Platinum AA status

As long as you can afford it, why not - it's your life/money. (besides, I can tell you really want to. you will justify it some way or another. I'm not about to try to stand in your way. )

 

What in the world are you talking about?

Sounds Greek to me.

 

If you stay there will be trouble.

If you go it will be double.

(somebody had to say it...).

(i'd do it...seems like a good deal to me).

 

DD...I would do it. It's worth a trip to New Orleans.

 

Hell it's New Orleans. I'd go anyway. The upgrade is just the icing on the cake.

 

I don't know why you wouldn't do it (of course I also have difficulty maintaining relationships with women, so what do I know). The double miles will likely get you your investment back by itself. I was Plat and Exec Plat on AA for nearly 5 years. I didn't earn it last year, but they gave it to me anyway. Im definitely not going to come close this year, so I'll lose it. It's a shame too, b/c the little perks are definitely nice - esp. if you are doing overseas travel.

That being said, Continental's FF program is generally better than AA. Given the choice in future years, I would make the switch.

 

Before you do it, call em and see if they will just give it to you. I did that one year b/c i was like 400 miles short. Otherwise, yes its worth it. For future reference, take a "platinum challenge" if you fly 10k miles in 3 months, they will give you status. Do this right before a big trip and it should be easy. They have a gold challenge too. If you want to be executive platinum, you have to earn it.

 

As someone in the industry, I highly recommend it. It goes even beyond just the upgrade status. Do it.

 

Just do it.

You only live once.

 

I used to be Platinum on Continental and its a world of difference...I use to travel a lot and the companion upgrades are worth it...

I had Gold on AA once and actually prefer AA, but you don't get as much as Continental...

 

I used to be Elite w/ United and all of the perks were well worth it.
With each perk, I recognized the decreased stress when traveling. Once, they even told everyone to remain seated, let me exit first, and held a plane for me once as they shuttled me across the tarmac so I could make my connection.

My company also recognized how so much travel could suck, so they got us memberships for the United lounge and purchased First Class upgrade coupons.


So I'm with you DaDakota. The trip sounds well-deserved, and the added benie is worth it.

 

I am elite on Alaska Airlines, and it is more than worth it. Free first class upgrades, 50% bonus miles, boarding and standby priority, among others. I don't know the AA perks, but I would say go for it. I've done one day Fairbanks-Anchorage trips just to pick up elite status and don't regret it one bit (40 minute flight each way).

 

This is a very simple finance problem. Simply take the incremental value of your expected future benefits of being platinum over the benefits of being gold. How many extra airmiles will you receive by being platium (depends on how many miles you fly)? Most people value airmiles at around a penny a mile in terms of redemption value. What is it worth to you to be upgraded more frequently and to know that information sooner? Once you have the benefits, subtract cost of trip to New Orleans. If positive, accept. If negative, reject.

My gut instinct is that if you fly enough to make platinum status, then the extra airmiles will be worth it to you by themselves.

 

Definitely worth it if its comparable to Continental.
Continental always seemed easier to upgrade back when I was in both. AA is just too big, too many other people are Gold/Plat whereas Continental didn't seem as overloaded

 

I'm at 55K with NW/ KLM.

 

Yeah, I know they're only supposed to drop you one level, but since I was given a special exemption last year, I'm not sure that I'll get it. Quite frankly, though, Gold doesn't mean much to me. Since I don't fly much anymore, the extra mileage doens't matter to me. The upgrades do, though. My former colleagues who were gold never seemed to get upgraded. Heck, it was hard for me to get upgraded at Platinum. Exec is a shoe-in, though.

The reason I prefer Continental is because I just never had any problem getting upgraded AND it didn't require points. I just made a reservation and ended up in first class. On American, I'd have the travel agent submit a request and it was a crapshoot, not to mention I'd have to use the points. I just didn't like that set-up.

Sounds like with your personal and Corp credit card you are going to get substantial American miles anyway. Of course that doesn't figure into status, but will get you free tickets just the same. I don't think that should really influence you to choose one airline over another. I actually find it convenient that I can use either Continental, American or United for free ticket options. It makes holiday travel home a lot easier.

Anyway, have fun in New Orleans. If you do it right, you can make back the cost of the ticket at the casinos!