SWillams

I have had AAdvantage Platinum Status for several years. However, this year I will not requalify for the status.

Is there anything I should do before my Platinum status expires?
(Such as book free tickets, visit a certain airport because I have lounge access, etc.)

Any tips/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

yk

With PLT status, there's no advantage to booking award travel.

The best way to take advantage of it is:
FLY AA!

1) You can request upgrade with your stickers (you'll be ahead of the GLD and non-elites for upgrade)
2) You'll receieve 100% bonus miles
3) If you fly international, you have access to OneWorld lounge. (You do not have lounge access if you fly domestic.)

Just a reminder, you PLT status is good until Feb 28, 2009. After that, you'll automatically drop down to Gold.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Booking free tickets you'll still be able to do. That depends on number of miles in your account and availability of award tickets on the route and dates you want. Status doesn't enter into it.

Remember: You'll still be Gold next year. AA takes a "soft landing" approach to not requalifying. (Is that the term they use?) You're bumped back only to the next lower status level, even if your miles don't meet the normal number needed to qualify for that status.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Sorry. I didn't see yk's post.

SWillams

Thanks yk and Jeff_Costa_Rica, both of you always give good advice.

Realistically I`ll fly once across the Pacific and once across the Atlantic this year. That`s it, that`s a huge difference from the 50,000 plus miles I`ve been flying in recent years.

To be honest, I find AA flights to be very expensivie this year. In some cases often 30%- 40% more than their competitors. For the transatlantic flight I am thinking of flying an airline other than AA because of price. As for the transpacific flight AA again is alot more than the competition, but double miles is influencing my decision to fly AA.


I was wondering if I should do anything with my electronic upgrades, like convert them to mileage before my Platinum staus expires.

Anything else I should do, soon I`ll be a nobody with AA.

Oh, AA has spoilt me, now I need to adjust to being a nobody.

Thanks.

Oh, and thanks Aa, it`s been a great ride!

Gardyloo

Your 500-mile upgrades will still be good when you fall to Gold. You may find them a bit harder to use on busy routes because you'll be lower in the upgrade pecking order.

They're no longer exchangeable for miles.

AAFrequentFlyer

<i>They're no longer exchangeable for miles.</i>

not so sure about that...

I believe AA may be willing to convert the stickers into 500 miles each if you can prove that all your travel is international.

Bad exchange rate, but if you must.....

AAFrequentFlyer

<i>Status doesn't enter into it.</i>

Exec Plat does....

Extended award inventory for AA metal flights.

yk

Yes- you can still use your sticker upgrades as a Gold. But it'll be very difficult to use as a non-elite.

longboatkey

More importantly, keep up on the financial woes of AA; going into reorg. is one thing; there are rumors on Wall St of a carrier or two going Chap. 7...Then you have points and &quot;status&quot; that are worthless!