Is American Airlines Platinum hard to get?

First of all, it is crucial to understand that the Platinum level is considered to be the second hardest status to achieve among all the offered status levels by American Airlines.

Gaining elite status with an airline is a great accomplishment that can be very useful in providing the traveler with great benefits that improve the journey. The American Airlines elite status also has three levels: Gold, Platinum, and Executive Platinum. Of these, Platinum sits in the middle, giving one more privileges than what comes with the basic free Gold card but less than what the Executive Platinum card holder enjoys.

Thus, is it feasible for most travelers to attain Platinum status with American, or does it practically demand flying so frequently? Before we go ahead and discuss whether or not an average flyer can attain platinum status, let’s first understand what it takes.

Qualification Requirements

For a calendar year as a Platinum member with American Airlines, one requires flying 25,000 EQMs or 30 EQSs together with EQDs of $3,000 in the same year.

Elite Qualifying Miles are the actual flying miles that have been covered; Elite Qualifying Segments, on the other hand, are the number of flight segments. Therefore, the roundtrip flight has two EQMs. Elite Qualifying Dollars are the base airfare plus carrier’s charges on the flight tickets and do not include taxes and charges. It is possible to earn status solely based on the number of flown miles/segments or through a calculation with the help of EQDs.

These qualification thresholds are half of those of the Executive Platinum status: 50,000 EQMs / 60 flight segments plus $6,000 of EQDs. The latter could mean 25,000 miles flown or 30 flight segments in a calendar year, which, even on the surface, may not seem like a challenging feat to accomplish. However, one could argue that the $ 3,000 EQD requirement could further complicate attaining status for specific categories of travelers.

Is It Possible for Most Of The Travelers?

To regular business travelers who would need to travel frequently for work, the attainment of Platinum qualification levels may not be difficult and overly cumbersome within one year and without the need to deviate excessively from the normal traveling routine. Still, for frequent business travelers who fly multiple times in a week, it might be possible to make the necessary flights to achieve Platinum status but for occasional flyers who may only use a flight or two or three a year, attaining Platinum status is most likely not feasible.

It would probably take several rounds of travel to reach the point where one becomes an elite-status millionaire. And that $3,000 EQD minimum spend requirement also makes Platinum more difficult for thrifty and viscera-sensitive travelers using only deep-discount Economy class tickets.

That is, whether accumulating enough activity points to attain Platinum status is even possible or a fantasy for most people depends largely on your travel regimen and elasticity.

Strategies for Earning Status

If Platinum status is a goal, there are some things you can do to boost your qualifying miles, segments and dollars: If Platinum status is a goal, there are some things you can do to boost your qualifying miles, segments and dollars:

• It is much preferable to consolidate travel on American Airlines instead of spreading the relationship across multiple airlines.
• Travel in the higher-fare classes as a way of minimizing potential risks.
• Enroll in the American Airlines credit card to get bonus EQMs and EQDs that come with your card charges.
• Interchange the activity acquired when traveling with activity from an airline credit card.
• Buy upgrade certificates or status match offers
• Use the end of the year to take mileage-run flights if one is almost within reach of a certain EQM level.

When used in moderation, some of the above-mentioned strategies can make Platinum status more accessible to flyers beyond full-time business travelers.

Benefits of Platinum Status

American Airlines Platinum customers are rewarded with a package of benefits even over general AAdvantage members.

Some popular benefits include:

• Free checked baggage allowance: The number of free checked bags allowed per passenger.
• Free preferred seat selection
• Preferred positioning at the airport, security access, and ability to embark.
• Free upgrades on flying within domestic flights at 500 miles.
• Bonus: 25 additional EQMs per segment completed
• Permitted fee exemption for ticket alteration/cancellation

Furthermore, mid-tier Platinum status also provides an opportunity to upgrade a passenger to a better seat or cabin compared to Pure Gold members when upgrade space is restricted.

These are considered important privileges that make an overall difference in the means of experiencing travel. When deciding whether to go for Platinum and whether the conditions to be met would make it worth it, one must consider the benefits that would be offered here.

How It Stands in Competition with Other Airlines

It does make America’s Platinum qualification requirements seem fairly sane when compared to some of these competitors out there.

For instance, Delta Air Line’s Platinum Medallion status entails the accumulation of 75,000 MQMs and $9,000 MQDs with the airline, which is much higher on both parameters. According to United Airlines Premier Platinum status, the required EQMs and PQDs are comparable to American’s requirements.

Therefore, as mentioned before, the activity that would be required to attain Platinum status at American Airlines is not inflated beyond reasonable industry standards. If it is possible to qualify for mid-tier with another major airline such as Delta or United Airlines, then attaining Platinum on American should not be much of a challenge; if anything, it should be slightly easier.

The Upshot

In conclusion

One is left with the understanding that American Airlines Platinum does come with meaningful benefits that improve the entire flying process. To those very frequent travelers, getting those required flights and the corresponding dollars in a year is processed seamlessly. As far as everyone else is concerned, achieving Platinum status does still require more than just the occasional visit, but it is not out of the realm of possibility. Some of the ways that one can connect the dots include: flying more on American Airlines where possible; carrying out activities that boost the status of the credit card; and doing mileage runs so that if one ends the year close to the thresholds, they can qualify. Consider whether or not the reward of the extra effort is worth the extra distance, or, literally, extra flights.

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