Thanks for all that good info Kiwi Flyer, OFFlyer, paffendorf, and flysurfer. It is much appreciated.

I am leaning towards the UA program because of the low cost award flights. They also seem able to status comp to *G as well. I like the fact that a company is keen to win new customers. Hopefully that is an indication that they will look after you as well.

Unfortunately the QF FF program is close to worthless for me now, except for award flights domestically in Australia. But with taxes and surcharges these "free" flights are almost as expensive as heavily discounted Y, or a LCC flight. And 3 years of begging for upgrades from Y using points on international segments has had no success at all.

I understand that non-transatlantic flights with LH does not qualify for UA miles. So what flights with what airlines qualify for UA miles?

QF has a simple (but expensive!) price list for OW award flights. How does this work with *A award flights from UA? For example a FRA-LHR with LH?

Apologies if these questions have been regurgitated lots of times before.