Hello! Here is the obligatory "Long(ish) time lurker, first time poster" introduction. I am travelling a lot for work these days and also love to travel in my own time, but as I get older, much like drinking, the all nighters in the last row middle next to the lavatories are ruining me for a week after, so I would love some advice as to which FF program would be the most economical for me in terms of accruing miles for upgrades, award flights and status. The basic facts:

1) My family is in America, partner's is in Ireland. We have relocated to the eastern Baltic (i.e. close to Finnair hub HEL) and have work colleagues and business still in the UK (London) and in Western Europe (Germany). I also have an ongoing work project in California -- this translates to 4 or more TATL flights back and forth for both work and personal this year.

2) I have the AMEX platinum which comes also with PP Select (although it seems all the PP lounges are the crap ones…or are heading in that direction…)

3) I am currently on the AA Platinum Challenge (which I'll complete in April) because it seemed to be the only one open to anyone who paid the fee (Delta, I believe requires you to have status on another alliance already to do the challenge) and I had some work flights on AA in January.

4) I have *A silver from a business flight on NZ last April and just realised I could reach Gold with one more PE roundtrip if I squeeze it in before April, but that’s unlikely to happen at a decent cost and I’m not sure how much I’ll fly *A in the next year so I figure if I make the decision to go to *A Gold I’ll go whole hog rather than have both statuses at the same time.

So, I have *O Sapphire from AA Plat, but with the trips upcoming (one of which ended up being a codeshare, which I wasn't meaning to do...oops) I am wondering if I should stick with AA and consolidate everything toward them (and not be able to use lounges in the US when I do fly domestic) or switch to AY once the challenge is up as all my feeder flights are on them, their mileage accrual rates are better for my upcoming TATLs on AA/BA/AY and trip to Japan on JL, their reward chard looks like a better deal...and there is no EQD requirement…

Any advice is appreciated!



Questions

For members asking for information, to help people to assist you, can you please provide:

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?

Upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, better award access, free lounge access

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?

25000-50000 probably this year, mostly economy with the occasional PE or B when I book for myself (optics are bad for work so that’s al Y)

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?

Depends on the length. I’d rather go longer flight/Business to make the J fare worth it and cut down on potential problems, but more stops and Y are okay with lounge access.

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?

Yes and up to PE for the really long ones. Mostly work but also some personal flights.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?

TATL and within Europe for work. EU - Asia for personal.

(6) What is your home airport?

HEL will be our new home!

(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?

AA Platinum, NZ Silver which is about to revert to nothing…or if I squeeze in a PE roundtrip before April could have *A gold, but….not sure it’s worth it if I am focusing on flying *O this year.

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?

AY/BA for the next year.