Long-time traveler here, mostly for leisure. I'm no road warrior, and I don't seem to have the mileage-hound gene of the wizards on this board. But with at least a couple of conferences and several longish flights coming up this year it looks like I could make low tier status with smart planning. I'm posting here because I'm still waffling about the alliances. UA has E+, but AA appears to treat its low-tier elites better and it looks like I could fast-track to Gold with a Challenge. (Continental and Delta don't seem to get high marks)

I'm based in NYC. Coming up at the end of Feb. is a trip to Oslo, with possible hop to Stockholm. Nothing scheduled till summer, which brings trips to DEN, MSN, SEA (the last two lumped together, but possibly not). Probably another trip to Europe in the fall. Another domestic trip or two (SBA, TUS) possible but not definitively planned.

So, if I throw in my lot with AA it looks like a challenge begun on Feb 16 could ring up the 5000 points for Gold right off the bat -- the L fares quoted earn 1 pt/mile, and it's close to 8000 miles RT. Is it really that easy? Is AA Gold worth the effort? Is it worth the discomfort of flying through (gulp) LHR? Or would I be better off buying E+ access now as I start a year with UA?

Reading and searching Flyertalk is making my head spin so I appeal to the collective wisdom. I have always loved travel but today's conditions have me dreading each trip more and more. I am hoping that status can provide a little more ease and comfort. Thoughts?

Thanks, all.