You still have time to “take AAdvantage” of a deal from American Airlines to get elite status. If you didn’t quite make it to your desired elite level for your travel in 2013, you can purchase your way to elite. If you ended 2013 close to AAdvantage Gold, Platinum or Executive Platinum, you can “boost” to the next level. If you were an elite member in 2013, but weren’t able to retain your status by the end of the year, you are eligible for a status renewal. Members should sign in to their AAdvantage account to see if you qualify for either of these offers.

You can boost to the next level if you ended the year 5,000 elite-qualifying miles or points or five segments of reaching Gold or 10,000 elite-qualifying miles or points or 10 segments of reaching Platinum or Executive Platinum. If you didn’t fall within the boost range (20,000 to 24,999, 25-29 segments) and you held Gold, Platinum or Executive Platinum level in 2013, you are eligible for renewal. The cost to boost to Gold is $399, but if you are not in boost range, the cost for renewal is $649.

You are eligible to boost to Platinum if you earned 45,000 to 49,999 miles (55-59 segments) for $699 or if you earned 40,000 to 44,999 miles (50-54 segments) for $899. If you are not in boost range, and were Platinum or Executive Platinum, the cost for renewal is $1,199.

And you are eligible to boost to Executive Platinum if you earned 95,000 to 99,999 miles (95-99 segments) for $1,199 or if you earned 90,000 to 94,999 miles (90-94 segments) for $1,799. You cannot get Executive Platinum renewal with a fee.

This offer is available through May 31, 2014. Elite status membership obtained through this special offer will be valid through Feb. 28, 2015.

Bottom line: An alternative to buying your way to the top would be to get the Citi Executive / AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard, which offers lounge membership and some other benefits similar to having elite status. The cost of the card is $450 and has the added benefit of getting a hefty mileage bonus upon getting the card and spending the required amount within the first 90 days.