Hi guys,

I'm paltry AAdvantage Gold (just dropped down from Platinum, got via a challenge) and *A Gold (BMI DC, will drop down to Silver in ~2 months). I'd like advice on whether to stick with AA for some upcoming flights (on IB and AA, details below) or go elsewhere. I've got 50,000 AAdvantage miles and haven't redeemed with AA yet. Status is important to me for lounge access and I'd like to actually be able to fly with the miles.

My experience with BMI DC, who status matched my AA Plat with *A Gold(!) has been great. I love the ability to go one-way at half the cost, miles+money, pay 1.5 for Business/2 for First, etc. I think there were some changes to the AA programme recently (such as a trip costs you the miles flown rather than the miles between departure and arrival points) that make AA a worse prospect. I'd like the advice of any knowledgeable bod on flyertalk that would like to give it. My flight details are below, I've blanked out the exact dates to give the stalkers among you a little challenge. I'll probably make one more trip (in South America) in May, but then likely nothing more until September; I expect to be flying more with work from then on.

2?/04/2009 NCL - LHR IB 7547 13:35 - 14:50 Economy/S OK
2?/04/2009 LHR - MAD IB 3171 17:35 - 20:55 Economy/S OK
2?/04/2009 MAD - SCL IB 6831 00:20 - 07:50 Economy/S OK
0?/06/2009 SCL - MAD IB 6830 12:15 - 07:00 +1 Economy/Q OK
1?/06/2009 MAD - LHR IB 3174 09:55 - 11:15 Economy/Q OK
1?/06/2009 LHR - NCL IB 7544 15:45 - 17:00 Economy/Q OK

and also:

AA 137 LHR London Jul 1?, 2009 10:55 AM LAX Los Angeles Jul 1?, 2009 02:15 PM Economy L
AA 136 LAX Los Angeles Jul 2?, 2009 07:50 PM LHR London Jul 2?, 2009 02:15 PM Economy Q
AA (op. by BA) 6378 LHR London Jul 2?, 2009 03:45 PM NCL Newcastle Jul 2?, 2009 05:00 PM Economy Q

Cheers,

Dave