Originally Posted by
demue
OMG, are you seriously asking this? You got 250+ posts and
still are confused? 
What the other poster meant is that for quicker *G go with A3 and accrue 20k mls. Then once you have hit Gold then all flights from that point forward credit to AC (Air Canada Aeroplan) for the better redemtion values. Reason going for *G on AC FFP takes more miles / longer, but reward redemtions in Asia are better (only 20kmls).
Confusion is so easy, given the ever-changing alliances and charts.
I had never looked at the AC chart, and didn't know there would be such a discrepancy in amounts. Recently *A seems to have more consistency than before, hence my surprise. I know UA use to offer cheaper rates on UA metal out of Japan, but now it has been standardized.
I usually fly 15-25,000 a year, and earn the rest of my miles through credit cards. Once I get the credit on A3 I may not have much left for AC.
I am reluctant to join yet another program, given all the advice to stick to just one. On the other hand, I can see how each has its own benefits, and with a fair bit of planning I might get the best of all worlds.
The real question is whether AC keeps the lower requirement long enough for me to take advantage of it.