Hi all,

Interesting reading... there are many benefits of both QF and AA - depends on what your travel patterns are...

For example QF benefits over AA:

* Upgrades on QF are only available to QFF members - points or credits (same in reverse for AA members - so it depends what routes are more important for upgrades)

* 1000 mile minimum on QF flights

* 100% earn in all classes on QF flights

* Extra baggage, express customs, and other other priority benefits - especially like the toll free worldwide Qantas telephone reps for Platinum members!

* All the Australian partners - hotels, hire cars (lot more points than US carriers), etc

* Earn on both BA and AA on all routes including trans-Atlantic. Stay tuned for status bonus info.

* Credit card partners in Australia - 1-2 points per AUD versus 0.5 points per AUD... this is one of the biggest earning benefits versus OS programs - just look at the new diners club transfer rates!

* Simple reward process... IMHO this is the worst part about the AA program (at least this was my experience when I was in the US)

* Partner recognition

* Lifetime Gold and hence QC (see below)

Some other questions above

Qantas club: Gold and Platinum members receive comp QC... and all the benefits of QC, actually platinums get a few other benefits (international first access, etc). So that is why you get "Qantas Club Silver" but not "Qantas Club Platinum" - platinums and golds have QC. You can't but QC access as a Platinum or Gold, corporate accounts get these members deducted from their totals and remaining time on your QC is suspended when you first make Gold and reactivates when/if you drop below Gold.

Differential reward access for top tiers across oneworld carriers: due to different mechanisms (systems issues) across oneworld carriers for giving priority to top tiers for rewards - members tend to get better access to rewards on their own carrier.

Four sector ruleto maintain status: I don't think this is inforced (will have to pass that one to Darren), but anyway there are many BA and AA codeshares in the US and Europe to get 4 QF sectors.

Cheers... Bruce