I suggest your brother look at Alaska Airlines program, particularly if he lives in the West where AA is weak. The miles accumulated on QF are actual miles
http://mileageplan.alaskaair.com/mpalliance.asp
AS has partnerships with many US/Intl airlines, AA, CO, NW, plus BA, KLM, LanChile, and Hawaiian. It also has a great Visa program with Bank of America.