Miles. They’re the bread and butter of the frequent traveler. If you’re like me, you hoard miles in every way possible. There’s the miles card; e-shopping; special promotions; and, if you’re an American Airlines AAdvantage member, the Platinum and Gold Challenges -- fast tracks to more miles and elite status.

It wouldn’t surprise me if you’ve never heard of the challenges. They're not posted anywhere on the site, so many consumers aren’t aware that they even exist. I recently enrolled in the Platinum Challenge. My goal: to earn 10,000 points through qualifying flights within three months.

Here's the scoop:

  • Challenges are based on points, not miles. You must earn 10,000 points in the three-month period to reach Platinum status and 5,000 points for Gold. (You can start the challenge on the 1st or 16th of the month.)
  • Only points earned on American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection flights (including AA codeshare flights operated by other carriers) count toward Challenges.
  • Know the point values you’ll earn for the booking codes you select.
  • Premium fares earn 1.5 points per mile when the purchased fare on your American Airlines ticket is booked in one of these booking codes: A F P D I J B Y
  • Discount fares earn 1.0 point per mile for these AA booking codes: H K L M V W
  • Deep discount fares earn .5 points per mile for these AA booking codes: G N O Q S (O -- only eligible domestic fares booked in O will count. Q -- excludes transatlantic fares booked in Q.)

To enroll, you must call American Airlines at 1-800-882-8880. If you don’t fly enough to meet the requirements for the Platinum Challenge, go for the Gold! You can always try the Platinum Challenge later, and you'll be racking up additional points from being Gold in the meantime.