Hello,
This is my first post here, sorry for any amateur mistakes. First:


Questionnaire
In order for FlyerTalkers to better assist you, please copy and paste the following questionnaire into your post and provide the requested information:

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Reply:
Award Flights and upgrades, Lounge Access, priority service, Good Service in general! in that order.

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply:
I fly a minimum of 4x a year to From TVC (michigan) to NCE. Generally my wife comes also. My son also fly's 1x in the summer. Generally 2-3 legs (TVC-JFK-NCE or TVC-DTW-JFK-NCE)

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)
Reply:
Premium Economy, sometimes economy

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply:
Pleasure (in the sense that I pay for it and am a business owner.)

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply:
Transatlantic. Sometimes I go home to STL and often 1x year a solo trip for work somewhere national (USA) occasionally to Europe.

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply:
TVC Traverse City, Michigan

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply:
BA Silver (260k avios family account in 1 year of travel), Some miles on Delta (10k), X-silver on AF (had a big argument with them about a clerical error that led me to lose my silver status and quit them).

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply:
I like the transatlantic leg of BA, AF. I dont like the service on AA transatlantic (mean staff). Delta is ok, I have not formed an opinion.

SO -
I had a bad year with BA since I left AF. I have moved recently to Glen Arbor, Michigan and after every single flight in the last few years has been cancelled (multi day) or delayed due to weather (flying at least once a month) going through Chicago - I have decided I want to avoid EVER flying through ohare again. What made matters worse is that I spent an average of 12-18 hours on Hold (!) with BA to work things out. I was put into very difficult situations at my own expense and was not compensated at all.
When I do get someone from BA in the UK on the phone (not a call center in India or a USA based rep) they are very very polite and helpful and this is why I joined the BA program (the opposite of AF rude character). However at the end of the day they "politely" did nothing for me.
I also spoke with an agent at Flightfox recently - but we never finished the $50 conversation... Maybe I will hear from them later - So I impatiently ask here.

Simply put I wonder who the best airline is for my fidelity. I dont want to fly through Chicago (no matter how irrational that sounds) and I would prefer to avoid Heathrow. I dont mind Detroit or JFK (I guess I am used to those airports). CDG is ok also. All those are because of the exec Lounges and priority access.

It seems like Delta is the most for my level of miles... but alas everyone is scaring me away from skymiles. I would have chosen Delta already if I had not spoken with some people.
So back to AF?
Or how about Alaska Airlines? (knowing I will never go to Alaska except perhaps an odd one off trip, though I have already done that and would prefer to go somewhere else).

Or should I try to stay with BA on a different route than CHI (like DTW?) and put up with higher prices and longer wait times?

Thanks for any help, input, opinion, advice.
Bryan