Why I booked a Finnair flight to help me reach American Airlines elite status
Before becoming a TPG reporter, I knew very little about airline elite status, and had never given much thought to earning it myself.
This is largely because I grew up primarily flying Southwest Airlines — and its two-tiered status program doesn't offer the traditional perks of airline elite status, like class upgrades or lounge access.
All of that changed once I joined The Points Guy and realized the benefits that could come from earning airline elite status, including complimentary seat and flight upgrades, free checked baggage, priority boarding and lounge access. I've experienced some of these benefits as an American Airlines AAdvantage Gold member for the past 10 months.
However, since I have had entry-level AA status, I knew routine flight upgrades would be few and far between. Also, the only way I could access an Admirals Club for free is by having a qualifying flight or being Concierge Key, which is AA's top-tier status.
As with many flyers, the possibility of being upgraded to a better cabin, such as business or first class, is a priority to me, so I decided to kick my status quest into high gear about halfway through the year.
To do so, I mapped out some travel plans to help meet the next status threshold, which is why I took a 66-hour and 15-minute round-trip flight on Finnair last month.
Here's why and how I did that — and how this helped set me up to reach Platinum for 2023.
A status run
One way to quickly and efficiently further your status goals on any airline is by completing a mileage run. This typically involves flying from point A to point B and back to point A, sometimes without leaving the airport at the destination, simply for the sake of flying a certain amount of miles or reaching the spending thresholds necessary to earn or requalify for status.
This can be particularly beneficial for AAdvantage status goals since AA's status currency, Loyalty Points, are earned based on distance, spending and fare class flown.
Generally speaking, one base mile earned equates to one Loyalty Point. These are earned whenever you fly an AA-operated or Oneworld partner flight, use a cobranded American Airlines credit card or earn eligible base miles that count as Loyalty Points, including by shopping online via the AA shopping portal and SimplyMiles portal or eating at participating restaurants in the dining rewards program AAdvantage Dining.
However, since I don't currently have a cobranded credit card, I knew the quickest way to reach the 75,000-Loyalty-Point threshold required for AAdvantage Platinum was to book a long-haul flight in a premium cabin, on either American or a Oneworld partner.
You earn bonus miles that qualify toward your Loyalty Points balance when you fly a premium cabin, specifically premium economy, business or first class. Because you get more Loyalty Points for flying in a premium cabin, I knew I wanted to fly premium economy at a minimum.
Also, since flights on partner airlines also qualify for Loyalty Points, I chose to book a premium economy fare type on Finnair, based on its availability out of my home airport — Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD).
Read more: Comparing the Finnair premium economy flight experience on the A330 versus the A350
While this decision was largely a status run, I also picked this flight because I wanted to visit Singapore for the first time.
To facilitate this, I found a round-trip flight from ORD to Singapore's Changi Airport (SIN), with a long layover each way at Helsinki Airport (HEL). In total, I spent 66 hours and 15 minutes in transit over five days across 20,372 miles.
Thanks to a 40% elite-status bonus as a Gold member, I earned 28,554 Loyalty Points and American Airlines redeemable award miles on this one trip.
How close this got me to Platinum
Thanks to this trip, I now have nearly 69,000 Loyalty Points, just 6,371 points short of Platinum status for 2023. This year, I have until the end of February to get Platinum since the qualification period runs from March 1, 2022, through February 2023.
When I think about my strategy for the rest of the year and how I'll acquire these remaining Loyalty Points, I plan to take the following trips:
- O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to LaGuardia Airport (LGA): Base fare of $437.21 for a total of 3,060 Loyalty Points and award miles.
- ORD to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA): Base fare of $229.77 for a total of 1,608 Loyalty Points and award miles.
- ORD to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): Base fare of $255.81 for a total of 1,790 Loyalty Points and award miles.
Those three trips would put me roughly 2,000 Loyalty Points above what's necessary for Platinum. Additionally, I'll earn 1 AAdvantage mile for every eligible $1 I spend from staying at World of Hyatt hotels on each trip, thanks to the companies' ongoing partnership.
Future status goals: Lounge access
While no status guarantees you Admirals Club access besides Concierge Key, AA's top tier, you can qualify for lounge privileges for certain routes.
For example, Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum members get lounge access for certain international flights along with first- and business-class ticket holders on certain international, transcontinental or domestic flights operated by American or a partner airline.
Accessing Admirals Club via qualifying international routes as a Platinum status holder will be my immediate goal after becoming Platinum.
Bottom line
Flying one of the world's longest flights wrecked me physically — I developed a clogged ear that required a trip to urgent care when I got home, resulting in being up straight for more than 30 hours, and it took two weeks to get over my jet lag. But I would still contend it was worth it to get me close to my American Airlines status goals with just four flights.
Related: There is some debate about whether an airline's elite status is still "worth it."
Before joining TPG, I would not have thought about pursuing airline status. However, as I have seen, even with entry-level status you can start enjoying extra perks.
As an AA Gold member thus far, I've received one flight upgrade to business class on a regional flight from ORD to St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL). I routinely select complimentary extra-legroom seats when checking in for my flights — either preferred seats or Main Cabin Extra based on availability. Though I haven't needed it thus far, I like having the option of checking a bag for free should I so choose.
All of this has helped me come one step closer to my end goal — complimentary lounge access and more frequent flight upgrades, which would be extremely valuable to me on long-haul flights in particular. This is why I am chasing Platinum and will continue doing so.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees