Jumping from Star - which FFP
 

Dear All,

looking for your help here. have been loyal to *A for about 15 years and know the benefits etc of most programs over there.

However, I have a new corporate deal with BA which makes me consider jumping from *A.

about my travel pattern:

I would be flying from Continental Europe to the US/Asia (with some middle east/SA thrown in) mostly in diso....ed business on BA and most likely more than 100,000 miles BIS.

Currently, I am BD gold which is great as i earn 400% in C and 600% in F (I realize i probably won't find tht anywhere else).

The most important thing I am looking for in one OW FFP would be flexibility (one way awards etc) and the ease of earning and burning C and F awards.

As I would be flying BA, should I stick to them or is there a better program for me somewhere else? Anything else I need to consider?

Thanks!!

You'd be wise to consider AA's program as well, as the earning on BA is now 100% across the pond and elsewhere. Plus, based on what you're saying about your travel patterns, you're set to reach EXP and get the coveted 8 eVIP upgrades. Now, these are currently only applicable to AA-marketed and -operated flights, but if you ever end up buying Y or J on AA, you can move up to J or F respectively; rumors suggest that eVIPs will soon be usable on BA and IB.

Now that BA and AA are becoming more integrated in terms of operational interchangeability and BA elites are getting mileage bonuses similar to AA elites (100% mileage bonuses for Oneworld Sapphire-level elites, for example) I don't see much of a downside to sticking with BA. As a non-UK European resident you'd be able to achieve Silver or Gold status (Oneworld Sapphire/Emerald) much more quickly than if you were a UK or North American resident; you might even look at obtaining AA status once you've got BA status.

AA offers one-way redemptions with all its partners, and in general AA redemption levels for premium cabins are more generous than BA's (with some major exceptions.) For the time being, AA is less prone to levy fuel surcharges on some awards than BA; on the other hand BA's MFU (mileage upgrades) are excellent.

Obviously lining up with BA will put you at Heathrow pretty often; AA's transatlantic routes might be more flexible depending on the specific nature of your travel. But I don't think you'll go terribly wrong either way.

Since the difference between BA and AA has narrowed and you would be flying BA a lot from your location I would suggest to stick with BA. This way you get a decent FFP and good treatment during irops. The only issue are the heavy fuel fines on BA.

thanks for all your help.

so the way i see it i would have the following benefits:

AA

-225% miles in busines (w/status)
-free upgrades in the us
-8 swu's (only on AA right now)
-no fuel surcharge on awards / is this also on BA awards?
-no lounge access in the us on domestic flights

BA
-225% miles in business (w/status)
-higher awards
-better service during irops / more opups on BA metal
- lounge acces on domestic US filghts


I do prefer usually to keep status on the home airline but AA is looking better due to the upgrades / lower mileage requirements with the same earning rate.

am i getting this right?

you guys are awesome!

AA is collecting BA's fuel surcharge on award flights. That is to say that AA doesn't have a YQ but if you book a BA flight as part of an award, AA will collect the YQ that BA would otherwise collect and pass it along to BA.

Also, to clarify, AA PLT and EXP are not allowed lounge access in the US when only flying to destinations in North America that day (defined as the US, Canada, Mexico [except MEX], and the Caribbean). If you have a domestic leg that connects to an outside-of-NA leg, you'll get lounge access the whole way. BA Silver and Gold have access no matter what.

You should verify this yourself based on the places you would consider traveling to on awards:

AA All-airline award chart
BA Spending EC miles page

Peace.