Where to put RTW miles?
 

Hi, I noticed that BA's mileage program is changing on 1 July. My miles are mostly on AA, since I mostly make RTs from the US to Europe/Australia (all on AA flight numbers), so I never worried much about BA.

If I add an annual RTW flight ex Aust, I'll have to go between Australia and Europe without an AA doesn't codeshare, i.e. I must take flights with either BA/QF numbers.

From what I understand, economy RTW tickets are in M class, so I'll only earn 25% of mileage on BA-designated flights and 70% on QF. Now for my two questions!

1) On the face of it, 70% vs 25% suggests that I should avoid BA like the plague (in favour of QF) if I want AA miles. Correct?

2) Does anyone see a good reason to change from AA and put my miles somewhere else? Several months ago I posted here asking whether I should put my miles on AA/QF and the resounding answer was AA. I'm now AA PLT, so it would seem that the 100% PLT bonus on AA (0.7x200=140% acutal miles) basically makes up for the 50% bonus I would get as QF gold (1.0x150=150% actual miles). Just thought I would check, though.

Thanks gurus.

If, as and when AA puts its codeshare on a bunch of BA flights (the U.S. DoT gave tentative approval on May 30) you'll be able to get to Singapore or Bangkok (from LHR) as an AA codeshare. For some reason, they're not proposing to codeshare on the onward flights into Australia.... so you'd have to switch to a QF flight from SIN or BKK - for which only 70% miles, as you know.

An alternative on BA is to pay the surcharge (A$900) to upgrade to BA's World Traveller Plus (premium economy) cabin on the LHR-SIN/BKK-SYD/MEL legs - you get 100% miles for WT+, plus a 10% bonus (i.e., 110% bonus in total). The surcharge is A$600 for one leg, A$900 for both.

AY codeshares on the SYD - BKK QF flight. From there you can join the BKK - HEL AY flight and earn 100 percent miles plus bonuses on AA for both segments.

rich