This morning, American Airlines announced the new AAdvantage program. One of the key takeaways is that US Airways Chairman’s Preferred members will merge with American Airlines Executive Platinum in the second quarter of 2015.
Interestingly, US Airways has a trial preferred program, whereby if you earn a set amount of miles within an allotted time, they will grant you that status through the following program year.
- Buy Silver for $200 and fly 7,500 miles or 10 segments
- Buy Gold for $400 and fly 15,000 miles or 20 segments
- Buy Platinum for $600 and fly 22,500 miles or 30 segments
If you fly 30,000 miles or 40 segments, you’ll earn Chairman’s Preferred Status, no matter which trial status you enrolled in previously. So, you could pay $200 to be a Silver for 90 days, fly 30,000 miles during that timeframe, and US Airways will upgrade your account to Chairman’s Preferred. The flights can be either on American or US Airways, which brings up some interesting thoughts on mileage runs. Hmm…
Recently, American has published a number of very decent fares from Washington DC or Newark, NJ to either San Jose, CA or San Fransisco, CA. Roughly speaking, the fares around around $250 round-trip, with connections in Dallas. The fares come and go, and if they aren’t available today, they may be available tomorrow or in a few days.
It is 5,660 miles from Newark to San Fransisco, via Dallas, round-trip.
So, it would take 6 full round-trips to pass the 30,000 mile mark needed to earn Chairman’s Preferred. At a cost of $1488 for the 6 round-trips, plus the cost of the $200 Silver trial, you are coming in at around $1700 to earn Chairman’s Preferred through next year. Including the 2 systemwide upgrades you’ll receive now, the 8 you’ll receive next year, and the merger benefits in the second quarter, you are coming out ahead of many current Executive Platinum members.
Will you be trying to earn Executive Platinum status via this method or a similar mileage-run method this year?
Jamie Larounis is an avid traveler, blogger and miles/points educator. Traveling well over 100,000 miles a year and staying in hotels for over 100 nights, he leverages miles, points and other deals to fly in first class cabins, and stay in 5-star hotels. The Forward Cabin shares his experiences, musings, reviews, tips, tricks, resources and industry news with you, the fellow traveler.
Would AA code share flights count torwards the US Airways status challenge?
Can I do this while flying AA and using my EXP benefits (upgrades) both domestically and internationally (SWUs)? Also, since I am EXP and flying on AA, do I need to purchase Platinum or should I just go with Silver. If I can’t use EXP benefits then I’ll want to go Platinum.
Thanks
Why don’t you have to pay the $600 fee to do this? I feel like you can’t just buy the $200 one and then upgrade half way through…sounds too good to be true.
I am currently in a AA Platinum Challenge, and I think six round trip transcon flights are is a bit crazy with US Air trial preferred. AA Platinum challenge is a LOT easier. It requires the same $200 fee and you have to fly enough for 10k EQP (NOT Miles, but points) in the allotted time.
So I flew first class from DCA to ORD for the Chicago Conference $550, then I am flying from DCA -DFW -SEA in first class. for $1200. Since I am flying P or A fare, I am getting 1.5x EQP per mile flown so those two trips will get me 10380 EQP, so for about same 2000 bucks I will be AA Platinum and two weekends. (Leaving Friday after work, arriving in Seattle at 10PM, then fly back a red eye at 10:55pm and be home by noon on Saturday)
Plus my rt to Seattle will be done in January, it will count toward 2015 re-qualification for 2016.
While with AA challenge you don’t get elite status during the challenge, I am flying first class so don’t really need the status and you’ll be flying in somewhat of a comfort.
Don’t you think that’s easier?
Disregard my post.. I misread the article… 🙂 Executive Platinum… not just plain Platinum..
When you actually go to the USAir Airways sign up page (where you make the payment), it states that only USAir flights will count toward preferred trial status. The first info page says that flights on American and American Eagle will also count. Should I be worried?
I am also not convinced that if I over achieve I will get chairman preferred. How can I make sure I will get the CP status?
You forgot to mention “+countless hours of your time” in the headline.
Is it confirmed that CP will automatically go to EP for 2015? I really want this to be so, having already earned CP via trial, but I did not see anything in the announcement making this clear. Hoping I just missed it.
@Dawn AA flights definitely count. I just made it to CP status with well over half of my miles coming on AA.
@Jon – which trial did you pay for?
thanks
Thanks, Jon.
What trial did you pay for? Was it silver and you still got CP?
Thanks