AA Plat challenge

[96julians]

hello all,
I am planning a trip that goes something like this:
PER-HKG, HKG-LHR, and back to perth any way.
I was just wondering if all of these flights are enough to complete the AA plat challenge or even the Gold challenge. If i cannot do the challenge, i will fly SQ and stock up on some krisflyers

thankyou in advance
96julians

P.S.
can anyone give me advice (assuming challenge is viable) to which routes and airlines to fly to maximise qpoints, must leave from PER, must go to HKG, and must go to LHR,
would a stop in SIN or somewhere else be worth it?

 

[NM]

Since January this year, only AA flight numbers will count to the AA Challenges. There are no AA codeshares on the routes you have identified.

 

[96julians]

thanks NM,
thats too bad i was looking forward to doing the challenge,
do you know of any other similar challenges? or is it only AA that have such a thing

thankyou,
96julians

EDIT: is there any point still joining AA and collecting points?, from what I've heard they have a good earning to spending rate, but can you use them on QF flights?, if not its SQ for me!!

 

[NM]

thanks NM,
thats too bad i was looking forward to doing the challenge,
do you know of any other similar challenges? or is it only AA that have such a thing

The challenge in the AA form is pretty unique. Virgin Atlantic has run a few short-term promotions in the past where they offered status in their Flying Club program for one SYD-HKG-SYD journey in upper class. But that seemed to be an intro offer when they started the route.

EDIT: is there any point still joining AA and collecting points?, from what I've heard they have a good earning to spending rate, but can you use them on QF flights?, if not its SQ for me!!

One of the big benefits of AA Platinum is that it earns a 100% bonus on miles flown, whereas you need to get to QF Platinum before that earn rate kicks in. So any benefit will depend on how much flying you do and what type of fares you purchase. The cheap discounted fares on non-AA services tend to earn at much lower rates. So if you are flying on B/Y/I/D/J/A/F fares, then it may be beneficial to try AA. You can only determine the benefits by comparing what you would earn for your expected future travel in each of the competing programs (a spreadsheet is a handy tool) and compare the points/miles required for your goal awards.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

You can use AAdvantage miles on awards on QF flights (subject to availability) - generally need much less miles than the same award trip on QFF. However, no upgrades on QF - alliance upgrades are a star alliance benefit not a one world one.

AA has challenges because unlike other US-based FFPs they do not status match. If you already have status (usually middle or top tier only) with an airline then for most us-based FFPs you can match to an "equivalent" status on another FFP in a different alliance. This is usually a one-time deal (so you can't keep doing it) and requires you to have status with someone to begin with. They don't like matching within an alliance (unless you can show compelling reasons - eg if you move from UK to US so a switch from bmi to UA might make sense). Outside US, most FFPs do not status match unless they really want your business (eg you control a 7 figure travel budget for a major corporate).