Keep in mind that you can freely transfer Avios between BA and IB. So there's no need to choose one over the other for award redemptions. If you're considering BA vs. IB, you should focus on the status earning parts of the programs.

Interesting. Never thought about IB. I'll need to look into how they do qualifying. With my already booked travel I have enough for BA Silver. They don't a challenge or match though right? So I would have to leave my AA number on the reservations for OWE benefits up to the flight and then change to BA number for earning.

Note that in order to transfer Avios to IB, the IB account must be at least 90 days old and it must have had some activity (you can transfer 1 Amex point for example, or buy some points).

Note that IB Plus' earning period runs from April 1 until March 31. IB has different earnings charts for different airlines, so be aware of how that might affect your already-booked travel. Here's an Inside Flyer article about IB+ that you might find helpful:

https://insideflyer.co.uk/2019/03/qa...f-iberia-plus/

As for switching your AAdvantage number to a BA or IB number just before boarding, what pre-flight benefits would your AA number get you on a Business Class ticket? Maybe free seat selection on BA-operated flights?

Yes, seat selection and access to first class lounges at LHR and HEL (if/when it reopens), with seat selection being the bigger of the two. Currently in 6K in a Club Suites 772 for the LHR-JFK leg.
All my planned travel is currently for May and later so IB's earning window should be OK.

Is there a website that help calculate the IB Elite Points for any route with a booking class? wheretocredit allows me to check total miles earned but not total elite points earned.

Right on the Iberia website. (If you're flying a carrier other than Iberia, you will need to know the mileage of each flown segment in order to use the partner table.)

https://www.iberia.com/us/iberiaplus/earn-elite-points/

I would appreciate some outside opinions on this.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
OW status with Lounge access during international travel and decent redemption.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
1 big trip for around 20k/year and couple of smaller of up to 20k/year.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Domestic: coach with family or business/first on redemption.
International: business on redemption for personal and purchase for work
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes and yes.
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Work: 1,2 transcon/year
Non-work: 1 big trip to asia + couple of smaller around US
(6) What is your home airport?
JFK/LGA/EWR
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
No. all over the place, 100k+aa (with flying + credit card), 50k+ AS (flying+card), 40k+ on UA (flying), 40k on KE. All over the places really.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
No Preference.

I have 3 big trips coming up before June 2022 (2 on AA and 1 unknown) netting over 30k of flying (all purchase with 2 biz + 1 econ). Looking for the fastest way to earn OWE. I looked into Iberia Plus and seem like the way to go but if you have a different perspective, let me know.

All, recently acquired OW emerald courtesy of QR - The question is - I am flying a few OW airlines this year and a few non OW mostly in J. I will probably crediting my points to Qantas (low level member) so my OW status wont be on the boarding pass. I will have my card OW car on my phone - is there any special things i need to know re entering First Lounges, getting free luggage or into priority lines, etc ?? 😃

With the QF FFN on the boarding pass and a QR OWE physical/digital card you experience will be mixed. Some airlines desks may change to the QR ffn(OWE) You may/may not be aware they have done this.
Flying paid J status does give a lot extra. Not that many first class lounges.

About to start a series of trips and am now second-guessing my loyalty strategy for 2022. My gut told me that AAdvantage would make the most sense, since 1) my patterns and fare classes accrue the most miles on American, 2) I am an AU on an AAdvantage Executive card so Admirals Clubs access isn't an issue, and 3) I don't mind manufacturing a little spend/using portals. Merely looking to confirm my suspicions.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Baggage allowance, IRROPs desk (been burned one time too many in the past year). Upgrades and lounge access would be nice, but not necessary.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
30-40k miles, typically in economy. Usually about 20-40 flights, mostly from the West Coast to Texas.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Usually cheaper economy fares. Very rarely business, at least with cash.
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
My travel patterns work best with American, but that will likely be less relevant by 2023. Only travel for pleasure.
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
LAX-DFW, LAX-SFO, BUR-wherever. Looking to do a couple international trips a year going forward.
(6) What is your home airport?
Any SoCal airport honestly, but LAX or BUR would be best.
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
I have a decent amount of AAdvantage miles from the credit card and double dipping activities, but also plenty of Chase UR points. No status yet.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
American is usually the most convenient, but from a product perspective, I have no airline preference.

Welcome to FlyerTalk, mvc22!

As long as you will continue to have Admirals Club access via a credit card, then I think crediting your flights to, and seeking status with, AA makes the most sense for you.

If you expect to lose credit-card lounge access anytime soon, I would consider:

1. getting a credit card that gives you Priority Pass lounge access; or
2. seeking oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status with a foreign carrier like BA or IB. Such status would give you lounge access when flying AA domestically, as well as free checked baggage and MCE seats. But status with BA or IB would not likely get you upgraded on AA. And BA and IB have their own redemption rates, rules, and fees.

Okay, that's about what I expected. I just got my card lounge access, but I do plan on applying for a card with Priority Pass access sometime within the next year. I really only considered Alaska status because of the segment and earning schemes, but I'd need to fly quite a bit on AS metal (or in general), way beyond what leisure travel allows, at least for earning meaningful status. Thank you!

I'd love for you guys to weigh on whether to put more work on OW especially JAL..

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Baggage allowance, Upgrades and lounge access. Cheap-ish business class tickets would also nice.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
I fly at least 1-2 times a month within the EU, but 3-4 trips to Asia and Latin America, typically in economy though I've spent 2-3 business class tickets as they are around 1100EUR.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Usually economy fares. Very rarely business, at least with cash.
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I often fly with BA, IB and JAL for OW. I have a FB Gold so KLM/AF is often default. Travel for work but some leisure if needed for miles/TPs
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
AMS/FRA/CDG/ARN for repositioning, typically to MNL, BKK, NRT, GRU. Would love to be able to get good flights to LA. Within EU, I fly to MAD, BCN, BER, ATH/
(6) What is your home airport?
AMS but can reposition to Germany or France,
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
Getting FB Platinum this year. However, NRT and other Asian flights are often better with JAL.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
JAL, KLM/AF, mostly European airlines due to location.

What is your take between IB and BA FF program? Which one do you prefer? I mostly fly with AA/JAL so I mostly will just be looking for Sapphire/Emerald status (and the benefit attached)

I think Sapphire/Emerald is easier to achieve by BA but harder to maintain (12 month rolling) while IB makes it a bit hard to achieve but it lasts longer (2 years) making it easier to maintain.