britenbsas

You can join the AAdvantage programme, still fly on BA and simply credit your miles to AA. Since late last year, all fares (including deep discount economy fares on BA) earn 100% elite qualifying miles. You need 50k EQMs to reach platinum which you will earn after 4 round trips LHR-EZE if you fly direct with BA. The bit about routing via North America was if you wanted to push for Emerald status. If you're happy with Platinum, just stick to BA flights and you will get there travelling on any published fare rather than having to buy more expensive fares in order to accumulate your tier points in the BAEC.

Not at all. Sign up for the Platinum Challenge (details here). For the challenge you would need to fly AA in a fare class that earns you 1 elite qualifying point per mile if you wanted to reach platinum in one trip (BA flights don't count for challenges unless booked as an AA codeshare and I don't believe there is a codeshare on LHR-GRU/EZE so your first trip would need to be on AA metal. After that you can just fly BA if you wish).You need 10k points to complete the challenge which you will do on one round trip. You then have Platinum status right away which will mean you get 100% bonus miles and will be able to use the business class lounges and select your seat at the time of booking on BA for free (except exit row seats)

BicesterTerrier

Thanks for the clarification, I don't think the platinum is really that much of a possibility, I can't justify such a long flight if I can get gold by flying BA direct.

Flights are more likely to be LHR-GRU for the next few trips, also don't think I will make too many more this year, Mrs BT is expecting and due end of September.

I have signed up with AA, can I change the frequent flyer details on an existing booking to this, or do I have to leave it as BAEC? Is it worth it for possibly only 4 legs to GRU this year and a return to Cyprus.

Food for thought this, damn game has taken over the day, all I really want is lounge access!!

littlefish

Welcome BT,
All sorts of tips in the stickies and threads in this forum, and sure enough you'll find the best way for you. I was a no-hoper for anything other than Blue, but with a little pre-planning and a couple of tweaks to routings I'm able to get the 600tps from this year.
First you want to be clear what you want out of Silver (eg. Lounge access) and ask if you're prepared to pay a little towards that. For example, a long-weekend somewhere close in Europe (fly CE) can get you 80tps and lift you over the 600 point line.

With 6 x trips to Sth Am in cheapo economy, you have 12 sectors at 30tps, so 360tps in the 'probable' bag and 240tps to find. It sounds like you do one WT+ rtn holiday a year (150tps), so add the 80 CE and you're only 10 short! That's one extra sector in Sth Am on Lan along the line.
As others have said paid upgrades on the WT legs can work for you too (have to say I'd hate those sectors in WT for work), or get work to pay for more flexible H,B,Y tickets which may well be cost effective anyhow in your line of work as the return leg may be easier to revise.

The one thing to watch is tying all the trips in with your BAEC year, which'll end on 8th of some month.
Good luck.

britenbsas

Yes, you should be able to update your frequent flier info via Manage My Booking

YES!! ABSOLUTELY!! 4 return trips LHR-GRU on BA = 46904 EQMs plus another 4k for a return to Cyprus this calendar year and you've reached the 50k target and will have platinum status through to the end of February 2013. Just credit every flight to your AAdvantage account and remember that any BA fare (including deep discount economy fares) will get you 100% EQMs. Note that there is an offical rule that you must fly at least 4 segments on AA to get AAdvantage status but reports on FT report that this rule is routinely ignored and status is granted even without any flying on AA.

Once you reach 25k EQM you will get AAdvantage Gold status (OW Ruby) which, although this isn't going to get you lounge access, will mean you get 25% bonus miles on all subsequent flights. Once you hit Platinum, you'll get your lounge access and the ability to select seats on ba.com at the time of booking.

Welcome to the crazy world of miles and points. As someone told me when I started out on here, beware - it's addictive. They weren't wrong

BicesterTerrier

Year ends 8th February, which is a pain, my last trip to GRU left before this and returned after, so I only have 30TP towards this year.

@Britenbsas, I think we got our wires crossed, I will probably only make 2 x return trips to GRU this year, so 4 legs, not 4 returns, hopefully next year I might be a bit more frequent.

Will probably switch the BAEC number for the AA one in the bookings and see how we go, there might be one or two surprise journeys yet.

BicesterTerrier

Looks like you can't change it, MMB shows the name of the passenger and the BAEC number, with no option to change it.

HIDDY

Use MMB in Finnair.com or just have it changed at the airport.

Swanhunter

Or phone BA.

HIDDY

That costs money.

britbronco22

If you currently have an offer to upgrade in MMB, then there is a decent chance you will be offered a special upgrade option when you enter OLCI. Definitely use OLCI, don't wait until the airport.
If you aren't offered it at OLCI, then you can try again at the desk in the departure lounge, but the chances are if you don't get it on OLCI then it isn't available.
The only time a visit to the 'desk' is necessary is if you have made your booking in such a way that upgrade offers don't appear on-line (e.g. you booked with a travel agent).

britbronco22

BT, I think you should make a decision to commit to one scheme from the outset, if you split bookings then might regret it later if you miss out on status by one flight!

Britenbsas has made some interesting posts, I have to admit I didn't know much about AA before reading this.
For your situation it does sound like AA may be a cheaper route to lounge access, mainly because you won't have to pay from your own pocket to upgrade to WT+.
However, I think you would lose the ability to build status in Europe through a mileage run. For instance the short CE hops to Amsterdam/Jersey can earn a lot of TP's, but it doesn't sound like they would help your AA status.
Britenbsas, do the AA miles from the status bonus could towards status? I expect no, it would be too generous.
It also puts you further down the priority list for Op-UPs.

leaveamessage

If it is only lounge access you require, it may be worth you investigating qantas club membership,as you can purchase it and it gives you BA lounge access: http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airl...cess/global/en

rodavici

One thing that needs to be added regarding the benefits of AA or BA's programs is that if you go with AA and are traveling domestically in the US, you won't get lounge access when you hit AA PLT. With BA Siliver, you will.

Of course it can be debated as to whether access to Admirals Clubs is worth it at all

FenLandK

Spot the Scot...

FenLandK

One trip to LGA or ORD would convince you...