Originally Posted by
skunker
I would appreciate some outside opinions on this as I'm stuck in analysis paralysis. With the changes to AA was looking to switch to a new program and I'm torn between BA, AS, or staying with AA. Thinking of doing a status match to AS and then flying the 20k needed to keep it, which would also get me the 12 segments for 75k.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Lounge access during international travel and good redemption rates. Don't want to pay $1,000 plus miles for each business class award. SAN only has a contracted club which is accessible with Priority Pass but not sure if BA status would grant access when flying AA or AS.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
25k-50k with a max of about 20 segments.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Domestic: coach with family or business/first when solo.
International: business or PE
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
For non-work trips, yes. For work trips generally no.
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Work: Bay Area 10x/year or East Coast 2x/year
Non-work: East Coast or Florida 2x/year and random trips to Europe or any good deals
(6) What is your home airport?
SAN but also drive up to LAX if need be since AA quit flying SAN-LAX
(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 EXP and 1MM. Have ~65k miles with AA and 2 J r/t awards booked which is worth another 300k if covid forces us to cancel. Also have 55 500 mile upgrades that I haven't been able to use during my time as EXP, which I could maybe use if I drop down to gold from 1MM.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Been AA EXP for the past 6-7 years and platinum for about 10 years before that but that is usually through flying partners. SAN based so a lot of AS options and fewer AA options than in the past.
Also, I currently have the following booked for next year:
AMS-HEL-LHR-JFK-LAX//SAN-DFW-JFK-HEL-LHR-BCN all in business with almost all BA codes
CMN-MAD-LHR-MIA in business and first (LHR-MIA) with IB and AA codes, which makes crediting to AA pointless due to the "sale" price.
If my math is right that is 1030 TPs with BA or ~38k EQM on AS.
All you really need for lounge access is OWS on BA (or maybe IB). If you are unlikely to achieve OWE, I would just concentrate on attaining OWS. BAEC is not bad for nonstop Economy Class redemptions on AA/AS within the Americas; no cash surcharges apply. And BA has a generous policy for cancelling such redemptions: you only forfeit the $5.60 September 11 Security Fee you pay each way when you book. But both BA and IB charge extra Avios for each flight flown, so connections are not free.
IB, on the other hand, has relatively low cash surcharges when you fly IB between the U.S. (including LAX) and MAD. So I think it's really a question of how you plan to redeem the miles/Avios you earn on paid travel.