Originally Posted by
zorn
If you aren't flying much, but want to earn useful points, you might also consider the credit card options. The annual fees for these three are all $120:
RBC Avion - $1 per point, note that there has every year been a promo with BA where you can transfer to get BA miles with a 50% bonus. No guarantee that it will happen forever. You can of course use BA miles to redeem on AA.
TV AAdvantage - $1 per point, counts towards AA's current lifetime status scheme.
CIBC Aeroplan
There is also AMEX Platinum for Aeroplan with a $499 fee; it comes with priority check-in and lounge access.
... or accumulate in a *wood account (via MBNA *wood, no yearly fee) to redeem on the carrier of choice at the right moment.
As to lounges: there are also private lounges that are usually quite competitive...