Originally Posted by eponymous_coward

They're an LCC focusing on cost control and have super-generous mileage accrual policies on AS metal (miles flown even on cheap fares = miles earned), AA doesn't (and the rest of OW doesn't, BA is about to change to a "earn RDM based on spend" style, IB just did that today). AA isn't an LCC and has the whole lie-flats, premium lounges for J/F thing going on, but they make earning less generous on cheap fares.

AS isn't interested in letting people have their cake (lounge access using OWS/OWE credentials) and eating it too (very generous AS mileage earning on cheap Y fares). If you want free lounges as a OWS/OWE, please earn in some other program than AS. That's it.