I recently got an email from American Airlines offering a free fast track opportunity for Gold, Platinum and Executive Platinum Status.
Currently, you can call American and ask for a challenge to a certain status level given that you have status with another airline. Generally, it is very hard to get them to grant an Executive Platinum challenge as they just go up to Platinum usually. Not only do you have to pay $200 + to enroll in the challenge but you also have to earn a set amount of elite qualifying points. These are different from qualifying miles as they are based on the fare class you book on.
For those that weren’t able to get into the US Airways Challenge, this is extremely similar to it when it comes to the Executive Platinum/Chairmans level.
What’s Different Today?
Today’s offer is a bit different as it seems to be targeted and offering the challenge for free without needing status on other airlines. You must fly between now and May 15th, which is also a lot longer than the usual 90 days to qualify. The biggest benefit of this challenge comes in how you can complete it:
Fly American, US Airways and other select airlines* between the date you register and May 15, 2015, to earn the required elite-qualifying miles or points and you’ll receive status through February 29, 2016.
This is huge because you can fly in any fare class and earn the amount of miles instead of EQP’s!
Here is what the chart looks like:
It’s important to note that you will not receive status until actually qualifying for it. The benefit with paying the $200 in the beginning of the other challenge is that you automatically are granted that status level when trying to complete the challenge.
You must register for this offer by February 11th, 2015.
This offer seems to be targeted, so remember to use code HV1T1 and see whether you were part of this offer!
Here’s the email in it’s entirety: