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[edit] The Challenge: Basics

A status challenge is American's way of granting those who will likely generate significant revenue for American a one-time "short cut" to elite status. The Challenge is an undocumented benefit; there is nothing written officially about it, so the Challenge could be withdrawn or changed at any time. If you have a question about the challenge, please do not start a new thread. Instead, use this Challenge Master Thread.

[edit] Choosing a Challenge

A Challenge is based on flying sufficiently to earn 5,000 (AAdvantage Gold) or 10,000 (AAdvantage Platinum) Elite Qualifying Points in a three month period. Elite Qualifying Points are figured on the basis of miles earned and fare class. See the tables at aa.com for the official rates. Important notes:

  • Elite qualifying miles are not the same as points and it is points that count for a challenge, miles earned are not relevant.
  • See the tables at aa.com for the number of points that you will earn for the various booking classes. (Also see Inventory_Classes_and_Mileage_Eligibility_(AA).)
  • In previous years, points earned on flights marketed by partners would earn points. That is no longer the case. As of January 2007, only flights marketed by AA (with an AA flight number) will be eligible for earning points that count towards the completion of a challenge. You can still fly on non-AA metal flight operated by a partner, but you must make sure that you have booked an AA flight number for the flight.
  • You'll earn points in accordance with the booking class that you purchased. This holds true even if you are upgraded into another booking class.
  • There is no Challenge for Executive Platinum.
  • Concurrent Gold and Platinum Challenges are not allowed.1
  • Once attaining Gold through a challenge, you are not allowed to sign-up for a subsequent Platinum Challenge.1
  • You are not allowed to use a challenge to maintain status - you must lose it and then challenge to regain it.
  • You are not allowed to use a challenge to re-attain status earned through a Challenge within the same year.

Status earned through a Challenge is treated the same as elite status earned through other means.

1There have been some reports of people doing this in the past, but it has become increasingly difficult and attempting either will likely just waste your time trying. It also goes against the spirit of the Challenge Program.

[edit] Signing up for a Challenge

To enroll in a challenge, call AAdvantage customer service at +1 800 421 0600.

Challenges begun before June 16 earn status for the remainder of the year and through the next last day of February; challenges begun on or after June 16 grant status for the remainder of the current year, the following year and the last day of February of the year after that (at least 14 months.) Call American Airlines customer service and request to be signed up for a (Gold or Platinum) Challenge beginning the day you prefer; challenges may be started on the 1st and 16th of the month.

It appears that while you can sign up for a challenge ahead of time, it would have to start within the next couple months. A customer service agent suggested on April 15, 2008 that one should call back on or after May 1st to sign up for a challenge to begin on June 16th. But be very explicit about your start date. The agent will not necessarily offer the June 16th start date unrequested.

[edit] Completing a Challenge

A Challenge is successfully completed when you earn the requisite number of points within the three month period after you sign up. Status is earned on the flight you actually cross the threshold on, so some will plan to cross that threshold on a longer flight so they can earn the elite miles bonus that pertains to the earned status (25% Gold, 100% Platinum.) (N.B. Class of Service and other bonus miles do not count for calculating E Q points.)

When you complete the Challenge you have signed up for and your flight miles post to your online account, you will probably notice your new status. You will be able to use the benefits of your status (ability to request upgrades, priority standby) as soon as the miles post. Your ability to use certain amenities, such as elite security lines, could be diminished until you have a physical card, though you may have success by pointing out your status when printed on boarding passes.

You may have to be logged into your AAdvantage account to view these graphics:

American will send you a welcome packet with your new status card; you should receive it within a couple of weeks. (Luggage tags are no longer part of one's welcome kit.)

If you are attempting to begin a Platinum Challenge after completing a Gold Challenge, the whole 3-month / 90-day Gold Challenge period must end before the Platinum Challenge may begin even if you have earned 5,000 points to complete the Gold Challenge before the end of the challenge period. (This info provided by AAdvantage rep on 5/6/2008.)

[edit] Other Information

[edit] Repeating a Challenge

Challenges may not be repeated back to back from one year to the next - that is, you may not use a challenge to requalify. If you do not requalify within the year, you will be downgraded one level, either to gold or no status. At the end of the downgraded year, you may complete the challenge again to regain your original status. (This info provided by AAdvantage rep on 10/10/2006.)

[edit] Failed Challenges

"Failed" Challenges may be "forgiven" as not counting, and one may be allowed to try again.

[edit] Other Resources

  1. FewMiles has an older site with information on Challenges and Status:
  2. And there is a newer site as well (some info may be outdated, though):
  3. There is a very long thread with all more details:

Please do not start a new thread about the Challenges, post to the thread above instead.

[edit] Sample Letter for Gold

The following is a letter from February 2007. A letter sent in April 2008 was nearly identical; there were no changes to the rules. (A Platinum Challenge letter sent in May 2008 has the miles and points numbers doubled, and is missing the last helpful tip; a Gold challenge letter sent May 13, 2008 remains unchanged with a 5,000 mile requirement.) NOTE: a conversation with an AA rep on 15-July-2008 indicated that while bullet 2 below seems to indicate that AA codeshare flights count towards the challenge, that in fact only AA, AE and AC will count.

Thanks for speaking with me about your AAdvantage account. We have put you on a Challenge for AAdvantage Gold membership. Congratulations – and Good Luck!

Here are some helpful tips:

  • Remember that Challenges are based on points, not miles, and your goal is 5,000 points in the three-month period we discussed. If you’re not sure how you earn points, read on. (That’s why you wanted this email, right?)
  • Be sure to fly AA (we know you want to anyway!) since only points earned on American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection flights (including AA codeshare flights operated by other carriers) count toward Challenges.
  • Select fares with high point values. If, for example, you use Deep Discount Fares, get ready to fly 10,000 miles because those fares earn points at half the rate of miles. But if you buy Discount Fares, the rate is one point per mile and you can meet your Challenge by flying 5,000 elite-qualifying miles. And if you select premium fares, you earn 1.5 points per mile and can meet the Challenge by flying just – OK, you do the math!
  • Know the point values you’ll earn for the booking codes you select. Yes it may look like alphabet soup, but there’s a point to these codes. In fact, there’s anywhere from .5 – 1.5 points!
    • Earn 1.5 points per mile when the purchased fare on your American Airlines ticket is booked in one of these booking codes: A F P D I J B Y
    • Earn 1.0 point per mile for these booking codes: H K L M V W
    • Earn .5 points per mile for these booking codes: G N O* Q** S (sorry, you knew there had to be an asterisk somewhere)
  • How can you determine what booking code is used for the fare you’re purchasing? Simply ask the booking agent, whether that’s your travel agent, corporate travel planner or AA Reservations representative. Or, even better, when you book your flights on AA.com, the Flight Summary screen displays the booking code in the same column as the cabin booked.
  • Here’s an easy way to keep track of your progress: Before you take your first flight in the Challenge period, look at your YTD Elite Qualifying Points. You can access this information when you login to AA.com with your AAdvantage number and password. (If I’ve just lost you, call us at 800-421-0600 and request the email on ‘AA.com Login and Passwords.’) Click on ‘View My Miles’ and your Mileage Summary (displayed on the left) includes your YTD Elite Qualifying Points. Add 5,000 to this number and that’s what you’re shooting for. At the end of your Challenge, if your YTD Elite Qualifying Points are 5,000 more than when you started, victory is yours and you’ll see ‘Status: Gold’ on your Home Page right below your name when you login to AA.com.

A Challenge is intended for members who are in a hurry to get to the elite level they desire. Think of it as a shortcut to the status you would probably earn on your own during the normal 12-month qualification period. If you meet your Challenge goal, then you will be expected to requalify the following year by meeting the normal criteria. We know you can do it.

Now here are those pesky but important footnotes: 

*O -- only eligible domestic fares booked in O will count

**Q -- excludes transatlantic fares booked in Q and equivalent booking codes on participant airlines

AAdvantage Customer Service

[edit] Other ways to earn status

See Elite Levels (AA) for alternate ways to earn status, including Status Matching.

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