Rumor: American AAdvantage Status Challenge Returning

The status challenge program is a way to fast track elite status at a cost. Since American introduced its new Loyalty Points system earlier this year, this has been suspended, but it seems like this may be coming back soon.

What American’s status challenge could look like

The status challenge program is rumored to be coming back as of next week. It is not hard to figure out what this could be.

You have a period of a few months during which to earn status with reduced requirements, in order to keep it for the entire membership year. The American representative told the person that the status challenge would be as follows.

• The AAdvantage Gold status challenge will require earning 10,000 Loyalty Points and flying two segments
• The AAdvantage Platinum status challenge will require earning 20,000 Loyalty Points and flying four segments
• The AAdvantage Platinum Pro status challenge will require earning 30,000 Loyalty Points and flying six segments
• The AAdvantage Executive Platinum status challenge will require earning 50,000 Loyalty Points and flying eight segments

It seems more likely that you would have three months to qualify, since that is how long challenges have lasted in the past. Here are the AAdvantage elite requirements.

• AAdvantage Gold status requires earning 30,000 Loyalty Points
• AAdvantage Platinum status requires earning 75,000 Loyalty Points
• AAdvantage Platinum Pro status requires earning 125,000 Loyalty Points
• AAdvantage Executive Platinum status requires earning 200,000 Loyalty Points

We don't know how much the co-pay will be for the status challenge. You will get the status upfront, but it is rumored that it will be over $1,000.

This would be a true status challenge, which means that you don't need to have elite status with a competitor to enroll. Status matches are not usually offered by American, but it looks like that will change.

My take on the return of the status challenge

I can not vouch for the details of the status challenge coming back at American. They are in line with what I would have expected.

I am not sharing the details because I believe one person is telling the truth. I shared it because I believe a status challenge is returning and the alleged criteria are in line with what I would expect.

The new status challenge program makes sense since AAdvantage is now available without flying. It sounds like we can finally expect an Executive Platinum status challenge, which hasn't been done before. Since you can earn Executive Platinum with $200,000 of credit card spending, it makes sense that American would allow it.

Bottom line

We will have to wait until next week, but it looks like American AAdvantage is going to bring back its status challenge program soon. It will be the first time since the Loyalty Points system was introduced that we will see such a program.

We might see a status challenge for Executive Platinum if we earn a certain number of loyalty points in a short period of time. When we find out more, I will let you know an update.

Do you think American brought back a status challenge?