The seating policy is a major drag, but there are significant benefits to flying with BA, such as: a) great staff (especially in the air); b) better lounge access policies with BA and other Oneworld Members once you reach Silver than some of the US airlines; c) the BA First Lounges (e.g. for Golds) and the right to use any BA lounge even if flying on a different airline if you have Gold status and your flight departs from the same terminal as the BA lounge; d) excellent discretionary op-up ratios when flying solo in WT+; e) lie flat beds in Club and First; f) a relatively wide network of long haul planes fitted with WT+; g) Miles for Upgrades are a very good value (e.g. 50% of the miles needed for an economy class ticket to upgrade from WT+ to lie flat beds in Club World), etc. As an elite BAEC member, at the moment the balance is still tipped in favour of BA and Oneworld for me, but that could change if and when I lose my Gold status.