I guess as a result of their poor operational performance the past couple of months, American has just announced that they are offering double elite qualifying miles, points, AND redeemable miles through the end of the year for elite members! Non-elite members earn double elite qualifying miles and points as well, though only receive double redeemable miles for travel November 16 through 26. Registration is required using promotion code AATHX. This offer is valid for all flights operated and marketed by American between November 1 and December 31, 2012. Best of all there’s no requirement as to the booking date, so even previously booked travel qualifies!

Here’s the full text of the promotion:

This is HUGE. Hands down the most generous airline promotion we’ve seen in years. Double elite qualifying miles would already have been huge, but double redeemable miles as well? That means as a Platinum or Executive Platinum you’re earning 300% miles on all travel. I’ll have another post with strategies for maximizing this shortly.

Posted on November 2nd, 2012 by lucky
Filed under: American, Great Deals | 57 Comments »

  1. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:04 pm

    David said,

    Does this mean that those who status matched from UA 1K who needed 55K now only need 27.5K? I guess I have to do it!

  2. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:06 pm

    lucky said,

    @ David — The terms of the match offer specifically said that promotions don’t qualify, so I suspect you still have to fly the 55K.

  3. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    Howie said,

    Just got AA to match me to EXP through EOY with 25k EQM/EQP needed to extend it a year … talk about an early Christmas present!

    O Happy Day

  4. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    Jason said,

    Sweet. I have to buy a biz ticket to Tokyo from the US East Coast for December. No current status on AA (gold on UA only), but would love to get plat or EXPLAT.

  5. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:12 pm

    AK said,

    Btw, it’s for all AAdvantage members … yours says “as an elite member” but I got to a page that said the same promo for general members.

  6. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    Sam said,

    This. Is. Awesome!

  7. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    David said,

    Too bad…this was in my match email: “Bonus elite qualifying miles earned through special promotions are excluded.”

  8. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:19 pm

    Matt said,

    Since UA’s operational performance was just as bad, maybe we’ll see them match all or part of this offer. Hahahah, yeah right, why would they do something good for their customers.

  9. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    Jerry said,

    Not sure if this can be stacked with AA status challenge?

  10. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    Ben (not lucky) said,

    under the T&C for the DEQM portion:

    “Bonus elite qualifying miles or points will count towards your 2013 membership year.”

    If we are EXP, I still get the EQM which doesn’t do anything for me, but does this mean the 100% bonus EQM I earn right now will apply towards next year, helping me get a heads-up on the requalification for 2014?

  11. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:33 pm

    lucky said,

    @ Howie — Just keep in mind that if you have a status challenge promotional EQMs/EQPs typically don’t count.

  12. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    Zz said,

    This will be on all the blogs within 1h.

  13. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:35 pm

    lucky said,

    @ Jerry — I don’t believe it can be.

    @ Ben — No, it would apply towards this year’s EQM total, which is what qualifies you for 2013 status. That’s not especially useful to you, so what you have to gain are the bonus redeemable miles.

  14. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    lucky said,

    @ Zz — As it should be, just as the election results will be on all the news stations within an hour of the winner being declared. ;)

  15. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:38 pm

    Zz said,

    How many Gold, Plat and Plat Ex are there? eVips will be so much harder to us.

  16. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    Ben (not lucky) said,

    @ Lucky – THanks for clearing it up. Makes sense now that I re-read it a few more time. It sure would be nice if they extended into January or February for a leg up on 2014 requalifications. Made EXP thanks to the stacking DEQM promo this Jan and wouldn’t mind a repeat performance :-D

  17. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    qbrain said,

    This promotion is more generous than double RDM and triple EQM on the VX routes at the beginning of the year?

    I have to say I am a fan of the terms since the offer is wide open for elites and targetted to Thanksgiving travel for non-elites when they are most likely to be traveling anyway. Just not sure about “most generous”.

  18. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    lucky said,

    @ qbrain — That was exclusively for residents of two states and available only on a couple of routes. This is systemwide, so is huge, IMO. You can rack up double redeemable miles a lot faster to China than on a midcon. ;)

  19. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    lucky said,

    @ Zz — They’ve still always cleared for me. :)

    @ Ben — Agreed, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a similar promotion early next year.

  20. November 2nd, 2012 at 12:52 pm

    Chas said,

    Closer look at the T&Cs seems to indicate that the double EQM/EQPs are for everyone, but the double RDMs are for elites only.

    In addition, codeshares are not eligible for the double RDM component, but that restriction doesn’t appear to exist for the EQM/EQP portion.

  21. November 2nd, 2012 at 1:00 pm

    AC said,

    Just a quick note, if you are note an AA elite, it looks like you only get double RDM between NOV 16-26.

  22. November 2nd, 2012 at 1:01 pm

    Eric said,

    I believe the double RDM’s only apply for travel around the Thanksgiving holiday. I think the dates are Nov 16-26. But I am sure that nobody around here really cares about RDM’s. Unless, of course, they already have all the EQM’s they need to requalify for next year.

  23. November 2nd, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    lucky said,

    @ Chas @ AC @ Eric — Right, just updated post to reflect that, thanks. Elite members get double redeemable miles throughout, while non-elites only get double redeemable miles November 16 through 26.

  24. November 2nd, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    Dave said,

    I just registerd gor the promotion, tried booking a RT flight in the Nov 16-26 window using miles. I don’t see a discount on points, still 25k.

  25. November 2nd, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    lucky said,

    @ Dave — This promotion offers a bonus on earned miles for paid tickets and not a discount for award tickets.

  26. November 2nd, 2012 at 1:16 pm

    Riposte said,

    Can someone please provide a link to the terms where it says that elites will get double redeemable miles from 11/1 to 12/31? (I must be blind)

  27. November 2nd, 2012 at 1:21 pm

    Dax said,

    Earned 100k RDM on AA this year but zero BIS means it’s rather unlikely I can make this into anything “HUGE” during the brief window both benefits are in effect for general members.

  28. November 2nd, 2012 at 1:23 pm

    Sean said,

    Let’s hope for a UA match… one can dream, no? I have so much *A travel planned thru EOY, I simply don’t have time for any AA travel.

  29. November 2nd, 2012 at 1:38 pm

    Chris said,

    Wow, must be popular:

    http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com/aa.com

    It’s not just you! http://aa.com looks down from here.

  30. November 2nd, 2012 at 1:41 pm

    Steve said,

    AA modified the letter or there were different letters to elites or general members?

  31. November 2nd, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    lucky said,

    @ Steve — It seems they have different letters for elites and GMs.

  32. November 2nd, 2012 at 1:58 pm

    kyunbit said,

    I am being greedy I wish this extended to next year too!

  33. November 2nd, 2012 at 2:04 pm

    John said,

    Im currently on an AA plat challenge and will meet the requirements during this promotion. Do you think my status will qualify me to earn as an elite for the entire promotion, just the flights after I meet my challenge count towards redeemable miles, or neither?

  34. November 2nd, 2012 at 2:23 pm

    Victor said,

    I wonder if Suzanne Rubin is too young to remember Conjunction Junction.

  35. November 2nd, 2012 at 2:26 pm

    Corey said,

    Having already requalified for EXP, I’d rather not have the competition next year for upgrades. It was hard enough this year with all the UA matches joining the system.

  36. November 2nd, 2012 at 2:29 pm

    Dax said,

    “I’ll have another post with strategies for maximizing this shortly.”

    If you have any strategies for zero EQM general members from non-hub locations feel free to share those as well! ;-)

  37. November 2nd, 2012 at 2:38 pm

    Carberrie said,

    I agree with Ben… It would have been better to see it extended into 2013 for next year’s qualification. That’s what was great about last year’s promotion! I think it was Dec ’11 & Jan ’12 so you could get help for whichever year you were “in need.”

  38. November 2nd, 2012 at 2:46 pm

    Tom said,

    Bonus elite qualifying miles or points will count towards your 2013 membership year.

    Does this mean EQM or EQP count towards next years totals?

  39. November 2nd, 2012 at 2:51 pm

    A. S. said,

    @Lucky – If I’m on an “I” fare that earns 1.5 points/mile will I then earn 3.0 points or 2.5 (the 1.5 + 1, correlating to base miles)?

  40. November 2nd, 2012 at 3:44 pm

    lucky said,

    @ John — I have no clue. If I figure it out I’ll post here, though.

    @ Tom — No, they count towards this year’s totals, which is what qualifies you for status for next year.

    @ A. S. — I believe you’d earn three.

  41. November 2nd, 2012 at 4:42 pm

    Lord Fish said,

    Excellent post! American recently took me to O’ahu and back with no problems.

  42. November 2nd, 2012 at 6:12 pm

    Peter_Ng said,

    I wonder if I could you this promotion to reach 125k Points for AA Elite Awards? Thanks

  43. November 2nd, 2012 at 6:18 pm

    lucky said,

    @ Peter_Ng — Absolutely, that’s what I plan on using it for. :)

  44. November 2nd, 2012 at 6:28 pm

    Greg said,

    This is great for those who have not already re-qualified or finalized plans to re-qualify. However, I am sure for many this will have little impact, as they probably have a pretty good map already for how they were going to finish the year, and with only 8 weeks left to book, and most cheap fares require a couple weeks advance, I don’t think the timing of this will be quite as HUGE as it would be if it was in say the spring.

  45. November 2nd, 2012 at 6:28 pm

    Ed said,

    I don’t see any reference to double RDM in the terms and conditions. Also I fear that this will produce a lot more EXP to compete with, especially after the DEQM/TEQM earlier this year. =/

  46. November 2nd, 2012 at 6:31 pm

    lucky said,

    @ Ed — Here’s the link they sent out to elite members:
    http://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/elite-double-miles-thank-you.jsp

    It does seem pretty clear to me based on that that elite members earn double redeemable miles throughout the entire promotion period.

  47. November 2nd, 2012 at 8:07 pm

    Double Redeemable/Elite Miles on AA | Traveling To… said,

    [...] am exceedingly late to the party announcing double redeemable and elite qualifying miles on American Airlines, but here [...]

  48. November 2nd, 2012 at 9:07 pm

    spkg said,

    Like a few others here, I too have already qualified for EXP, and with AA’s “elite rewards” based on points, I’m too far away to go for it.

    Sure hope UA matches, it would help me get to 1K

  49. November 2nd, 2012 at 10:27 pm

    Peter_Ng said,

    only need about 72K EQP , lol

  50. November 2nd, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    pssteve said,

    I too have qualified as EXP and experienced more than a few operational irregularities in Sept and Oct. I can’t get real excited about this “apology” which amounts to 3X’s RM’s instead of 2X’s. Now if it was extended to Jan 31,2013 that would be another matter.

  51. November 3rd, 2012 at 1:55 am

    Ed said,

    @Lucky: do you think AA will have another DEQM promotion for 2013?

  52. November 3rd, 2012 at 2:04 am

    lucky said,

    @ Ed — I’ll have a post on this in the morning, but I’d bet yes. It’s anyone’s guess, though.

  53. November 3rd, 2012 at 6:54 am

    C said,

    Lucky,
    If I do a run to PEK as you suggest. After 1 run I shall become a lowly gold. I plan on going to EXP based on your recommendation, will I get the elite benefits for the entire rest of the promotion?
    Thanks

  54. November 3rd, 2012 at 2:33 pm

    lucky said,

    @ C — Yes, once you reach Gold you can enjoy those benefits for the rest of your travels through the end of next year.

  55. November 3rd, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    Sara said,

    Lucky that we’re booked leaving on 11/22. Bad luck that we’re coming back on 12/4. However, I’ll take what I can get.

    Thanks!!

  56. November 6th, 2012 at 10:05 am

    Bucket List said,

    I’m really excited about this, however, how fast/easy can we get a visa to China if leaving within 14 days? I have a passport and it’s not expiring anytime soon. Any suggestion is greatly appreciated.

    Lucky/Ben, Thank you for all your posts and answering our questions! I’ve been a long time reader and greatly appreciate all your help and hard work!

  57. November 6th, 2012 at 10:58 am

    lucky said,

    @ Bucket List — Thanks! :)

    It’s easy to get it same day in person at a consulate, if you leave near one or are willing to fly to one. Otherwise you can use a service, though you’ll want to overnight all documents. Still shouldn’t be too tough.

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