I fly 95% CX to Asia and I do credit to AA (the AA routes don't work for me either). I am EXP. I rarely use my SWU on AA and have to give them away to family / friends so they do not expire for nothing.

I looked at other programs to credit to (specifically CX), but honestly felt I was not missing much in crediting to AA. My company flies me in PE, so if I credited more to CX, I could use miles to upgrade, but the changes in elite qualifications for CX this year mean I might have problem making top tier.

And CX does take great care of OW Emeralds even helping me make connections numerous times. I also got 4 Op-ups to C this year too from PE on HKG-NYC/BOS. And I get the great lounges in HKG, 1st class check-in, etc.

It may be different for the other carriers, but I am happy with my arrangement - fly CX, credit to AA.

Cheers.