<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Dave Noble:
If you are planning not to use AA very much afterwards, then I wouldn't suggest joining it. </font>
How so?? AA is just about the only airline in 1W that allows miles from all fares. It does not matter if you fly Qantas or AA or Lan Chile or Finnair or even Iberia. AAdvantage does not discriminate!
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Each of the OW carriers require you to do at least 4 segments a year on them as well as other point requirements to maintain tier statuses. </font>
Not AA!!! A number of AA elites along with me have skipped AA for the whole year as long as they fly international segments.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If your main travel is going to be with CX, then I would suggest joining CXs scheme. </font>
According to Cathay forum it is a BAD idea. Cathay does not appreciate its FF'ers. They take them for granted.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If your travel is likely to be in J and F , then the BA and QF schemes are ( imo ) the best for reaching required points for tier levels.</font>
That's as long as you can get available FF seats! QF is virtually impossible to get award seats on and BA is apparently even worse. (Just see my thread about awards in BA forum). What good is a status level if you can't use it? On AA I have never ever had problems getting an award seat even on BA or QF.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If you get complimentary silver with BA, then you will quickly on the trip reach the points requirement for the renewal a year later and get most of the way towards attaining Gold status.</font>
There is an easier way of doing it. Mail me if you want detailed info.