the first time I redeemed advantage miles was in June of 1996 when I was living in Cleveland. CLE-JFK on a Saab 340 (!) and over the pond to LHR on a 762. I hated flying to LHR at the time as it was quicker to get where I was going from LGW. Also if memory serves only UA and AA were flying to LHR at that time. CO, TW, DL, NW, and US were all flying to LGW.