Where to credit a DONE4
 

Background.
Existing membership
QF QPNS (Silver - OW Ruby) Current SCs 460 (reqal for Silver chasing Gold). Membership y/e Jul-31
AA Nothing

Have just ticketed a DONE4 from CMB and Economy flights SYD-CMB
Apr/May - V SYD-SIN
Apr/May - D CMB-HKG-LHR-BCN-IST-LHR-SFO-JFK
Apr/May - A JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-LGA
Apr/May - D JFK-SYD
(16 hops in 20 days)
Dec - D SYD-PER-ADL-AKL-SYD
Feb - D SYD-PEK-HKG-CMB
Feb - V SIN-SYD

Presently planning on crediting the lot to QF

By my calcs on tier credits I qual for Gold OW Sapphire on the first landing in LHR and Platinum OW Emerald on landing in ANC, ending with 1980SCs back in Syd (ie 580 in excess of what I need).
Then another 670SCs already locked in for next years from the Aus/Asia legs.

My travel profile is primarily within Australia, and not much domestic US so the AA stamps, upgrades etc don't really help - although obvously the better redemption rates on AA (and lack of fuel surcharges) is tempting.

Any comments as to what others would do in this situation would be appreciated.

My gut feeling is AA - sign up for a Plat Challenge and you'll do well. Generally, AA are hard to beat for miles, especially when you've got a bit of status (you'll prob be earning at the Plat rate by the HKG-LHR flight!) - and the Plat status sort you out with lounge access when flying QF.

There's really only one way to determine things though - get your calculator out. Hauteboy's OWE validator should help as well.

versus getting OW Emerald (ie AA ExecPlat equiv) on QF

Based on my experience, with the exception of HKG (yes CX is very nice in the first lounge) a lounge is a lounge is a lounge whether business or first. And OW Sapphire gains entry. Though I haven't been through LHR since I became EXP. I'm certain someone will offer an alternative view.

Only if you have enough mileage in the QF bank to be concerned about multiple business class awards SYD-LAX or SYD-LHR and thus have a real use for the Emerald status with QF would I worry about it. OTOH if you never plan on returning to the USA then perhaps AA would be worth a bit less.

Consider the AA platinum level mileage bonus and the relative cost of an AA award on QF domestic versus the cost of the QF award on QF domestic...........

YMMV

Happy wandering

Fred