Originally Posted by dvs7310

So you've already learned your lesson from a mileage expiration, I would say neither program makes sense. It's all oneworld alliance, so there's no need to use the program of the carrier you're flying or the place you're flying to. For someone that doesn't fly all that much, you need a program that has non-expiring miles, or at least non-expiring with activity some activity in a certain amount of time. I'd be looking at AA, AS, BA, or QR and see how they work with your travel pattern and ticket types. If you're traveling to Japan a lot then AA, AS, and BA all have good deals on domestic tickets which can otherwise be expensive for the distance flown, but frequently have wide open award availability.