Originally Posted by
inbruCHes
OK, so now it's getting really scientific (I love it
). So if I understand you correctly, you're suggesting to to join both the BA and the AA program, and then use BA for access to lounges and upgrades on BA flights, while using AA on intra-US upgrades?
Yes. And IMO AA's redemption scheme is generally much better than BA's, particularly for US west coast residents (gets technical re the details of Avios redemptions.)
Originally Posted by
inbruCHes
Wow, this is very strange. Are you saying that AA discriminates its own premium members when it comes to lounge access and boarding priority?
Yes, no. Other Oneworld Sapphires & Emeralds can use Admirals Clubs on domestic trips and AA (Plat) Sapphires and (EXP) Emeralds can't. Both get boarding priority.
Now if you're both and show the lounge gatekeeper a boarding pass that has your AAdvantage no. on it, and simultaneously show a BAEC Silver/Gold card, I don't know how that would play. At the discretion of the gatekeeper I suppose.