American AAdvantage has just launched three promotions that make it easier to qualify for status this year (that status would be valid for all of 2022, and through early 2023). It was rumored that we’d see something like this, and this also follows American recently extending systemwide upgrades issued in 2020.
Continue reading: Revealed: New American AAdvantage Elite Status Promotions
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
What about those EXPs stuck in Australia? Can't fly anywhere overseas legally, and there's no chance of getting anywhere near any of these EQMs with domestic flights.
Do oneworld or AA award flights count as “legs” that can earn EQMs for the bonus? It wasn’t clear in the promotion guidelines.
This promotion gets me over the hump for Ex Platinum without having to fly again so I’m super happy. I can use miles for the rest of the year.
Yes as usual, the program only takes care of members living in the US, any member outside of the US is always considered 2nd or 3rd class members.
Decent. For what it's worth, non-status members also got the 250 bonus EQM per segment offer through August 17. Not generous enough for me to try to get an extra status from American (already on my way to meaningful status with Delta), but good for AA loyalists I guess
I get the idea, but was still hoping they would extend status another year. I am EP, but my company is slow to have us travel again and will lose it even with these promotions.
Yawn. They should have copied Delta's promo and granted EQMs for award tickets.
I was at 128,000 EQM, 108 EQS, and 11,000 EQD. I didn't need this and I was looking for fewer EXPs next year. I think they made it too easy.
Ben; not sure if you know the answer but my next flight will put bump my status to the next tier. If I register now, will I earn bonus EQM at my current tier for all subsequent flights or would it be at the rate for the next tier up once I qualify?
Agreed! This barely moves the needle for me. Meanwhile, DL and UA status are very attainable
I'll take the freebies but this isn't going to make me go out of my way to fly American. In actuality, it might even make me fly them less since it's hardly likely to improve my level up chances. I'm still conflicted about whether to credit to Alaska or American at this point.
This is still not enough for elite members given it's already June and we are just starting to trust travelling again with the vaccines. I've done 4 flights so far, but without international travel available there is no way to reach the still high EQM and EQD thresholds. AA should have done better
Ben, AA didn't address the expiration of system-wide upgrades. I still have 4 expiring on July 31, 2021. Do you think AA will extend the expiration date?
I just ran the numbers for me and this barely moves the needle. Have been executive platinum for almost a decade and even with this and any possible trips that I might decide to give to American based on this promotion I would only comfortable make platinum and would be short of EQMs for Platinum Pro by about 12k. Plus, this requires me to spend $495 to earn 10k EQMs and find 10 additional segments between now and August 31 which isn't likely to happen since all of my travel through then has already been booked away from American at decent prices so no reason to cancel get vouchers and switch to American and pay 2 to 3 times the price. I say these promotions are too little too late.
My guess is that they are going to have to run another promotion in the fall or there will be a significant drop in elite ranks because this promotion only applies through August 31 and for most people they have already booked their summer travel plans and most companies are still not having employees travel so unless these leisure travelers booked exactly 10 segments which is 5 non-stop roundtrips or 2.5 one-stop roundtrips they are not likely to max out that portion of the promotion.
Plus, American Airlines only extended active systemwide upgrades which I am going to guess does not include systemwide applied to flights in the future that have not been traveled which would mean mine have not been extended even though I am unlikely to take the flights I booked since the destination is not open. So that then means I have to beg American to have them extended to July 2022 which they should have done from the outset.
American only seems to value loyalty if it means digging their hand deeper into your pocket without providing anything in return.
I'm kind of debating whether to go for Platinum Pro - this gets me closer, but my issue is still plenty of EQMs and not enough EQDs. We'll see!
This still doesn't help those of us who our international travel has completely dried up. It also just helps maintain existing levels and no encouragement to jump up a level. Like I've been Plat Pro for 3-4 years now and it's still nearly impossible to reach EXPLAT under this for me. I probably have 6-7 domestic round trips left in me this year, all in paid F, and I still won't even be close.
And that might sort of be AA's intention - not to lose members who drop down in status.
Chris T. - please clarify as I'm a little confused. So as of May 25 (as stated in the Terms) I am currently a Platinum. During this promotion period of the additional $1,000 EQD's and the 500 EQM's per segment - let's say that with some planned flying (which will gain me EQM's) + the bonus of the $1,000 and the 500 EQM's per segment - this puts me over the Plat Pro threshold. Are you saying that I would still be considered a Plat instead of a Plat Pro??
I agree, no one will shell out $500 specially if they are at lower tier, but the freebies do make a lot of sense specially for people who were going to achieve Platinum pro. The freebies gives them a chance to reach executive platinum.
I'm surprised they aren't doing more on the EQD side. They can give you all the EQM's they want but that doesn't solve the spend problem (and unless you only want to buy full fare intl business class you'd do quite a bit of flying anyway to hit the EQD numbers).
United at least 'giving away' 50% of the reduced spend requirement through promotions (assuming you fly 3 times under their new promotion by end of July). So to hit 1K I only need 6,000 PQD without yet counting flying I've done or plan to do.
Every time I try to register I get an error from both the app & website. No bonus EQM for me I guess :/
The purchase EQM isn't too bad if you are PPro or EXP. 7,500 or 10,000 for $495 isn't too bad. Batter than a mileage run.
Not as good for Gold and Plat.
Is the 500 even worth it, couldn't you just spend that flying (speaking for those who only get 2500) instead of just spending $.
Like others have said, this is too little too late. I've been EP for 20+ years, and all my domestic travel this year has been in paid F, but without business travel and above all international travel, I won't requalify. I'm a 2M Miler, which means I get lifetime PLT, which is now American's 4th tier, so yeah.
Is this promotion, especially the EQD, targeted to certain members? I received the offer to receive up to 2500 eqm, but no offer for EQDs. Anybody have any information about this? Thanks for the help