AA Fast Track Exec Platinum – Yay or Nay? (Please Help me Decide)

photo: Pixabay

As you know, American Airlines and World of Hyatt recently forged a partnership of sorts, and members (especially elite members) of each are getting certain reciprocal offers to attain elite status on the other.

As a Globalist World of Hyatt Member, one of the offers I received was to get free Platinum status on American Airlines. (But, of course, free is not free!)

These are the basic terms of the offer:

Register by Sep 30, 2019
Take your World of Hyatt Globalist status to the next level and enjoy free AAdvantage® Platinum status for 3 months after you register.

Elevate your AAdvantage® status through January 31, 2021, by earning the required Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs) and either the required Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) or Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs) between the date you register and the date 3 months after you register:
$1,000 EQDs and either 7,000 EQMs or 8 EQSs for Gold
$2,000 EQDs and either 12,500 EQMs or 16 EQSs for Platinum
$3,000 EQDs and either 20,000 EQMs or 24 EQSs for Platinum Pro
$5,000 EQDs and either 35,000 EQMs or 40 EQSs for Executive Platinum
Rules:
Qualifying EQDs, EQMs and EQSs to extend status are earned when you fly on eligible tickets for flights operated by American Airlines or marketed by American, American Eagle®, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Japan Airlines. /em>

The only way I would accept this offer would be to do the Executive Platinum challenge. A long weekend flight to Singapore on Finnair in Business class for $3,100 would do the trick. This wouldn’t be a true mileage run because I’d spend a few nights in Singapore.

But, is it worth going through all these hoops to get Executive Platinum on AA especially given all the negative reports recently?

There are so many pros and cons to this (and I recognize that not all of the “pros” are rational). Here goes . . .

First, the Cons. 

• $3,100 is not chump change. It’s a lot of money.
• I do not need to fly business class all the time. Sure it’s nice, but I am more concerned with the destination – in other words I am fine flying in coach and then staying at a four or five star hotel.
• AA has some serious issues recently. I myself had a hellish experience (which worked out in the end – and, yes, was partially of my own making). But I’ve heard many of your horror stories.
• AA’s offering of flights using miles, especially domestically, is pretty dismal.
• Would I use the Executive Platinum status enough to make it worthwhile?
• I have a lot of points and miles and could just go to Singapore without spending thousands of dollars.

Now, the Pros. 

• I’ve always wanted to visit Singapore, and this would be a fun solo adventure, and the flights and lounges would also be fun (I hope).
• There’s an Andaz in Singapore (and the reviews are great!)
• I would spend one night at The Vagabond Club, Singapore, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, which also looks great (and I can use my Amex Bonvoy annual free night certificate there)
• I can afford it (I have money saved both from work savings and also from an inheritance – you can’t take it with you, right?)
• Even if I don’t fly much on American domestically next year, if I fly internationally on One World carriers, I will have elevated One World status
• I will have the ability to make and change reward flights without penalty.
• Singapore Slings, mmmmm.
• Even if I only book coach fares, I’ll be able to get preferential seating. For example, I am flying to Barcelona in the spring on a cheap AA ticket. With Executive Platinum, even if I don’t get upgraded, I will have preferential seating.
• The possibility of volleying the elite status to another airline next year.

The pendulum keeps swinging. Right now, I’m leaning towards making the trip. What say you?