Look here at the linked posts in post 2
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...help-here.html
Your AA vs BA question has been asked before. There are some good AA vs BA threads.
For long haul awards AA miles are better than BA avios
BA status need 4 BA segments just as AA status need 4 AA segments
AA also has the plat challenge. BA flight are eglilable
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...post-here.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/skyte...i-sign-up.html