As I already have about 130,000 actual miles on TWA, it is a mute point about the partner miles. But TWA announced (and I have a copy) that starting this year they would count partner "miles" toward Elite status. Those would include Avaitor credit card, Rental car, hotel, etc. postings to your TWA accounts. It would not count transfers of mile from another account -- i.e. from HHonors.

However, exactly how AA will count these partner miles is anyone's guess -- unless someone has seen something specific. I would have thought that if you had earned a certain status this year (2001 earnings) that would be good for the 2002-2003 year, that AA would honor the equivalent level on AA. i.e. If someone started with TWA in January and flew 85,000 miles and had 15,000 miles from TWA credit card by Sept., AA would grant them Exec. Platinum through 2003. BUT, what seems fair is not always how it works.

I also think flying TWA gives me more points (to eventually transfer to AA) due to the minimum 1,000 mile and 100% bonus (+ 1,000 for Web booking and miles for $$ spend). For a 4 short segment round trip, I usually earn about 4K status miles and 5K bonus miles. I don't think I would get this on AA.
(And I always go First Class on TWA)