Originally Posted by Mwenenzi

Welcome to the forum

You seem to mixing airline pricing & routes with airline FFP's They do not need to be same. You can fly and airline yet collect miles in another. This is what FFP partner airlines & alliances are all about. If flying business class in any OneWorld airline (CX, QR, BA etc) you will get AA miles. AA mile earning with OW economy flights are subject to the booking class.

For someone living in the USA, flying med to long haul in business and with an objective of F awards it is hard to go past AA. Cash fuel surcharges on an BA award in F could be very high.
Do the AA plat challenge
http://flyerguide.com/index.php/Challenge_%28AA%29
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-platinum.html

However status with AA will not get you AA domestic lounge access. If you have enough BA flights trying BA status to get lounge access is an option. But to get BA status you must fly 4 BA sectors.

Changes to the AA FFP due to the AA/US takeover/merger are a risk