LoganApp Welcome to FT & Aussie when you get here
Originally Posted by
LoganApp
I'm so glad this thread is here!!! I live in Boston but I'm starting university in Sydney in February. I'll have AAdvantage Gold by the end of this year. Getting to Sydney, though, I'm not sure if it's best for my to stick with AAdvantage or try something new.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Upgrades are probably most important, but I also love lounge access and priority boarding/check-in.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
I'm planning on doing two round trips a year between BOS and SYD. That's around 40,000 miles total (with connections and class of service boosts I'm sure I could get that to 50,000/year). BOS-SYD is usually 2-3 sectors in each direction, so anywhere from 8-12 sectors total. I'm only considering flying premium economy (business sometimes) because I can't squeeze into economy for so long.
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As you are going to Aust for study I assume it for a short time: 1 year , maybe 2 years
Stay with AA ffp. Do not consider QF ffp, even for 1 second.
Australia does not have a domestic Star Alliance airline.
You will not get upgrades on QF flights with AA status. And QF freq flyers are very very unlikely to get upgrades flying on QF. Requires a lot of QF points. Is referred as the "upgrade lottery". See post 330 in this thread.
The upgrade philosophy with upgrades on USA and non USA airline is vastly different. With all non USA airlines expect to fly in the cabin you buy, no matter what ff status.
Some AA forum threads that may be of interest