At the end of the day the Oneworld rules exist to provide mutual frequent flyer benefits globally and encourage elites of one airline (e.g. AA) to fly another airline (e.g. BA) instead of a competitor. BA therefore ought to provide incentives to AA pax traveling through its LHR hub. It does this, frankly, in spades, since its lounges are far superior than anything AA elites and/or AC members encounter domestically. If anyone plans to connect through CDG or FRA due to poor BA benefits for AA elites, let me know. Otherwise, count yourselves lucky if you are flying discount Y and accessing lounges which are supposed to be for BA elites, who cannot earn status except through H,B,Y,T,E,W,I,D,R,C,J,A,F bookings. Broadly speaking, if you haven't booked one of those fare classes lately you are getting something for nothing in Galleries Club, let alone the CCR.

OW exists to compete with Skyteam and Star Alliance. If you don't think you're getting good benefits, switch. I personally think that OW is quite good to me, especially at LHR. I don't fly paid F so don't get CCR access, but as a OW sapphire get access to a bunch of quality J lounges, and am well on my way to OW emerald later this year. If you find an AA OW emerald lounge that exceeds Galleries First I'll respect your argument. As it stands I feel I get better benefits from BA than AA, despite AA being my "home carrier". I suppose that if your idea of a frequent flyer programme is to upgrade discount Y to J/domestic F, you will prefer AA regardless of product. For those of us who actually purchase premium cabins, AA is the carrier letting the side down.