American Targeting Corporate Travelers with New Status Challenge

Earlier this month, American Airlines announced plans for the future of its AAdvantage program, the main takeaway being that it's switching to a revenue-based redeemable mileage earning. For now, though, it's fairly easy to get status quickly — especially if you work for a large corporation. This week, AA began offering a promotion in which flyers with select corporate email addresses are eligible for a free status challenge.

The challenge offers those who are eligible and complete the required EQM-earning to receive status through January 31, 2018. You must register for the promotion by July 7, 2016 in order to be eligible, and you must meet the EQM-earning requirements within 90 days to successfully complete the challenge. To sign up for the challenge, visit AA's website and enter your information, including your AAdvantage number, corporate email address and the challenge you'd like to enroll in. Note that your corporate email address does not need to be the same email that is linked to your AAdvantage account. If you already have status with AA, you can sign up for a challenge for a status higher than the one you currently hold. There are three opportunities, which are detailed, below:

AAdvantage Executive Platinum: Earn 35,000 EQMs during the 90-day period for EP status through January 31, 2018. You'll also get 50,000 bonus miles when you earn EP status.

AAdvantage Platinum (with "Stretch to Executive Platinum" opportunity): Receive Platinum status for 90 days. Earn 12,500 EQMs during the 90-day period to extend Platinum status through January 31, 2018. You'll get 12 e500 upgrades at registration and 25,000 bonus miles when you successfully extend your Platinum status. If you earn 35,000 EQMs during the 90-day period you'll get Executive Platinum status through January 31, 2018. You'll get 25,000 additional bonus miles when you get EP status.

AAdvantage Gold (with "Stretch to Platinum" opportunity): Receive Gold status for 90 days. Earn 7,000 EQMs during the 90-day period to extend Gold status through January 31, 2018. You'll get 6 e500 upgrades at registration and 10,000 bonus miles when you successfully extend your Gold status. If you earn 12,500 EQMs during the 90-day period you'll get Platinum status through January 31, 2018. You'll get 15,000 additional bonus miles when you receive Platinum status.

Note that there is no fee for signing up for this challenge, like you would normally incur when enrolling in other status challenges. We tried signing up with a business email and got a notification that AA would need to review the application, so it's not clear exactly which businesses are eligible for this promotion — AA will choose who is approved on a case-by-case basis. Keep in mind that you shouldn't book any travel with the hopes of completing this status challenge until you're approved. If you're approved for any of challenge options, your status will be updated (for Gold and Platinum) and your 90-day challenge period will begin within five business days.

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Keep in mind that there is a public AA status challenge that everyone is eligible to sign up for — not just those with select corporate business emails. The two options are for Gold (7,000 EQMs in 90 days) or Platinum (12,500 EQMs in 90 days) status, however, there is a fee for signing up — $120 and $200 for Gold and Platinum, respectively.