Hi everyone... please help a confused air miles newbie.

I'm flying London-NY with American Airlines this August and want to start earning air miles.

I understand oneworld airmiles can be earned and redeemed with any oneworld airline so it seems there is no particular advantage to choosing one oneworld program over another - am I right?

I seem to have a choice between several types of program across several airlines and I have no idea where to start. All the websites overload me with information but nothing that will help me decide what to do next.

Hope someone can get me started with some good advice.

Thanks

Eric