OP, for your SPG, if you transfer them to US, you might be able to get a 50% - 75% bonus. US is part of Star so there are more partners to take you places, except Galapagos.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...fer-bonus.html

For BA, try to fly on LA or domestically within the US on AA or AS as otherwise you will get hit with attrocious fuel surcharges.

AA is also part of 1W, so see if its partners go to the places you want to. They have a good product called the One World awards which can be good value (see thread in AA forum). Another good thing of AA as opposed to US is that you can combine 1W partners with non-1W partners on multi partner awards (diff from 1W award).