Targeted Offer: Fast Track to AAdvantage Elite Status

For many years I had Delta Gold status, then Delta Platinum.  One year, I was matched to United Platinum (oh, that was a fiasco!). The next year, I was matched to Alaska MVP Gold 75. Finally, last year, I was Delta Silver, gifted to me by a friend. (Surprisingly, I was actually upgraded a few times as a Delta Silver!).

Fast forward to 2016. This is the first time in years and years that I do not have any status with any airline. While there are benefits to being a free agent, it also leaves me feeling a little …. je ne sais pas.

My plan has been to probably do a challenge to American Airlines to Platinum status.(For a comprehensive overview of American’s current status challenge program see this post by Gary Leff at View from the Wing.)

A few weeks ago, when I traveled to London on British Airways in Business Class, I considered doing an AA status challenge. I decided against it, as I would only have received Platinum status through February 2017.  I thought, maybe I’d wait until a planned trip in November to do a challenge, because then I’d have elite status through February 2018.

YESTERDAY I RECEIVED A “FAST TRACK TO AADVANTAGE ELITE STATUS” OFFER

I received an email from American Airlines offering a fast track challenge to Gold, Platinum or Executive Platinum status, provided I register and fly the required 7,000, 12,500 or 35,000 miles (respectively), by September 9, 2016. The promotion code is HVC2Q. I was jubilant.  The offer is quite similar to the regular fast track offer, except I am not required to pay American Airlines $200 to accept the challenge.

All of the details and terms and conditions are listed on this LINK for the promotion.

Today, I learned that I did not receive the best fast track offer. Under my offer, I only receive the status after I have completed flying the requisite Elite Qualifying Miles.  Other offers grant preliminary status from the time of registration. For me, that means ‘ll be in the back of the plane a little longer than I’d like. (stated other wise, that man in AA’s promotional photo above will be drinking champagne without me for a while longer).

I did try to register for one of the better fast track offers (e.g. HVC2B), but predictably, the AA website rejected my attempted registration. I also tried phoning American Airlines to no avail. (oh well, gotta try!)

Notwithstanding the fact that the AAdvantage program has some drawbacks and recent devaluations, I’m going to accept the challenge.

WHERE SHOULD I GO?

I’m looking for your suggestions on where to earn 12,500 miles. The great people at The Flight Deal did a bit of research and found a flight to Hong Kong for me over a holiday weekend for under $650. I put that on hold. I will likely purchase it unless readers here have a better suggestion.  My only requirement is that I cannot miss more than one or two days of work.

DID YOU RECEIVE A FAST TRACK OFFER? 

Did you receive a fast track offer? If so, which one did you receive, and are you going to accept it?

Does anyone want to plan a GROUP FAST TRACK TRIP together? If so, leave the information in a comment, or contact me directly via email.

How cool would that be?

Disclaimer: As each airline frequent flyer program has different terms and rules, I acknowledge that I am a little challenged [not in the elite way] about all of the rules and jargon as well as the Aadvantages and disAadvantages of American Airlines’ frequent flyer program.