Thanks - that is helpful! I'll definitely be flying AA, so I'd just need to figure out what program to credit the flights to.
I don't have any plans to fly Alaska this year, but it seems like there
might be a case for crediting all my flights to Alaska rather than AA. Since I'll be taking a lot of short, cheap flights, and Alaska offers a minimum of 500 per trip, that'd get me MVP w/ 20 round-trips (rather than the ~40 it'd take to get AA Gold). And then, in theory, I'd be eligible for first class upgrade + MCE on AA flights. In that case, do you think Alaska would be a better move than AA?
And, strangely, yes, I'm pretty sure OWE through Royal Jordanian would get me Flagship Lounge access on domestic flights. From AA's terms and conditions:
Customers who may access a Flagship® Lounge include ... AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum Pro®, AAdvantage Platinum® and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™ MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold customers traveling on a qualifying international flight marketed and operated by American, a oneworld® airline, or marketed by Aer Lingus and operated by American* (regardless of cabin). ConciergeKey® members traveling the same day on any flight marketed and operated by American, a oneworld® airline, or marketed by Aer Lingus and operated by American (regardless of cabin), and oneworld® Emerald℠ and Sapphire℠ members traveling on any flight marketed and operated by American, or a oneworld® airline (regardless of cabin). AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum Pro® and AAdvantage Platinum® customers traveling solely on North American itineraries do not qualify for Flagship® Lounge access.