American Airlines is offering free Platinum Elite status to select individuals. With this promotion, no status match from another airline is necessary! The promotion offers free Platinum status through September 22, 2017, but can be extended through January 2019. This appears to be a targeted promotion and requires registration with promotion code HV2PB.
Free Platinum Elite Status
The free American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum elite status provides all the perks of being Platinum through mid-September. Extending status through January 2019 is possible by spending $4,000 elite qualify dollars (EQDs) by September 22, 2017. There is one caveat, only EQDs from American Airlines, American Eagle, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Japan Airlines or codeshare flights will count for this promotion. Earning EQDs is possible on Alaska Airlines and all OneWorld partners. However, if American Airlines has their IT in order, only airlines which AA has a joint venture with will qualify. Time will tell if AA can figure out where EQDs are earned and separate them during the promotion. AA IT is not their strongest suit!
In addition to free Platinum Elite status, American Airlines is giving away twenty 500-mile upgrade certificates. These certificates are necessary to upgrade on flights longer than 500 miles. If a flight is 1660 miles in length, such as Dallas to Seattle, four upgrade certificates are necessary. Typically, four 500-mile upgrades are earned for every 12,500 Elite Qualifying Miles earned during the membership year after achieving status. 20 upgrade certificates is fantastic boost to anyone’s account! Let just hope upgrades will clear and you will be able to use them. If not, do not worry the certificates never expire!
American Airlines Platinum Elite Benefits
The great part about having fee Platinum Elite status is it gives you all the perks of platinum status through the busy summer travel season. Platinum elite status provides great benefits, including OneWorld Sapphire status. That status provides lounge access and priority check-in and more while traveling internationally on all OneWorld partners. It also provides the following benefits with American Airlines:
- Complimentary upgrades on flights 500 miles or less within North America (confirmed as early as 48 hours before departure).
- Complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra and Preferred seats.
- 8 award miles/U.S. dollar (60% bonus).
- 2 free checked bags.
- Priority baggage delivery.
- Priority Boarding, security screening, and check-in.
- Complimentary same day standby
Although Alaska Airlines is not part of OneWorld, American and Alaska have a close partnership. Platinum status on American will provide many benefits when flying Alaska Airlines including priority check-in and security screening, preferred seats, and two free bags.
Upgrade Your Status Now
As I mentioned before this does appear to be a targeted offer. Even if you did not receive the offer I recommend trying to sign up for status. Free status beats paying for status! Earlier this year American Airlines was offering me status for nearly $1400! I ignored all those emails and now I’m getting status for free!
Did you receive the free status offer? Please share with readers if you were successful in signing up for this promotion. In doing so, please share last year’s status with AA and current years’ status. For example: Promotion Signup Successful. 2016 AA Status: Executive Platinum. 2017 AA status: No Status/general member.
