Huff-puff, and I reach AAdvantage EXP

In July, I wrote a post about how I was having trouble moving forward with my quest for AAdvantage status. I had done the required number of points, but somehow AA did not take a view on it. It turns out, AAdvantage is strictly implementing a particular clause this year, which is a pre-qualification for any elite qualification with American Airlines.

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They are also implementing a no soft-landing policy this year, which led me to go down to base member tier in the first place. Usually, I’m able to comply with this 4 legs requirement early in the year itself, however, this year, business travel and personal travel was slow during the beginning of the year.It came later in the year, while I did put my other oneworld trips on AAdvantage.

Eventually, after some back and forth with AAdvantage, they resolved this issue and I got Platinum because by the time I was done with my resolution of this issue, I was up to 50,000 EQP already.

When I did complete a 100,000 EQP, I also had the 4 segments on American Airlines flown. However, the status did not move again. So I asked for an intervention again to see what was happening. Eventually, the status moved, but American Airlines told me the segments were to be booked on AA/US Airways as well, and not just flown on American Airlines, something they did not clarify in the initial emails they sent me.

So that was a new one for me, but I am glad I have now regained my AA Executive Platinum status for the year ahead up to March 2016.

Moral of the story? Do get your 4-segments with AA in place early in the year to avoid disappointment later.

Have you had any such irregular experiences with the AAdvantage program?

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About Ajay

Ajay Awtaney is the Founder and Editor of Live From A Lounge (LFAL), a pioneering digital platform renowned for publishing news and views about aviation, hotels, passenger experience, loyalty programs, travel trends and frequent travel tips for the Global Indian. He is considered the Indian authority on business travel, luxury travel, frequent flyer miles, loyalty credit cards and travel for Indians around the globe. Ajay is a frequent contributor and commentator on the media as well, including ET Now, BBC, CNBC TV18, NDTV, Conde Nast Traveller and many other outlets.

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Comments

  1. But if you’re based in India, why try for AA anyway? Isn’t Cathay Pacific or BA better? They have multiple direct flights to/from India so you have better options of burning miles in a beneficial way

    • @Shan I also am a BA Gold. Anyhow, AA makes life easy whenever i am in the USA with their unlimited upgrades. Also, AA has one of the best award charts out there with no fuel surcharges to be paid.

  2. Having just found this posting (in late Nov!) I am in a bit of a bind. I live in London, have qualified (with Points) but only have 1 AA leg flown this year!

    I am trying to somehow book an AA codeshare on BA/IB from London to somewhere (anywhere!) in Europe, but not having any luck in forcing travel booking sites to show AA codeshare availability. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

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