Originally posted by Shareholder:
However, it is much easier to earn miles on AA than BA, and you get bonuses miles upon achieving elite status, full mileage credit for discounted tickets, etc. As for not being able to earn AA miles on BA transAtlantic flights -- and vice versa -- it's a long story posted here many times, and all goes back to the so-called "merger" and the dominance the two carriers would have into LHR. When Cdn+ was a oneworld partner, the BA award between Canada and India (or Africa) in Business was also 100K any time of the year (with limited blackouts), and we in Canada only earn half-miles for discounted domestic travel and don't get elite mileage bonuses until we requalify for the top two tiers.
UA has a business class award to India at 90K miles (plus UA First/Bus awards do not have any black out dates). And you earn miles in a manner similar to AA.
not correct " Even AA had the AA/BA award to India at 75K Econ/90K Bus award" Bussiness was 150K. They changed it recently; they have kept the economy the same but jacked up the business/First award levels.
I am not sure about what you mean about the non-accrual of miles on discount fares. For a US based member AA/UA are the same in terms of milage accrual for domestic while UA seems to be better on international. Both AA/UA domestic travel accrues miles for discount fares. However, try getting miles on a consolidator ticket on AA from JFK-EZE (Argentina). On the other hand UA offer miles on all international travel whether it is a bulk ticket through a consolidator or a regular published fare ticket.
While going to India, I cannot get AA miles (since BA transAtlantic do not count) nor can I use my miles effectively. To get AA miles, I will have to get an AA (trans-Atlantic)/BA (to India) routing which is at least $400 more (on Econ) than what my local agent will charge for a full BA routing on a bulk ticket (which incidentally will not earn miles on BA). No such problems on *All. I can take Austrian (100%), Lufthansa (100% to FRA & 50% onwards ~ 80% of total), and from next April United (100%), travel on bulk tickets and still get my miles.
More so, to me the value of the miles is in my ability to get business class tickets on the 20 hour flights where they really count! I can not affort to pay for business class travel; however I do wish to get my rewards when I really need them most.
As a US based One World member my inability to earn miles on discount fares on AAdvantage and the devaluation of my miles for international travel is a significant enough issue for me to evaluate my focus on One World (vs *Alliance).
[This message has been edited by SJC2ISP (edited 07-31-2000).]