I've noticed that any status is somewhat harder to attain with AY which I have been using for some years now (albeit infrequently as my main FFP is EuroBonus).

I am based in the Baltic Sea region and mostly fly for business between HEL, VNO, CPH, WAW, TLL. Sometimes for holidays to SE Asia where AY offers some good fares and convenient connections.

Any point for me to start crediting AY flights to another OW FFP? Which one, considering my not-too-heavy usage (and limited to economy class)?

Thanks for any thoughts.

AA is best for FF points. BA or QF is best for earning status provided that you fly in J or F (but the points earned are less than half the AA value).

AA should be a very good alternate programme for Finnair economy passengers.

Thanks for the replies.

But isn't any actual travel on AA metal required before plastic card is issued? It would not be very convenient to credit flights to AA without one, and flying its metal here in Europe would be tricky

That is the case for some programmes. I don't know if that is the case for AA. I applied the AA card so long ago that I forgot. However, I just checked. You can do an instant enrollment on the web. You need the mileage number for mileage credit. I don't think you need the actual card.

I checked too. A card would be convenient, but its absence is not a deal-killer. However, I did not like this part:

To attain AAdvantage elite status, members must fly at least four flights on American Airlines or American Eagle within the qualifying year.

Miles are OK, but easier status would be even better (actually the reason I'm looking elsewhere than Finnair).

If you do get 25000 miles or more, there will indeed be some difference.

It is consensus on this forum that AA are not currently enforcing that 4 segment rules for status even though it exists.

This does not mean AA won't start enforcing it in the future.

e.g. This time last year Qantas were not enforcing their own 4 segment rule - but began doing around February (much to the consternation of US based Qantas FF elites).

I agree, AY Plus is hard to get a status, but if you fly AY routes, you can get a lounge access on those with silver card (OW Ruby). Other programs need OW Sapphire lever for lounge access I think. That's why I started with AY Plus few years ago. And you can use points for upgrades on AY flights.

But if you're not flying mainly with AY and are looking for a general OW program, then AY Plus wouldn't be very good choise.

These are useful points. I actually still have QF membership from my trip to OZ in 2006, and might have considered crediting to it if not for the active 4-segment rule.

As for lounge access, I've just checked the AY+ tier system and was newly taken aback by the steepness of its thresholds! 60,000 points for someone like me who flies exclusively Economy mostly within Northern Europe (i e ~500 points per segment) would mean 120 segments to attain Silver or to stay there! Or 90 P-class segments to make a single upgrade in long-haul to Asia! This is no longer fun, more like hard labour

And 148,000 points - what, 300 segments?! - for a web-booked economy award to SE Asia?

Now I am wondering - how does the programme survive?

As a quite frequent AY flyer, my opinion about AY FF scheme is:

1. It is really good only if you fly a lot with AY, you value upgrades on AY metal and if you can reach Emerald with them, then IMO it pays off

2. If you dont fly that much but you can still reach Ruby with them and you mainly fly on AY routes with AY issued ticket as then you will get lounge access quite easily even if flying in coach. For not so frequent AY (OW) flyers this is hard to get with other OW FF schemes

For all other AY flyers I would recommend AAdvantage from Finnish (European) perspective)

Cheers,

That's what I needed to hear

Final question: can AA points be used for awards on other OW carriers (AY, for example?

Of course they can.

The segment qualifying rules are not that steep

36 segments for Silver (OW Ruby)
72 segments for Gold (OW Sapphire)
186 segments for Platinum (OW Emerald)

and Gold tier is valid for 24 months so you have 2 years time to either renew with 130 or move up to Platinum with 186 segments.

I personally renew on number of flights rather than miles/points as I fly non-AY in economy, but quite a number of short segments.