How and why you may qualify for American Airways Government Platinum standing

In 2016 and 2017, I acquired Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs) on most of my eligible United flights. Nonetheless, final 12 months one in all my few CPUs on 35-plus eligible flights was for a no-frills weekday journey from Puerto Vallarta (PVR) to Denver (DEN).

And it isn’t trying like United CPUs are coming again. On a latest Boeing 777-200ER flight from San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) to Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD), I used to be 52nd on an improve waitlist. Top quality, which had 50 seats, was totally booked.

My days of paying for financial system class and flying firstclass on United Airways gave the impression to be behind me.

The United woes prolong past upgrades — United now not has a companion award chart, and in the course of the early days of the pandemic, it elevated award charges on companions with out discover. We hoped that was non permanent. Nonetheless, this unwelcome change hasn’t gone away.

So, is the grass greener at American? Nicely, my newly-minted American Airways elite standing began with my quest to earn American miles.

Associated: How you can earn miles within the American Airways AAdvantage program

Extra useful redeemable miles

A few of our favourite AAdvantage business-class redemptions embody flights from the US to the Center East and South Asia for 70,000 miles in Qatar Airways Qsuite, and from the U.S. to Europe for 57,500 miles in Finnair’s new business-class seat. You too can use 80,000 miles to fly from the U.S. to Japan in firstclass on Japan Airways.

For comparability, United Airways MileagePlus now expenses over 121,000 miles for one-way ANA first-class flights on the identical route.

I just lately used 42,500 AAdvantage miles to journey from Europe to the Center East in Etihad Airways enterprise class, which requires calling American to ebook.

For one-way business-class flights from Europe to the Center East, United expenses no less than 50,000 miles. In contrast to with American AAdvantage, United’s MileagePlus members cannot use their miles for creme-de-la-creme seats like Qatar Qsuite and Etihad enterprise class.

I additionally booked a flight for later this 12 months from Hong Kong Worldwide Airport (HKG) to San Francisco on Cathay Pacific and Japan Airways in enterprise class for 70,000 miles, which was funded by my Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Enterprise Mastercard sign-up bonus.

The knowledge for the AAdvantage Aviator Enterprise Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

However there was one other profit to my push for useful miles.

Associated: How you can redeem miles with the American Airways AAdvantage program

Invaluable advantages

Here is a take a look at my favourite advantages of Government Platinum standing.

Oneworld Emerald standing

For the final 4 months, I have been a Platinum Professional and am now an Government Platinum on American — each include Oneworld Emerald standing.

And I find it irresistible.

Oneworld Emerald offers some key perks that Star Alliance standing does not supply. For one, Emerald offers you entry to most well-liked or reserved seating on Oneworld flights.

So, as an American Airways top-tier elite, I may choose complimentary extra-legroom seating on a Royal Air Maroc flight from Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD) to Casablanca Worldwide Airport (CMN) and upper-deck business-class seating on a British Airways A380. These pesky advance seat charges can attain the triple digits on long-haul flights.

In the meantime, top-tier United elite members should pay advance seating charges in lots of fare lessons on airways like Lufthansa, Copa Airways and Swiss.

Moreover, Oneworld Emeralds are welcome into Oneworld first-class lounges (with some notable exceptions) — I cherished the Qantas first-class lounge at Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) and the British Airways Galleries Lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR).

In the meantime, Star Alliance elite members cannot entry first-class lounges like the brand new SilverKris First lounge at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and the Lufthansa first-class lounge at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) utilizing their standing.

For frequent worldwide vacationers, Oneworld Emerald could make a giant distinction.

Associated: Your full information to Oneworld alliance advantages

Alaska Airways advantages

American Airways elite members successfully obtain standing on Alaska Airways, due to the reciprocal elite partnership the 2 carriers have just lately strengthened.

Government Platinum members are eligible for Alaska Premium-class upgrades after reserving (not relevant on Saver fares) and obtain first-class upgrades simply after Alaska’s MVP 75K elite members.

Some TPG Government Platinum elite members have reported latest improve success on Alaska Airways transcontinental flights, together with routes like New York-JFK to Seattle (SEA). Whereas your expertise could differ (and I have not flown Alaska on a transcontinental flight), my impression is that transcontinental upgrades are way more widespread on Alaska than on United.

Government Platinum members are additionally entitled to a few checked luggage and complimentary same-day flight adjustments on Alaska.

As a San Francisco-based traveler, United has sometimes rebooked me on Alaska when one thing went mistaken, and I will be glad to have Alaska advantages when this inevitably occurs once more.

Associated: All American and Alaska elites now eligible for reciprocal complimentary upgrades

How I earned Government Platinum standing

Could-August 2022: Common member incomes 30,000 Loyalty Factors

American Airways adjusted its elite qualifying 12 months from January 1-Dec. 31 to March 1-Feb. 28 when it launched Loyalty Factors for the 2022 elite qualifying 12 months. That allowed AAdvantage members to begin incomes Loyalty Factors on January 1, 2022, however I did not earn my first Loyalty Level till Could 2022.

Here is a take a look at how I earned 30,000 Loyalty Factors as a basic member, subsequently qualifying me for entry-level Gold standing (notice, American has since elevated some elite standing necessities, so you may have to earn 40,000 Loyalty Factors for Gold standing in 2023.).

August-October 2022: Gold incomes 50,800 Loyalty Factors

With 30,000 Loyalty Factors, I certified for Gold standing. Subsequently, I started incomes 40% extra Loyalty Factors on my air journey than I did as a basic member, making it simpler to earn Loyalty Factors by my British Airways and American Airways flights throughout this time-frame. Additionally, now that I had elite standing with American and Hyatt, I started to double dip on most paid Hyatt stays by incomes 1 Loyalty Level per qualifying greenback spent at Hyatt properties.

That is how I earned 50,800 Loyalty Factors from August to October.

November 2022: Platinum incomes 5,800 Loyalty Factors

Passing the 75,000-Loyalty Level requirement for Platinum standing, my sought-after advantages started to kick in, together with complimentary Essential Cabin Additional seating, Oneworld Sapphire (which can be utilized to entry many Oneworld enterprise class lounges on most long-haul itineraries) and a 60% Loyalty Level bonus on paid tickets.

Here is how I earned 5,800 Loyalty Factors in November.

• 2,800 Loyalty Factors from an Alaska Airways economy-class ticket credited to AAdvantage.
• 1,500 Loyalty Factors from $190 in qualifying spending on an American Airways flight (8 Loyalty Factors per greenback spent).
• 1,000 Loyalty Factors from Hyatt twin accrual.
• 500 Loyalty Factors from SimplyMiles.

December 2022-March 2023: Platinum Professional incomes 68,500 Loyalty Factors

At this level, I had earned over 85,000 Loyalty Factors and deliberate to complete the standing 12 months (Feb. 28, 2023) as a Platinum member. However in a single day, I grew to become a Platinum Professional member after I registered for an American Airways standing problem for World of Hyatt elite members. The problem provided me a path to Government Platinum standing if I earned 67,000 Loyalty Factors within the subsequent 4 months.

Though this standing problem for Hyatt elite members is now closed, in the event you maintain standing on one other airline, you may name American AAdvantage buyer care and ask to enroll within the Immediate Standing Go. You will be requested to offer documentation of your competing airline standing. If authorized, you may be an AAdvantage elite member for 4 months, with the chance to increase your standing by assembly sure Loyalty Level thresholds.

Here is a breakdown of what number of Loyalty Factors I earned between December and March:

• 35,500 Loyalty Factors from a reduced British Airways business-class ticket credited to AAdvantage.
• 16,500 Loyalty Factors from the AAdvantage Purchasing portal.
• 8,700 Loyalty Factors from $960 in qualifying spending on an American Airways flight (9 Loyalty Factors per greenback).
• 3,500 Loyalty Factors from bank card spending to satisfy a sign-up bonus on the Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Enterprise Mastercard.
• 2,300 Loyalty Factors from Hyatt twin accrual.
• 2,000 Loyalty Factors from a Royal Air Maroc economy-class ticket credited to AAdvantage.

Since I earned 67,000 Loyalty Factors throughout Section 1 of the standing problem, I moved into Section 2 as an Government Platinum, the place I am going to now have to earn 67,000 Loyalty Factors within the subsequent 4 months. If I do not meet this requirement, my standing will drop to a decrease tier of the AAdvantage program.

From qualifying for Government Platinum standing a month in the past, I’ve earned 30,000 Loyalty Factors from Rocketmiles stays, and I am on my strategy to extending my standing.

Associated: Fast Factors: Earn 75,000-plus American miles and Loyalty Factors in every week with Rocketmiles