AA and BA freq.flyer: which one to chose?
 

Hi everybody,

I have roughly 5,000 qualifying miles in both British Airways and AAdvantage (5,000 en each). This year I will be making 5 or 6 trips (3 roundtrips) between Europe and Los Angeles which are a bit more than 5,000 miles each, so I'd be accumulating about 25-30,000 "qualifying" miles that would get me some elite status, correct?

Now I'm looking for opinions as to which one is best, if either one will allow me to be bumped up to business class (or economy plus or something, anything!), and on which miles program you would recommend that I send those miles?

Thanks in advance!

Lucas.

Welcome to FT and the oneworld forum.

My recommendation is that you credit your miles to AAdvantage, and sign up for the Platinum Challenge (see the sticky thread at the top of the AA forum). You will complete the challenge with the first return trip to Europe from LAX, and enjoy both Platinum status and 100% bonus for all miles earned while you hold the status.

As for getting op upgrades while you are PLT, well, it happens, but it is very rare, so don't count on it. What you will be able to do is to upgrade some of your domestic segments with the 500-mile electronic upgrades you will earn as you fly (the sticky has full details).

Welcome to FT!

You must remember that you can't earn AA miles on a BA transatlantic service and vice-versa. So, if you'll be flying BA, you need to use the BA program. The BA program sucks for discount economy tickets, but is good for those flying on premium fares.

If you will be using AA, I'd second Viajero's advice.

The advice so far is great. (Please do keep in mind that limitation on crediting transatlantic flights and how that may impact you.)

BA's program has two features that AA's generally does not: 1) one-way awards; and 2) upgrades are only 25,000 miles roundtrip if buying a more expensive, upgradeable fare. Other than that (and a few differences at the BA Gold level), I'd recommend AA's program over BA's for a whole series of reasons.

Thanks! This was most helpful and super quick :-)