AA Platinum Challenge - Tips

[serfty]

You are a font of good information Dave.... I went to FT to check this - seems one needs to have made 90+ posts to get access to Coupon Connection. (And I have made about 5 ) Do you know of another access method, as opposed to posting 85 spurious messages?

Cheers

Methinks there's a 'probational' period as well.. IIRC 'tis 6 months.

 

[Dave Noble]

Methinks there's a 'probational' period as well.. IIRC 'tis 6 months.

Is there? I've never paid too much attention to CC so not been up on the rules of admission to the secret club. Since the wombatty has been an FT member since Jan, just a bit of posting activity should help get through the threshold

Dave

 

[cowombat]

Well, I made a good start today with about 30 posts.... see if I can keep that up for a couple more days

 

[Dave Noble]

Well, I made a good start today with about 30 posts.... see if I can keep that up for a couple more days

Goodo. It's worth the effort methinks

Dave

 

[jpk]

Hi, i've been reading extensively about the Plat challenge. I have a question regarding the exemptions on BA transatlantic flights. The AA site says:
"British Airways' transatlantic flights to/from the U.S. are not valid for AAdvantage mileage accrual or redemption."

Does this mean flights to Canada do qualify? I have a LHR > SFO trip coming up, and would rather fly BA club than AA business, so was thinking if i route this via YVR then it should all qualify, no? Has anyone tried this?

Seems like an easy way around the exemption. Thanks for any advice!

 

[Dave Noble]

Hi, i've been reading extensively about the Plat challenge. I have a question regarding the exemptions on BA transatlantic flights. The AA site says:
"British Airways' transatlantic flights to/from the U.S. are not valid for AAdvantage mileage accrual or redemption."

Does this mean flights to Canada do qualify? I have a LHR > SFO trip coming up, and would rather fly BA club than AA business, so was thinking if i route this via YVR then it should all qualify, no? Has anyone tried this?

Yes. If you fly BA on any transatlantic route other than to the USA, then you are eligable to earn miles; as you suggest , flying BA to Canadia and the AA business/1st onwards then you'll be fine for mileage accrual

e.g. BA LHR-YVR connecting onto AS YVR-SFO is fine for full qpoint and mile earning

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

MEX would also work.

 

[Dave Noble]

MEX would also work.

As would South America and the Carribean

Dave

 

[NM]

As would South America and the Carribean

Dave

As does finding a nice daytime AA flight. BA Club is good when you need to sleep, but the AA J seats are more comfortable for sitting in my experience. And AA international J food is as good as BA - just remember FEBO and you should be right.

 

[jpk]

Yes. If you fly BA on any transatlantic route other than to the USA, then you are eligable to earn miles; as you suggest , flying BA to Canadia and the AA business/1st onwards then you'll be fine for mileage accrual

e.g. BA LHR-YVR connecting onto AS YVR-SFO is fine for full qpoint and mile earning

Dave

Great, thanks for the confirmation guys. Still undecided on whether the diversion is worth it to stick with BA, but i know better than to start that war

Cheers,
JK.

 

[Dave Noble]

Great, thanks for the confirmation guys. Still undecided on whether the diversion is worth it to stick with BA, but i know better than to start that war

Cheers,
JK.

Well, AA does not fly non-stop to SFO , so if you want to get a platinum challenge completed then you will have to connect somewhere. Although AA is pretty reasonable for the flight to the US , but on the flight back to UK which would be overnight, then the BA flight would, imo, be nicer. I would suggest that LHR-YVR-SFO is a good choice for challenging and a decent journey

Dave

 

[cowombat]

Goodo. It's worth the effort methinks

Dave

Just hit the big Nine Oh.... an interesting journey of postings.. not a wasted experience. So now to find how long before the Coupon Connection fields open up to me. A question Dave, is the link for CC obvious (eg at top of the view) when active?

 

[Dave Noble]

Just hit the big Nine Oh.... an interesting journey of postings.. not a wasted experience. So now to find how long before the Coupon Connection fields open up to me. A question Dave, is the link for CC obvious (eg at top of the view) when active?

You have to complete a series of tasks, each more challenging than the one before to show your worth and devotion to the FT cause - or at least log out of your FT account and log in again

Then go to the forum home http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ and in the community section you will find the secret doorway to The Coupon Connection.

Dave

 

[serfty]

You are a font of good information Dave.... I went to FT to check this - seems one needs to have made 90+ posts to get access to Coupon Connection. (And I have made about 5 ) Do you know of another access method, as opposed to posting 85 spurious messages?

Cheers

Methinks there's a 'probational' period as well.. IIRC 'tis 6 months.

Ok, I was not quite correct; the qualifying time period is not six months; it is less. The correct answer can be found here: Access to CC. Note this is not advertised widely in FT.

 

[dikko]

apart from the argument about earning and spending AA miles vs QF miles, does being AA Platinum give the same privileges as being QF Gold?

 

[jpk]

apart from the argument about earning and spending AA miles vs QF miles, does being AA Platinum give the same privileges as being QF Gold?

i am pretty sure that privileges such as the increased weight limit only apply to QF flights, not when you are QF Gold and flying on a oneWorld carrier. i am also unsure to what extent other carriers can view your profile such as seating prefs.

JK.

 

[Dave Noble]

apart from the argument about earning and spending AA miles vs QF miles, does being AA Platinum give the same privileges as being QF Gold?

Other than extra allowance on QF marketed and operated flights, pretty much so ( other than no lounge access when travelling within USA on a purely domestic itinery that day )

If travelling on AA, you do get the ability to pre-select exit row seats

Dave

 

[cowombat]

You have to complete a series of tasks, each more challenging than the one before to show your worth and devotion to the FT cause - or at least log out of your FT account and log in again

Then go to the forum home http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ and in the community section you will find the secret doorway to The Coupon Connection.

Dave

Well I could have (1) gone in search of the holy grail, or (2) asked my 11 year old.... but your exact directions have yielded fruit - many thanks Dave.

 

[raccoon111]

Just completed the first part of my AA Plat Challenge, SYD-SIN, 23 June, booked in BA WT+. Did the online check in on the morning of the departure, and was disappointed to see my aisle seat replaced with a middle seat. Well that changed quickly when i saw that the row number had changed as well... from 29 to....13...! I could harldy believe it! Funnily enough, the self printed boarding pass still showed class of travel as WTP.

At the checkin desk in SYD I was told of the upgrade by the agent. Made my way quickly to the QP. Food was coughpy as usual. But I'm still thankful for the lounge access as my flight was delayed for some reason. QP staff mentioned that it was due to the incomming flight arriving late. Clearly this wasn't the case, as the captain announced on board that the aircraft had been sitting in SYD since 6 am.

Overall I was quite impressed with the Club World product. I found the catering and meals presentation slightly better than Qantas Business. Service however was rather mediocre, and lacking behind Qantas in my opinion (prob due to BA's denser seating as well as having more seats in Club). The flat bed was definately better to sleep in than the Skybed, but its a little narrow.

Anyhows, looking forward to completing this challenge in 2 weeks and becomming AA Plat. And many thanks to BA for this generous upgrade. Funnily, my original assigned seat in WT+ remained empty, together with 5 or 6 other empty seats. Anyone knows the reason behind this op-up? (Having only a brand new AAdvantage number on this flight, I'm totally status-less, so this op-up came as an even greater surpise).

 

[NM]

Anyhows, looking forward to completing this challenge in 2 weeks and becomming AA Plat. And many thanks to BA for this generous upgrade. Funnily, my original assigned seat in WT+ remained empty, together with 5 or 6 other empty seats. Anyone knows the reason behind this op-up? (Having only a brand new AAdvantage number on this flight, I'm totally status-less, so this op-up came as an even greater surpise).

A very nice op-up to get indeed. And especially as an AA Cardboard member!

Keep an eye on aa.com for the points posting as there is a good chance they will post with the business class 25% cabin bonus .