Hi,
Welcome to Flyertalk!
I would recommend AA. Lots of domestic and overseas flights from the Bay Area. If you do go ahead with AA, the Citibank Visa would be the recommended card.
This should help you get started.
http://fewmiles.tripod.com/AA/index.html#1
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/004699.html
[This message has been edited by Bourne (edited 06-15-2001).]