Starting a new job where I will be flying MIA-LHR, probably will take the BA flights. Should I start a new BA frequent flyer account, or continue with my AA? Only have about 50,000 miles on AA.

Welcome to FT, miamimango! In general, staying with the program of the airline you actually fly is a good idea as they will look after you during irr-ops etc.

The advantage of the BA program is the lounge access even if you fly AA domestically but the disadvantage is the fuel surcharges on awards.

AA has the advantage of upgrades if you make it to EXP.

Can you estimate which status you will be getting in each program?

Thank you so much for your help. First, am I correct in assuming I can eithe4r receive AA or BA miles when I fly BA? ill probably fly about 4-5 trips to london in business (so I think business gets to use the clubs) BA give 150% miles for business (I think AA only give 125% if booking a BA flight?) and the trip is about 9000 round trip, so I should reach about 65,000 miles just to London. Domestic, don't fly AA too much, just such a pain out of Miami, actually prefer SWA out of FLL. I could add about another 50,000 more per year economy/domestic on AA if I suck it up once a week on the outbound. That would still let me book SWA on the return and keep my A-list there as well as the incredible flexibility of SWA, no change fees, which is more important on my return flight! I used to have status on AA, but gave it up since getting an upgrade in or out of MIA most of the year is hopeless. Add the flight attendants horrible attitude and 30-45 mins in security lines....any help appreciated. Thanks again!

ba elites qualify w/ tier points, aa w/ eqm/eqp...w/aa, you should qualify for plt w/the j flights & consider a plt challenge on your 1st trip to get 2x rdm quicker...you should check out the ba scheme....

what other flying will you do?

good luck...

thanks, the challenge is a great idea, I remember this from when I used to fly AA all the time. Also, duh, forgot about just booking the codeshare flight, have to see if my corp. travel will do that - I think that is the best solution-my other flying is all domestic, almost every week, various places, do like SWA for the convenience unless I am doing a cross country, but may have to use AA more often. If only they were a bit nicer...

Can you leverage this?

Go with BA, if your flying CW between the us and uk you will make silver in no time at all.

The main benefit is that BA silver card holders can use AA lounges for domestic flights within the USA

With your planned transatlantic flying and with domestic AA flights you could well reach BA gold without too much trouble.

cs

The OP still needs to be careful. While he can fly BA now, things might be different if he changes job. And then there would be no status at all because of the missing BA segments. But yes, the domestic lounge access is a really nice benefit and status wise, maybe the OP has a continental European address to utilize?

I think you should go for BA, sign to the chase visa promotion (100K BA miles) and then use those to upgrade your CW tickets to First. Enjoy the Domestic lounge access.

It is faster to go up the status ladder in a programme that has no hub in your country but the problem would be when you want to spend your miles, you will have restricted options on what to do as most flights have to go through a local hub leaving a handful of other mileage flights available.

This will be particularly noticeable when you change your job.

Despite the ability to go faster using a foreign programme, if you are intending on using your miles for your personal travel, it may be worth the pain in sticking to your home base.

Thanks everyone. Decided on AA because of the domestic flights. Called them and I will be doing the platinum challenge. Should make it after the first flight. Again Thanks!

I would also consider redemption.

If you rack up some miles and want to fly you and the wife across the pond for a short holiday in biz or first, AA will want a couple hundred bucks....BA ~$1500+

I pretty much consider BA miles worthless for redemption. If I wanted to spend a couple grand on tickets, I would buy a ticket and earn miles....not spend that kind of money and burn miles.