Hello, I'm looking for some advice from the OW gurus out there.

Background: I've been in QFF since '97 but never flew enough to achieve/maintain elite status. Now I'm in the US and my job requires me to do "bursts" of travel (which can't be predicted with certainty). Ex: Last year I flew about 37K mi of which 33K were in a 3 week period; last week, I learned I'll be doing 2 flights DFW-Europe within the next 3 weeks. My company prefers AA and requires me to travel on the cheapest (i.e. non-refundable economy) ticket.

This year I will be flying *at least* 2x to Europe, 1x to Australia, and a few times domestically.

If I stick with QF, I will get at least 375 status credits this year which would lift me to silver (no way I will achieve gold). Whether or not I would earn the 300 credits necessary to retain silver the following year is uncertain.

On the other hand, if I go with AA on the same itinerary, I will put on at least 45K mi, i.e. close to Platinum based on miles.

Based on this, it seems I'm better off putting my miles on AA. Any differences of opinion about that?

In the longer term, there is a 50/50 chance of moving back to Australia, so my location shouldn't make much difference in the equation.

Thanks!