I knew I could rely on
alect,
NM and
number_6to reply here - even got a phone call from
Dave Noble.
To reiternate my ithinking:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">looking at it from a purely points perspective</font>
As
NM and
number_6 pointed out, it barely gives me status (that'll I'll lose anyway, not expected to travel much in USA next couple of years, what with possible family planned, I won't be allowed to travel
)- in fact, I'm not worried about status at all. I'm actually looking at maximising my
FF points, so we can make most use .
Dave Noble brought up an interesting option. Put my outbound sectors on QF program (BNE/LAX/JFK), then put my post 1 Jan USA/inbound sectors (JFK/LAX/LAS/SEA/GEG/SEA/LAX/AKL/SYD/BNE)into AA program, thus getting 1.5 miles/q-points (all in B class) (see
2004 AAdvantage Chart) on all sectors other than LAX/LAS (in L class, getting 0.5).
What I am losing in QF Plat bonus points on those sectors, I'll make up on the bonus for the last flight which would make me Plat (by my calcs, would be LAX/AKL) and lesser points for Award flights within Aust/NZ. It's pretty much a line ball...hey, if I get some SWU's and can't use them, then I can always swap them on Coupon Connection...
After all, using my WP card I'll still get into AC's/QP's, First Class check-in line (then give them the AA card to credit flights/points)...