Welcome to FT, Sereisina, we hope you stay awhile, learn some stuff and make some friends!
$1000 or $1500 does not seem to be worth the loyalty. But it may make sense to narrow your four carriers down to three -- Etihad, BA and Qatar, and collect AA miles. Presumably, you may fly domestic now and then, or even more, so focusing on one program could still give you a selection of international airlines but concentrate your miles and status. By eliminating Emirates, yes, sometimes you could pay a little more. You have to decide how much a little more is worth it -- $100? $500? Maybe, and maybe not $1000 or $1500.
Since these are personal trips, you are paying for the tickets. Given that, if it were me, I would pay something less than $500, but if it were more, I would take the lowest cost carrier.