Hi,

I have accepted a new assignment where I will be traveling back and forth from GRU (Sao Paulo) for the next 2-3 years. I am based in Michigan and will travel from DTW. My assignment in GRU is 3 weeks on, one week back meaning one RT every month.

The travel to GRU will start in August. We are not permitted biz class, but the next tier down from Full Y is allowed. (B on NW, H on CO, B on AA etc)

I have no statuses now, I lost my AA status this year. Actually I was 'soft landed' down from Plat over the past 2 years.

I've narrowed the choices to 2 programs, CO and AA. I'd like to try get ExecPlat on AA, and Plat on CO I usually get stuck on NW, I know it's not the best out there but here in DTW they really own the market. It does look like I'll have the luxury of planning fairly far forward though, so I should be able to book via NW on CO metal and give miles to CO.

Anyway, Here's my plan - please feel free to knock holes in it.

Since I can't make 100k miles on AA this year, I'm going to book NW and apply miles to CO in NW/B fares. This will allow me to get to Platinum in 2008, which should be good all 2009 right? Will CO recognize the 1.5 bonus for B on NW if miles are posted to CO?

Starting in 2009, I'll book AA going for the ExecPlat. Start with Plat Challenge and fly AA until I get the 100k.

I'm hoping by applying miles to CO in 2008 I will take advantage of any CO/AA partnership coming up. Being Plat on CO may help anyway if they make a swap.

What are the holes in this strategy? Is it better to book on CO rather than NW? I find the NW fares to be lower for B than CO for H, but since I can't make the NW elite bonuses this year anyway does it make sense to book and fly CO all the way?

My ultimate goal is miles not upgrades, for a couple of nice FC trips a year for myself and SO.

Any help is appreciated!