Originally Posted by pigeonbutler

New to this business as I'm going to relocate from DUB to KIN in January for at least two years.

Think my decision is really between AA and BA. I'm expecting to have minimum one (possibly two) round trips KIN-DUB per year. In 2013 I hope to have a round trip to either MEL or SYD, and then a number of shorter hops to the likes of MIA or JFK.

(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: Will be KIN, Kingston, Jamaica
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Reply: Expect to be 30k at least in 2013. Similar, maybe sightly lower in 2014.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ? ( First, Business, Economy etc.)
Reply: Economy - Usually discount, occasional Y.
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or, class of service?. Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Should have free rein most of the time but will be booking economy in almost all cases. Some DUB trips (going on my first journey out there) may be booked by work - they seem to favour DUB-LGW-KIN routing with BA.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: As above, most long haul trips will be transatlantic, ultimate destination DUB. There will be short trips to US east coast a few times. Other long haul destinations (such as Aus 2013 are possible but won't be regularly repeating any of them)
(6) Do you have FFP status of any kind of OW or other airline at present? What is it? (AA Executive Platinum, QF Gold, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)
Reply: No status. Very small time non-elite DL and UA member.
(7) What is most important to you in a FFP? (upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, extra baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, free - discounted lounge access, etc.)
Reply: Upgrades most important (got a taste of DL International Business Class on an overbooked DUB-JFK flight once and want a repeat on long hauls!), chances to redeem miles for upgrades and/or flights next most important. Other perks are nice to haves.
(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply: Neutral - haven't flown AA or BA before.