Originally Posted by Happy

How come AA and BA miles worthless to you?

AA miles fetch the highest bidders when offered in Coupon forum on this board in exchange for other "currencies". Certainly it is because the majority of folks feel AA miles do offer excellent redemption value.

A potential 150K (225K) AA miles and 100K BA miles are hardly a few miles here a few miles there.

Do you ever do any International Travel at all?

Do you realize a mere 20K AA miles can get you an off-peak Europe - North America that includes a North America gateway city AND possible a Hawaii destination (or Alaska, or Vancouver, or Los Angeles/San Francisco/Seattle - whichever stroke your fancy)?

As an example, we recently traveled on a 20K AA off-peak Europe to North America award. We already flew the CDG-MIA portion in Mid May when we returned from a 16 days Transatlantic cruise + a 25 days land trip over Spain and France. The remaining portion of MIA-LAX-LIH will be flown in October - all for a mere 20K miles per person. Can CO do that?
On return leg, we have a 15K (yes) AA off-peak North America to South America 1 award to fly HNL-DFW-MIA and then fly MIA-LIM in January. A measly 15K AA miles.

So, for a total of 35K AA miles (20+15), one can travel from Europe to North America gateway as stopover and onto Hawaii in future date. Return from Hawaii back to North America gateway for stopover and later onto Central America or South America zone 1. I doubt 35K CO miles can buy you the same thing.

Do you know a 20K BA miles can get you from MIA to South America one-way with stopovers en route? Among the best bargains found in all airline programs.

BA miles also allow unlimit stopovers en route - so theoretically one can book on AA and crisscross the country to visit family and friends on a 12.5Kx2 BA North America award.

While I see you are based in JAX, AA may not be your most convenient airline, but it is hardly worthless - AA miles that is.

You can mix AA and AA partners on same award. Though you must call to book if partner flights are involved and pay $25 phone booking fee.

Give some time to study different airlines award programs and how they work so you would not cheat yourself out due to your lack of better understanding of what each program can offer.

But if your travel is confined in domestic USA and would not venture out your home JAX for better deals, then may be you do need to be restricted by the 2 primary airlines you feel you have to. Or you are contend to just use the most familiar award chart without learning new gigs, then may be sticking to CO is worth it to you.

Still, broadening your view may open up a whole new horizon for you that you do not realize before.