Originally Posted by
Boraxo
Should I go for status on BA, or simply credit miles to AA where I am unlikely to hit 25k EQP/EQM?
(1) What is your home airport?
Reply: SFO
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(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: Lounge access on economy tix, upgrades, priority checkin/security
(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply: BA, QF, AS but would consider AA where it makes sense (SFO-ORD/JFK/MIA)
Lounge access on economy tix,
Gold & plat status with QF will get you lounge access including in the USA
Equivalent status with AA
will not get USA domestic lounge acess
No ideas about BA lounges
Considering the QF earn/burn just buying an annual or 90 day AA lounge membership for cash may be better
Upgrades
The general rule is you can only upgrade a flight marketed (flight number) and operated (metal) by the airline of your freq flyer programe (no codeshares). However as is the way with FFP's there are some (expensive) exceptions with AA/BA.
For USA domestic upgrades AA is the best by far
Anyone living in the USA would be crazy have QF as their main FFP: rewards have high points & high cash surcharges. International upgrades hard to get (lottery). Look at
post 412 in this thread. However for some people flying business or first class status can be earned quickly (need 4 QF flights)