American AAdvantage Elite Qualifying Miles
Attempting to make your way toward American AAdvantage elite? AA has a promotion to give you a boost toward your high-flying goal.
Between Sept. 2 and Dec. 15, 2009, you can earn double elite-qualifying miles when you fly on American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection. The promotion will help you maintain or gain AAdvantage Gold (at 25,000 elite-qualifying miles), AAdvantage Platinum (at 50,000 elite-qualifying miles) or AAdvantage Executive Platinum status (at 100,000 elite-qualifying miles) for your current status through February 2011. For more information about qualifying for AA elite, visit www.aa.com/elitestatus. You must register for the double elite qualifying miles promotion prior to travel using promotion code DBLEQ. This offer is for elite qualifying miles only, not points or segments.
Furthermore, American’s Elite Rewards have been announced, offering benefits for elite AAdvantage members who reach certain elite qualifying miles thresholds. The special benefits vary based on the member’s elite level as of Dec. 31, 2009.
AAdvantage Gold members who earn 40,000-49,999 elite qualifying miles or points during 2009 will be eligible to choose from these benefits: two 500-mile upgrades; one set of luggage tags; one Admirals Club one-day pass or 7,500 bonus miles.
AAdvantage Platinum members who earn 75,000-99,999 elite qualifying miles or points will be eligible to select from these benefits: four 500-mile upgrades; two Admirals Club one-day passes; 15,000 bonus miles or the opportunity to reward a friend with AAdvantage Gold status for one year.
AAdvantage Executive Platinum members who earn 125,000 or more elite qualifying miles or points during 2009 will be eligible to select two of the following rewards: two one-way systemwide upgrades; one one-year Admirals Club membership; 25,000 bonus miles and/or the opportunity to reward a friend with AAdvantage Gold for one year.
To participate in the Elite Rewards promotion, register prior to Dec. 15, 2009 using promotion code ELTRW. To register for both of these offers, visit http://www.aa.com/elite
Bottom line: Be sure and pay attention to the fine print for these offers or you could miss out. For the double elite qualifying miles, you must register prior to travel and by Dec. 15, 2009–and notice that flights on oneworld alliance partners do not count for the bonus. For the Elite Rewards, you must register by Dec. 15, 2009 and must have a valid email address with an AAdvantage eSummary opt-in on file with the program by Dec. 31 in order to be notified and provided instructions on how to select your reward online. The qualifying miles or points must be in your account by Jan. 9, 2010 and you must make your selection for the reward you want within six weeks.
This offer is excellent for those who might not be true frequent flyers with American. For example, let’s say you live in Los Angeles and have a single flight planned to Paris. Roundtrip for that trip is nearly 13,862 miles when flying American Airlines. If registered for this promotion, you’ll earn double miles toward elite status–that’s over 27,000 elite qualifying miles–enough miles with a single trip to earn AAdvantage Gold elite status (members earn Gold status at 25,000 elite qualifying miles).
This move by the granddaddy of all frequent flyer programs was the starting gun for mileage run season this year and the motivation for other airlines to follow suit with their own elite-qualifying promotions. Let the elite wars begin!
