In order to maximize your miles earning potential on AA (if you are going to stick with them), I would get the Starwood American Express card. It lets you earn 1.25 miles per $ spent and only has a $30 annual fee (which is waived the first year), which is much better than the Citibank AA cards. The SPG points can be converted to miles on most major airlines (not just AA), so you have the flexibility. Go to http://www66.americanexpress.com/car...8164636790/0/n and you can get a 10K points sign-up bonus. I would also sign up with the AA Idine program which earns you miles while you eat out. Theres plenty of Idine restaurants in NYC and LA. I would sign up for the JFK-LGB double miles promotion on AA.com. These are the simplest ways without having to open additional accounts/getting mortagages. Also sign-up for the Gold & Platinum challenges (probably just before your next flight), so that you get status almost immediately and start to earn the elite bonus points. And of course I would monitor the AA board in this forum for additional mileage earning tid-bits.

[This message has been edited by zakami (edited 08-26-2002).]