Spend your way to status: AA waives mileage, segment requirements for some flyers in 2020
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
To earn American Airlines elite status, flyers generally need to hit a spending threshold (EQD) and either a mileage (EQM) or segment (EQS) threshold. But, in 2020, targeted American Airlines flyers will be able to earn elite status solely by earning enough Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD).
In addition to earning status the classic way, AAdvantage members targeted for this offer will be able to earn elite status solely by earning the following amount of EQDs:
- 5,000 EQDs for Gold
- 10,000 EQDs for Platinum
- 15,000 EQDs for Platinum Pro
- 22,000 or 24,000 EQDs for Executive Platinum — depending on the offer
For reference, American Airlines standard elite qualifying requirements are:
| Elite status level | Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD) | Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) | Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS) | ||
| AAdvantage Gold | 3,000 | and either | 25,000 | or | 30 |
| AAdvantage Platinum | 6,000 | and either | 50,000 | or | 60 |
| AAdvantage Platinum Pro | 9,000 | and either | 75,000 | or | 90 |
| AAdvantage Executive Platinum | 15,000 | and either | 100,000 | or | 120 |
That means flyers will need to earn up to 9,000 additional Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD) to be able to get the same status without hitting the Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) or Elite Qualifying Segment (EQS) requirements. As government taxes and fees don’t count toward EQD earnings, that could necessitate spending in additional $10,000 on American Airlines flights.
To check if you’re targeted for this offer, log into your American Airlines account and check the Promotions tab for an offer entitled “reach elite status by earning EQDs only”:
The promotion terms and conditions require registration by 11:59 p.m. CT on December 30, 2019. So, you’ll need to decide whether or not to register before the qualifying year starts.
However, you might not necessarily want to register for this offer just because you’re targeted. The T&C specifies that “you can only participate in 1 alternate method of elite qualification in the 2020 calendar year.” So, flyers that aren’t high spenders may want to pass on this offer in hopes of another “alternate method of elite qualification” offer.
Another interesting bit in the T&C: “Bonus EQDs don’t count toward EQD thresholds for this promotion.” That indicates that there could be a mismatch between the number of EQD that you earn toward standard elite status qualification and the EQD earned toward this promotion. However, the good news is that the EQD earnings on partner airlines will count toward this promotion.
This promotion is a win for high-spending short-haul flyers who can now earn a higher tier of status than otherwise. I met one of these flyers in first class on a recent American Airlines flight into Charlotte (CLT). The traveler had already far surpassed the 15,000 Elite Qualifying Dollar (EQD) requirement necessary for top-tier Executive Platinum elite status. However, his mileage (~68,000) and segment earnings weren’t high enough to even hit mid-high-tier Platinum Pro.
This move by American Airlines is likely a reaction to United’s elite qualification changes for 2020. United is ditching the spending+mileage or spending+segment earning requirements for earning elite status for a system that allows flyers to earn elite status from spending alone or by achieving both spending and segment requirements.
Featured image by JT Genter / The Points Guy.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 80,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,650
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases within your first year of account opening.
- Earn 2X points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.