Posted by RJNYC and Maxwell Smart on FlyerTalk, it appears that American Airlines is making another push to attract converts from other carriers to its own AAdvantage loyalty program. Multiple individuals have received unsolicited emails offering Platinum or Gold status after meeting some pretty easy requirements. They even come with some 500-mile upgrade instruments!
AAdvantage Gold Offer
- AAdvantage Gold status offered through May 31, 2014
- Ten (10) 500-mile upgrades just for registering
- Earn 6,000 EQMs or EQPs by May 31 to keep status through February 28, 2015
AAdvantage Platinum Offer
- AAdvantage Platinum status offered through May 31, 2014
- Twenty (20) 500-mile upgrades just for registering
- Earn 12,000 EQMs or EQPs by May 31 to keep status through February 28, 2015
RJNYC mentions a promo code used to register for the Gold status offer. However, I would be cautious about using it yourself. American Airlines may let you register …and then say later that you weren’t eligible to participate. If you did not receive an email offer, I recommend you contact American yourself and ask if they can extend it to you. It’s much more generous than the usual elite status challenges, which require paying a fee and do not provide any up front upgrade instruments.
Don’t forget that an Executive Platinum trial may also be available. I emailed AA late last year and was offered Executive Platinum status up front (without the eVIP systemwide upgrades) for about three months. I’ll be able to keep it (and only then receive 8 systemwide upgrades) if I earn 25,000 Elite Qualifying Points. EXP status matches and trials are rarely offered publicly, so you’ll definitely have to request this one yourself if you have top-tier status at another airline.
You can compare the benefits of elite status at each tier on American Airlines by looking at my airline status comparison tables. Thanks to everyone who point out necessary corrections. One or two are still needed for the AA baggage benefit (their site is not very clear about this point) but otherwise it is fairly accurate. I’ll try to wrap that up today.
