QR also has a 4 flight minimum or 20% QR code (I forget if it's code only or code and metal). Most people would hit 4 segments before 20% but you could do it in theory with something like LAX-DOH-SYD having only 2 QR segments but well over the 20% threshold for the required QPoints. It's 600 for Platinum, but not sure for the lower tier. LAX-DOH-SYD is 176 Q points on a D fare, well over the 120 needed to cross the 20% threshold.

Are there any US based fliers who have made a jump from AS/AA to a non-US based OW program?
Would be interested in any anecdotes/DPs, thanks.

I think a major question is what are your motivations? Domestic lounge access?

Qualification is rarely easier, earnings aren't really better unless you're specifically targeting Avios earnings (it's still not better, just different currency), and award charts generally quite as good outside of 'sweet spots'. I definitely use BA/QR as supplementary programs, but keep AA as my primary for a multitude of reasons mostly noted above.

Personally I don't care about domestic upgrades as I seldom fly domestic so it's not a big deal and often just buy F when I do. I also don't care about domestic lounge access since my purely domestic itineraries are even rarer. But AA's award chart in many regions is pretty competitive and awards that don't touch North America are readily available on partners for good redemption value. AA's EXP line is excellent, UA's 1K too, not sure which is better in my experience.

I honestly can't imagine jumping ship for anything except BAEC Gold or QR Platinum, but the use case would need to be more specific vs. flying a lot of OW partners as I tend to do.

I can make a similar argument for AS but we don't know the new award chart yet, it could tank the program's appeal or they could take a similar chart to AA. But with the removal of required segments, their top tier is extremely easy to achieve this year.

mildfrequence A long time ago (when FF programs were "different") I joined both the AA and QF programs. The former because it "rewarded" travel in the Y cabin between my new and old countries much better and the latter because there were always some fare classes that would only credit to the local program.
But time offers the opportunity for change and the airlines continue to refine how they wish to entice their customers (and increase their profits).
Though I now have lifetime OW Ruby in both the AA and QF programs, obtaining that was never the final goal of the annual re-qualification exercise. Lounge access on international trips made and does make journeys more pleasant and (well historically) the chance of an award seat or upgrade was/may be a plus. But age is presenting fewer options for travel.
The question which is perhaps most applicable would be: Would you/could you fly the non-USA airline enough to obtain at least the initial status level (and get a modest earnings boost or even lounge access)? Are you able to access and use the special offers the FF program will periodically present?
May you find a program that presents opportunities for inexpensive and pleasant wandering
Fred

After a way too long hiatus, I am looking forward to resuming RTW travel in 2024 via a DONE3 (or 4). The initial goal of this RTW trip is to quickly obtain OWE status but I am in need of some advice and wisdom on the merits of starting "green" in one of the Avios programs or whether to continue to credit miles (loyalty points) to AA. I am primarily based in the US but also have family in Spain where I visit several times a year. Given the widespread devaluation of miles/points, and an existing balance with AA of ~900k miles, I just don't know if it makes sense to start fresh with another FFP (?). Again, my focus is to re-acquire OWE status (i had a good 15 year run as an EXP up until 2017) and maintain that through annual DONE3-4 trips for mostly personal travel.

Really struggling here (although if this is my biggest problem right now I should be so lucky lol).

I�ve managed to maintain CX Gold / OW Sapphire for the last 8 years or so. Diamond/OW Emerald has never been within my reach with CX. I was primarily flying CX J twice a year JFK-HKG-KUL then a handful of J flights to Europe, primarily London and then wherever I decide to go on a whim. Smattering of domestic travel typically in Economy unless I need to the points for status.

Ever since Covid, I have been finding more affordable J fares on other airlines, namely QR. Plus when I did the calcs, it seems I may be able to reach QR Platinum / OW Emerald easier than CX Diamond, although it will take some effort and not a guarantee. I can probably also comfortably remain CX Gold, or comfortably reach QR Gold as well. Mainly because I will likely fly NYC-KUL 3x a year.

To me the big risk is the QR requirement of 4 segments or 20% on QR/QR marketed flights. CX doesn�t have that requirement (or at least that I�m aware of.. haven�t flown them since 2019!). I will be able to achieve this this year but not sure if it will always work out to be the case future years.

Main question: is OW Emerald worth it to try and make it there/switch loyalty, or should I stay content with OW Sapphire and hang on with CX? I�m not a fan of hopping around these programs so I�m inclined to just stick with CX but I am a little tempted to switch and try to make it to OW Emerald on QR since it feels doable.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: Priority treatment in rebooking due to travel disruption/general hope for better overall customer service. I also haven�t been maximizing redemption but would like to start doing this. Nice to haves: Lounge access, upgrades

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: Minimum ~40,000 (always fly RT twice NYC-KUL, but will likely be over 50,000 comfortably annually starting this year given increased travel to KUL

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply: Business - assuming I can keep finding affordable long haul fares! They have really been going up last few months. May need to drop to PE and then use points to upgrade

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Personal - not always for pleasure lol but it�s not for work so yes, I can choose my airlines

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Reply: NYC-KUL, NYC-LHR, NYC-random European cities. Some random domestic travel

(6) What is your home airport?
Reply: JFK, EWR is ok. LGA for domestic

(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?
Reply: CX Marco Polo Club Gold/OW Sapphire

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: This is tricky. Last couple of years split between Singapore and Qatar. Handful with AA, BA, Delta. Some with United. Basically was flying cheapest J I could find without heeding FFP and somehow Cathay still maintained my status but I doubt they will keep this up.

TIA! Welcome any thoughts/opinions.

Have a look here:

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

("WHY QATAR AIRWAYS BUSINESS CLASS REGULARS MIGHT BE BETTER OFF WITH IBERIA PLUS")

In short, flying long-haul Business Class on oneworld carriers -- and crediting those flights to IB -- can get you status pretty quickly. No IB flights required.

Oh dear, my head is spinning again lol.

So based on the Iberia Elite Points calculator, it says that for OW partner airlines, flights over 6,000 miles earn 600 Elite Points, and flights 3,001-6,000 miles earn 500 Elite Points. So on a RT flight JFK-DOH-KUL, I would earn 2,200 Elite Points (JFK-DOH is 6,704 miles and DOH-KUL 3,673 miles). And your point (hah) is that if I do three of these, I would be at 6,600 Elite Points and meet the requirement for Platino / OW Emerald, right? 🤔 I hadn�t even considered it, never flown Iberia and not sure I ever will, so this feels funny to me. But something to consider!

Thank you! 🙏🏼

You're welcome!

JFK-TYO-KUL would also work (but might require an airport change at TYO). JFK-HKG-KUL would yield fewer Elite points because of the shorter HKG-KUL leg.

Of course, a NYC-Western Europe roundtrip in J would earn 1,000 Elite points -- and maybe more, if there were a connection at either end.

So even with just two roundtrips to KUL, you'd still have a decent shot at achieving oneworld Emerald status. Note, however, Iberia's Elite-point earning period: April 1-March 31.

Oh yes, I did see this and meant to ask. Do you know if IB go by flight date or by crediting date? I have a QR flight in Feb, JFK-DOH-KUL. If I don�t submit that for FF crediting until after April 1, would that count in that period or do they back date to February 2024?

It's the flight date that will count.

And from what I have read is the local scheduled time-date of departure. Not actual time, which could be say be after mid night on the next calendar day.
But airline IT systems are not very robust.

Ah, thank you both. Slight wrinkle then as I currently have a JFK-BCN round trip on AA from New Year�s and the upcoming JFK-DOH-KUL round trip on QR in February that I�m saving for crediting. Hmm, have to do some more thinking then 🤔

Well, just the one roundtrip on QR, coupled with just the BCN-JFK flight on AA (if you have not yet flown that leg) would get you Iberia Plus Oro (oneworld Sapphire).

And for Coach travel on AA, status with IB or QR is superior to status with CX: IB and QR elites get access to free, Main Cabin Extra (extra-leg-room) seats on AA; CX elites do not:

I just did the JFK-BCN trip over New Year�s (big snafu coming back that had me ranting all over the AA board btw lol) but didn�t credit either leg anywhere yet. So actually I think I would be at 3,200. I didn�t even bother to look because I�m already OW Sapphire through end of the year with Cathay. I had no idea about the differentiation on AA like that. That�s so random, no?