MilesBuzz! - Need help in choosing a FF program for a friend

Facts:

Resides between Germany, Gibraltar and the US, with 2 US trips a year or so.

Currently not participating in any FF program.

His next trip involves flying from Gibraltar or Malaga to NYC, then a day or two later NYC to Ft. Lauderdale, and then back to Malaga, either from Ft. Lauderdale if possible or flying through NYC (JFK or EWR).

I've recently used a platinum challenge at AA and it seems that a routing of:

AGP-LHR
LHR-JFK
JFK-FLL
FLL-LHR
LHR-AGP

is around 11,000 miles, enough for a platinum challenge. What I don't know is :

1. Can a non-us Resident join the AA program and do a challenge?
2. Is there a better routing for this trip?; and
3. Is there a better airline for him to join up for a FF program with?

Thanks in advance for what I know will be helpful replies.

HC

Facts:

Resides between Germany, Gibraltar and the US, with 2 US trips a year or so.

Currently not participating in any FF program.

His next trip involves flying from Gibraltar or Malaga to NYC, then a day or two later NYC to Ft. Lauderdale, and then back to Malaga, either from Ft. Lauderdale if possible or flying through NYC (JFK or EWR).

I've recently used a platinum challenge at AA and it seems that a routing of:

AGP-LHR
LHR-JFK
JFK-FLL
FLL-LHR
LHR-AGP

is around 11,000 miles, enough for a platinum challenge. What I don't know is :

1. Can a non-us Resident join the AA program and do a challenge?
2. Is there a better routing for this trip?; and
3. Is there a better airline for him to join up for a FF program with?

Thanks in advance for what I know will be helpful replies.

HC
2 US trips a year in what class, paid how?

How tall is your friend?

What does your friend want from an FF program more, award flights or upgrades?

On the AA-specific questions (like how can non-us residents join the AA program and can they sign up for a challenge) you'd be better off asking in the AA section.

Assuming he can do a challenge, with only 2 US flights a year (if there aren't lots of other shorter flights), that challenge might be the only way he'd ever get status of any level on any airline (and it'll only last, if started now, for about a year and a half at Platinum, but then a year more at Gold, and thus about two and a half years at Gold or better from one Platinum Challenge).

Typically you need 25000 miles in a calendar year to qualify or requalify for Gold in any airline program, so two flights of 11000 miles each won't quite do it.

Meanwhile, I ask about his height because if he can make use of routes on which AA has MRTC ("More Room Throughout Coach"), then even when not upgraded he'll find AA planes (but only AA metal, not codeshares like BA) more comfortable than most other airlines' planes in coach. But if he's short, that might not be as much of a difference.

And of course if he (or his employer) pays for above-coach class, then that changes things too (both because it may make it easier at some airlines to earn status through his normal flying, and because there's less need to upgrade or for MRTC).