ineligable class E - this need to be avoided when wanting to earn AA miles.
For travel on or after January 1, 2016
[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TH="align: left"]Class of service[/TH]
[TH="align: center"]Purchased fares booked in[/TH]
[TH="align: center"]Base miles[/TH]
[TH="align: center"]Class of service bonus miles[/TH]
[TH="align: center"]EQMs per mile flown[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]First[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]A, F[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]100%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]50%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Business[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]C, D, I, J[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]100%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]25%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Premium Economy[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]R, T, W[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]100%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]10%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Full-Fare Economy[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Y, B[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]100%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]–[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Economy[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]H[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]100%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]–[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Discount Economy[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]K, L, M, V, N, G, S[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]50%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]–[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Discount Economy[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]O, Q[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]25%[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]–[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
If booked in a class other than those listed , NO miles or points will be accrued
How can I make sure that I get my points without unnecessary difficulty
For AA flights
Locate the reservation on AA.com and add the FF number there
For BA Flights
Go to British Airways , locate the booking in Manage My Booking and add the number.
Note: Only do this if BA is the only carrier in the itinerary since it will only associate the number with BA flights in the booking
If reservation includes QF flights
Qantas Manage My booking should now allow you to add the number. If that does not work then phone Qantas on 131211 and ask them to add the number
