Questions and Answers

So it appears I will fall just shy of hitting platinum status on American Airlines again. I should have about $5,700 EQDs and 40,000 EQMS. I’ve been told that sometimes when you are close to another tier on American, they offer you an option to pay for it. Anyone have any idea if I will be close enough this year to receive the offer?

Thanks.

[QUOTE=”cbones869, post: 64964, member: 5746″]So it appears I will fall just shy of hitting platinum status on American Airlines again. I should have about $5,700 EQDs and 40,000 EQMS. I’ve been told that sometimes when you are close to another tier on American, they offer you an option to pay for it. Anyone have any idea if I will be close enough this year to receive the offer?

Thanks.[/QUOTE]

Good question. I would guess you will get an offer. But I am willing to bet that the whatever the cost is, it is more than the cost of buying two LAX/SFO – East Coast roundtrips. 10k miles is a lot. In past years when I’ve gotten an offer I think, if I remember correctly, that being 10k miles away meant an offer of ~ $1800 to $2000. (from EXP, though, if that matters. Not sure if does.).

I believe it was something crazy like $1900 for a similar buy up in recent years. These offers are never worth it, especially these days with dwindling elite benefits. I remember once, back when EXP status came with 8 (usable) SWUs, I went on a mileage run and spent around $500 to top off and that run was worth thousands considering the upgrades to business class which were routine and automatic. Those were the glory days of AA, now pretty much gone with the wind (excuse the bad pun).

Appreciate the insight from you both, thank you!

I’m actually currently in the process of getting a new credit card and am now looking into the Citi Executive World card and the American Express Platinum card. Ironically, the citi card would have given me the 10K EQMs needed for platinum but the American Express Platinum card has its own status benefits. I’m only interested in a card with lounge access but also has good mileage rewards. I also have been pre-approved for the 100K bonus from american express according to the CardMatch tool from creditcards.com.

Any thoughts on what cards make the most sense? If it helps, my home airport is Philly and I only fly American, average word expense per year is around $30K.

[QUOTE=”cbones869, post: 64967, member: 5746″] Any thoughts on what cards make the most sense? If it helps, my home airport is Philly and I only fly American, average word expense per year is around $30K.[/QUOTE]

So I am in a similar boat. I am self-employed for all intents and purposes. PHL is home. Therefore AA is 95%+ of my travel (flying) expenses. Though I have just burned (well, a good “burning”) 330,000 AAdvantage miles on JAL F to Singapore, CX F back to JFK, and a friend in CX F to LAX. Well worth it. My point being I almost always *pay* for AA, but spend miles elsewhere. Though I am buying a ticket to Asia on QR for this fall. Great EQDs.

The Amex Business Platinum is expensive, but worth it in my opinion (though I may drop it after the first year, and get the personal Platinum and use a Chase card for travel). I use WeWork in Philly, in NYC, in NC… and the Centurion Lounge in PHL makes you want to get to the airport early. Though it is often crowded. Anyway, for access to Lounges (you also get Priority pass and access to Delta lounges) I chose the Platinum.

To sum up – I have the Aviator Silver for EQMs / EQDs and triple miles on AA, but may downgrade this winter.

Amex Platinum for lounges and am putting most flights on it for the remainder of the year.

Hilton Ascend for Hilton Points (also Priority Pass).

Hope this helps.

First of all that trip sounds amazing. Appreciate your feedback.

I think i’m going to go with the Aviator silver you have because of the EQDs and EQMs. My wife’s parents have the American Express Platinum Silver so I’m thinking of paying them the $175 annual for them to add me solely so I can get the lounge access.

Much appreciated.

[QUOTE=”cbones869, post: 64986, member: 5746″]First of all that trip sounds amazing. Appreciate your feedback.

I think i’m going to go with the Aviator silver you have because of the EQDs and EQMs. My wife’s parents have the American Express Platinum Silver so I’m thinking of paying them the $175 annual for them to add me solely so I can get the lounge access.

Much appreciated.[/QUOTE]

Brilliant idea on getting an Authorized User Amex card just for the lounge access. FYI, the Silver Aviator has upped the spend requirement to $50k just to get $3000 EQDs! You still get $5k EQMs for every 20k in spend. Private school tuition (if you have it :/ ) is a good way to hit the spend.

Oh, forgot to post this yesterday – the only way to get the Silver Aviator is to first get the Red Aviator and ask to upgrade (after 12 months I think). Red Aviator gets 2x miles for AA travel.