In researching alternatives to the now almost worthless SkyMiles elite program, I discovered that appartently with AA, you cannot use or earn miles on any trans-Atlantic BA flights, or earn miles in some fare classes on some of their other partners.

For me, this makes NW a far more appealing program, as there is no such restriction with KLM or Malev.

AAdvantage does, however, now beat SkyMirage by a country mile.