Hey folks,

I started flying heavily again a couple of years ago (unfortunately not consistently with a single alliance so with little to show for it), and finally decided to get things in order and pay attention to my FF options. As part of my new job, I've already done one SFO-ARN run on BA (AA challenged up to plat) and will probably have 5 more before the end of the year.

I'm starting to get the feel for the different alliances/programs, but I'm already beginning to question whether AAdvantage and oneworld were the right choice. Some things I've found annoying already:

- Inability to upgrade on oneworld partners--once I'm on BA metal my AAdvantage status seems useless

- Inability to find competitive TA codeshare fares via AA--just started looking into SFO-HEL-ARN and it will cost me 4x to book on AA, so since it's on a Finnair booking my AAdvantage status seems useless here too for upgrades, even on AA metal across the US

- Inability to redeem AAnytime awards on partner airlines, making them useless for booking european holidays for my family

I'd like to consider the BA program as an option but am not impressed with the way they seem to jack you at every opportunity when you book rewards travel--their fuel surcharge/fee structure seems like a ripoff! Alternatively, it seems like *A and SkyTeam might address some of my pain points with OneWorld--from what I've heard their policies treat their alliances more like a true partnership.

I am homed out of SFO. United would seem like a clear choice, if their service wasn't total crap--for *A I'd probably consider Lufthansa.

Can anyone advise as to whether I can do better?