Here is an entirely different approach.
1. Join Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. You can credit flights on AA, CO, and NW to this program. (Also: AF, BA, CX, DL, KL, LA, QF, etc.) Flights on AA and NW (but not CO) count for elite status. This would give you an opportunity to compare the service on the various carriers serving the route, and the miles can be redeemed on any of those carriers.
http://www.alaskaair.com/as/mileagep...rs_Airline.asp
2. Apply for Merrill+ VISA and
spend $20,000 by end of calendar 2008 to achieve +2 Level.
https://cards.ml.com/MLRewardsCenter...ds/MERRILL.htm
3. When you achieve status on Alaska Airlines submit evidence to Merrill who will arrange status match on AA for 2009...
b) Frequent Flyer Status Match - Status Level +2/+3
American Airlines will provide Status Levels +2/+3 cardholders with an elite status match to the AAdvantage GoldŽ and or AAdvantage PlatinumŽ elite level, excluding AAdvantage Executive PlatinumŽ. It may take up to two weeks to process the elite status match. All elite status memberships will have an expiration date of February 28th. The expiration year will be determined by the month in which the elite status match is awarded. At the end of this year, cardholder's status in this program will return to its existing level unless cardholder a) requalifies per terms of American Airlines AAdvantage program or b) resubmits proof of status on another airline, per the process described below. Copy of the cardholder's current statement reflecting such status on another airline must be submitted to Merrill Lynch in order to qualify. Cardholder eligibility for AAdvantage membership status match based on frequent flyer status on eligible carriers as specified by American Airlines. These carriers currently include: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air France, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Continental Airlines, Crossair, Delta Airlines, Finnair, Iberia, KLM, LanChile, Lufthansa, Northwest, Qantas, Sabena, Singapore Airlines, Swissair, United Airlines, and U.S. Airways. Eligible carriers subject to change without notice.