I’m in a bit of an odd situation with American this year. Here’s what my mileage tracker looks like:

Yes, I’m 13 miles short of Executive Platinum. That’s less than half way to the airport from my house.

I just moved and really actually like staying home now (thanks in part to my W bed), so don’t really want to get on a plane if I don’t have to.

Historically American will give Executive Platinum to those within 1,000-2,000 miles of requalifying. The issue is, they usually only do so retroactively at the end of the year.

So I realize I probably should get on a plane to be on the safe side, though I have such a hard time justifying it when I’m 13 miles short. Why can’t the continents drift a bit quicker?

I might just fly to Miami and back, which might qualify as the most boring mileage run ever.

Posted on December 3rd, 2011 by lucky
Filed under: American | 30 Comments »

  1. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    Claudia Beatriz said,

    I have the same with United, but I am probably about 100 miles short.. :) And by the end of the year, you mean 2011 or 2012?

  2. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:20 pm

    Tom said,

    Mia it is or anywhere you can get to cheap. You can’t afford to chance it.

  3. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:22 pm

    Mpw81 said,

    DEN-COS-DEN last year on 12/31 was quite eventful for me.

    I almost took a bump but I had a party to prepare for.

  4. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:23 pm

    StvR said,

    LOL. Too bad they don’t run a taxi service.

  5. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    Brian said,

    I would do it. Have you found your cheap Radisson stay yet?

  6. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    mrpickles said,

    Buy a one way, scan the boarding pass at the gate and then go home. You dont need to board as long as you dont check baggage.

  7. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:31 pm

    Katie said,

    Oh, that makes me laugh!

  8. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    mowogo said,

    Don’t feel bad, I’m doing a same day turn in MIA to get my status. Doing it next Monday afternoon

  9. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    Antonio said,

    Call them and see if there’s something you can work out.

  10. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:45 pm

    Marshall Jackson said,

    I’d but a Miami roundtrip for sure. But I like Miami. :)

  11. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    Marshall Jackson said,

    Make that…”buy” a Miami trip.

  12. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:53 pm

    Marisa said,

    Can you buy elite qualifying miles?

  13. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    JAR said,

    Just email them and ask. Once I would have hit status on AA based on segments, but for that my final qualifying segment was on January 1st. In the morning. I emailed them, they took care of me no problem.

  14. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    lucky said,

    @ Claudia Beatriz — I meant they would only offer such an exception come January 1, at least historically.

    @ Marisa — Unfortunately American doesn’t have such a program this year (so far).

  15. December 3rd, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    NYBanker said,

    I’ve done LGA-BOS as a miles run – my only one ever needed. That may have been the easiest MR out there, too!

  16. December 3rd, 2011 at 3:00 pm

    NYBanker said,

    You can get EQMs from the Citi Executive AA card. The tickets to Miami will probably be less expensive.

  17. December 3rd, 2011 at 3:19 pm

    wpjrnl said,

    if you qualify last yr with challenge not sure if they will honor EXP with less than 100k. I would go on the safe side. why not going on a trip on 31/Dec, returning after new years so you half of your trip counts for next yr qualification.

  18. December 3rd, 2011 at 3:28 pm

    Matt said,

    Delta doesn’t have a status tier at 100k, but right now it looks like I’ll end the year at 99,999 elite miles…

    There’s probably a 95%+ chance that they move you up, but I’d probably book something.

  19. December 3rd, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    Jimgotkp said,

    I wouldn’t mind a trip to MIA if I were you either… Enjoy the weather and the food… of course you living in Florida doesn’t make this as enticing since you have good weather as is :P

  20. December 3rd, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    Gary said,

    You could do a December 31 positioning flight to begin a mileage run and do the bulk of the itinerary January 1 to start off the new year right!

    And though AA has historically handled folks who are close after the fact, I might call in or even just email that I had 99,987 qualifying miles… that I’d really love to spend a weekend at home after all those miles! And could they see their way to letting you know now they’ll take care of EXP for next year so that you don’t have to buy a TPA-MIA roundtrip you don’t need?

    Can’t hurt to ask.

  21. December 3rd, 2011 at 4:52 pm

    Ben said,

    “[D]on’t really want to get on a plane if I don’t have to”?? That’s heresy, coming from you… :P

  22. December 3rd, 2011 at 5:04 pm

    Aanarav Sareen said,

    Heh, I’m 83 miles short on United. Just did the Elite Maximizer. Too bad AA doesn’t offer the maximizer.

  23. December 3rd, 2011 at 5:29 pm

    Cook said,

    Why risk being denied? They know who you are and why you do what you do. I suspect that they’s like nothing better than to deny you, and yes, even for 13 miles. Fly the segment and keep your various proofs handy. It is close and yes, they usually grace folks who are close. They also don’t like your kind and could easily refuse you. I don’t think that last week’s BKY will change their position, but… it sure won’t make them any more liberal. Jump on a plane before 12-31 and with a qualifying ticket. If you now hate airplanes that much, you can take the train or a bus for your return leg. Get the full 100k and be able to prove it. Why run the risk. – that is IF you really want their benefits. As you well know, the 100k benefit at AA and most others is not really worth much. Happy flying and I’d like to hear more about your W-bed. -C.

  24. December 3rd, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    JP2 said,

    Hey Ben, you can always do a MR up to ATL and we can do lunch.

  25. December 3rd, 2011 at 10:14 pm

    Dan said,

    Coins,

    I’m disappointed in your poor planning. Tsk Tsk. How on earth did you back yourself in to this position?

  26. December 3rd, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    Reader said,

    @Cook

    You’re wrong. AA loves Benn and will give him status now that he tweeted this. He’s actually *requesting it* passive-aggressively with this tweet. AA flew him for free to S America! This takes sucking up and log rolling to a whole new level. Disgusting.

  27. December 3rd, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    Jana said,

    Get in the plane and do a quick mileage run. What would you say to a client if they were in the same boat?

  28. December 4th, 2011 at 12:35 am

    Carl said,

    I agree with Gary. Do a positioning flight to Miami on 31 December, with onward travel on 01 January.

  29. December 5th, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    How my approach to in-flight wifi has changed - One Mile at a Time said,

    [...] a 180 when it comes to in-flight wifi, since I made a pretty radical decision today. I need to take one more trip this year on American to requalify for Executive Platinum status, and I just booked a 737 with a slim shot at a first class upgrade, instead of the 767 leaving a [...]

  30. December 5th, 2011 at 4:49 pm

    Bhumik said,

    I need about 7 segments to qualify for EP status with American.. I got this awesome segment run deal — PHL > DFW > MCI > DFW > MCO > MIA > PHL — for $300 all in.. can’t beat that price for the amount of miles i’ll accrue and the segments that i’ll get before end of the year..!

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