American Airlines is Offering Me Platinum Status for $1000 - Here's What I Plan to Do Instead

This morning, I received an email from American Airlines offering me the opportunity to 'secure your AAdvantage status for 2025.' Around this time each year, American Airlines gives AAdvantage members the chance to purchase status one level up from where they're currently projected to finish at the end of the qualification year (March 1). It's a hard pass, as this is just an all-around terrible deal. Let's chat about why that's the case. 

Actually first, does anyone know how Howie Mandel burst on the scene? I never watched 'Deal or No Deal' but I feel like he became a some what of a household name from this show and I never really got an explanation as to where he came from? Was it just like, we need a bald guy like the monopoly man but for the 2000s? Anyway...

Where I Stand at the End of January and Why This Offer is Terrible

I'm at 63,762 loyalty points and need just under 12,000 more points to qualify for Platinum status. Platinum status does come with some decent perks, including upgrading boarding priority, two free checked bags, and complimentary main cabin extras and preferred seats, so it's less about the status and more about the offer.

I logged in to check my offer, and American Airlines wants over $1,000 to lock in Platinum status for the rest of the year—$ 1,000 for 12,000 loyalty points. I could accumulate the needed loyalty points in many ways - through shopping portals, flying on AA, or a partner fare - all of which would be much less expensive. Furthermore, instead of buying it here, earning status comes with the benefit of accruing AAdvantage miles I can use towards flight redemptions in the future. By purchasing the status, I'd miss out on the 12,000 AAdvantage miles, which are increasingly helpful with all the redemption options within the Oneworld alliance. 

My Plan: Swing for the Fences using AAdvantage Hotels...but Wait One Month!

For the last few years, I've enjoyed AA Executive Platinum status and have no plans to relinquish the throne, but I may do so temporarily. While I don't fly oneworld too much within the United States, it's helpful to be higher on the priority upgrade list (EP's are only bested by the exclusive Concierge Key members). Additionally, I love the complimentary lounge access - oneworld has one of the best lounge networks of all three airline alliances. Factoring in the accelerated earning on revenue flights and the ability to take advantage of status matching to other top-tier programs, EP status checks enough boxes for me to make it worthwhile. 

However, my preferred method for closing the gap really wins the debate. I have just about a month from today to speed-run my way back to Executive Platinum status. In the past, I've written about the power of the AAdvantage Hotels program and how you can earn valuable AAdvantage miles and loyalty points from booking hotel stays that you otherwise would anyway. I have a busy March planned, and I'm going to strategically book each night I remain through the AAdvantage Hotel platform to get enough loyalty points to get started on qualification for the new loyalty point year.

Now, I should add that there are some other strategic multipliers to this strategy. For one, I'm a Citi AAdvantage Executive Credit Card holder, and as such, once I cross the 90,000 loyalty points threshold, I'll earn another 10,000 automatically—making the road to 200,000 loyalty points, really the road to 190,000. 

The math works out in my favor as well. Factoring in all the AAdvantage miles I receive for this speed run (which can be used for future travel), it's a lot better to chase Executive Platinum in the new year than pay American $1000 for Platinum status. Especially as these aren't manufactured stays, I'd need to be booking these rooms either way. 

Conclusion 

If you're chasing higher-level status with American Airlines and have received an offer, it's likely not a good one. If you're set upon leveling up with American Airlines, you should crunch the numbers for yourself and see if there are some hotel stays you can book through AAdvantageHotels to boost your LP numbers for the next year, at which case you'll hold status for almost two years as opposed to just the 2025 qualification year.