BA will get you elite status (i.e. lounge access) quickly only if you fly premium (usually business class). If you fly economy, you may never to get BA Silver. You really have to estimate the number of long-haul and short-haul flights to assess if you can make BA Silver for lounge access.
BA makes you pay fuel surcharges when flying on mile redemption unless it is for short-haul European flights. Fuel surcharges really make redemption in long-haul economy pointless.
Also, unless you are making a miles redemption 9-12 months before a flight using a 2-4-1 voucher and miles, you will rarely find available seats. So if you regularly want to make books 2-3 months before flying, you are not going to find them.
If you wish to continue flying economy on miles redemption, stick with AA.
There is an AA Amex card in the UK as well although I think you may find the US cards may be more rewarding.
Last edited by KenJohn; Jul 5, 2014 at 5:49 pm