<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NM:
Just remember that he can only do the AA Lack-of-Challenge once. So if he is not going to be able to retain status next year, he only benefits from it this year. If he can only make AA Gold challenge then I can see much point. If he can get to AA Plat (OneWorld Saphire) then he can get QP access for the remainder of this year and for his next year (depends on what month joined etc).</font>
Yes, knew about the once only option. Well, it seems that his daughter is a long term UK resident (been there 7 years now, I think). He and his wife may visit her again (daughter visits every 2nd year).
He would have the benefit of using AA Plat status (he goes to MKY and CNS to visit family/friends).
He will only be joining today/tomorrow, with flights in 3 months (will put him in for both Gold and Plat Challenges at same time, commencing 1 June 2004).
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The down side is that he will now have points isolated in two programs. Once you isolate points, the benefits of any status bonus might be quickly lost.</font>
True and probably the one point that I am torn between accepting. However, the bonus points in AA (plus the additional bonus points from time to time), will probably benefit him to a greater extent in the next year. He will get no bonus points in QF and will remain NB forever (and not ever likely to be QP member). AA Plat gets him status at least for a while, so on his domestic sectors he and wife can enter the hallowed QP.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If he is unlikely to travel in the US, then any AA upgrade benefits are likely to be useless for him, while QF points can be used for rewards or upgrades on QF flights.</font>
Will trade them in for additional points initially (1,000 points each, aren't they). He would never buy B, H or Y fares and very unlikely to travel to USA to be able to use the post 1/1/04 upgradeability . My initial thought is that he will use them for Aust Dom travel...
[This message has been edited by QF WP (edited Mar 14, 2004).]