AA Still the best FF programme?
 

I did a quick google search of the site and found a thread that said the AA FF programme was probably the best one to join in terms of benefits / earning / reward etc.

I am based in the UK and don't fly that often (few times a year) normally on *A but at times I end up on other airlines. Quite happy to get the AA VIsa (UK) for the 5000 bonus and spend (when I cannot use my Amex) to keep the account alive.

I know the TATL on BA in Y is only 25% but better than nothing (just!)

Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

At the moment BA TATL UK<--> USA credits 0 to AA........

UK <--> Canada, Mexico and Bermuda do earn miles though.......

Best is often in the mind of the beholder.....
AA works for me - at least for now - but I don't fly TATL on a regular basis.

Fred

Different programs are good for different purposes. You can not say AA is the best program. For some it is perfect, for others it doesn't make sense.

AA is good if you want cheap reward flights. The problem is that you do not get ANY miles for BA flights between the UK and the US.

In order for us to help you we need to know more about what you want from the program (lounge access? Award flights? Upgrades?) and what your flying pattern is.

Thanks

I fly TATL up to 3 times a year in Y (:td:) tends to be purely price based but not against spending a little more for a flight on a carrier if there are FF miles (which I suppose is the whole point of them!).

Some Europe flights ranging from the no frills to some C class (^), probably 3-5 flights a year.

Looking mainly for cheap rewards (either upgrades to C or award flights) but a lounge or two would be nice as well ;)

Based in UK - mainly use LHR and LGW but happy to use STN, LTN and at a push BHX or MAN.

Thanks again

TE

I like AA for redeeming awards (1W awards, 9W awards, flexibility in changing awards after departure, award hold time). I hate earning on aa due to lack of partners compared to UA.

wouldn't this be better in aa forum.

deleted...

If any of the TATL flights are on BA you shouldn't go with AA. If all of them are on AA, then take the AA program. It will be best for your needs.

It really depends on your specific routes. Gaining Sapphire elite status (for lounge access) is generally much easier on BA than AA. Being based in the UK, BA miles are also easier to accrue though non flying means (Tesco and Credit cards add up quickly) that you can use for upgrades. TATL upgrades can also be signficantly cheaper on BA (you have to buy premium economy to upgrade to business -WTP to Club, whereas AA you can upgrade from any economy fare with a higher mileage requirment AND CASH Copay). Non Upgrade flight awards are generally much cheaper on the AAdvantage program.

If you are willing to pay for premium economy (WTP) on BA and are interested in upgrade awards only, then BA is probably the better program for you. If you are interested in awards only, then AA is the better program.

If you had a chance of top tier, then I would say AA is all around a better program, but at your level of flying, there is not a clear cut winner without more specifics on your travel pattern.

What about LAN vs. AA vs. CX vs ??
 

I have about 40,000 miles on AA and try to concentrate most of my flying on SkyTeam (I got comped Silver status... what can you do?). I have a South American flight coming up, and I decided to throw caution in the wind and book on LAN. My hope is to continue flying to South America a few times a year, and it really bothered me that many LAN fares did not qualify for full mileage on AA.

I'd just like a collective review of my circumstances, to make sure I'm doing the most sensible thing:
-->I do not need any lounge access, thank you Priority Pass (*highly* recommended).
-->I am not sure about future travel, though I hope to be traveling more to latin america on business about a year from now. Until then it's all leisure travel for me, I'm more or less price driven. That said, I virtually never have problems getting a low fare on a SkyTeam carrier, or American Airlines.
-->Elite status on AA seems relatively unexciting until you get to Plat. Even if my travel patterns were to seriously change, I can't imagine making more than Gold on AA. I figured most of the benefits I value most (priority boarding/check in, slightly better customer service, no luggage fees) would be available if I made low-tier elite on LAN, I saw no real reason to stick with AA.
-->My understanding is I have greater opportunities to get full credit for LAN flights, and virtually all booking classes on AA get me full credit with LANPass (this is absolutely not true in reverse). I also would not be totally barred from earning or redeeming miles TATL on BA. So I'm gaining access to more flight options with LAN, and don't appear to be sacrificing anything.
-->Redemption levels for mileage flights appear to be roughly identical for the types of flights i'd be looking for (give or take slightly for distance-based OW flights).

Is there anything I'm missing? From what I could tell, I didn't "gain" anything by crediting any other carrier, though Cathay would leave me in the same spot. Is there any benefit for Cathay vs. LAN vs. AA that I'm not considering?

THANK YOU FT!

Not sure LAN is a better option than AA given their decision to introduce extremely high minumum upgradeable fares.

AA Gold does allow you to apply for Domestic Upgrades.

The real value with AA is their redemption levels for premium travel originating outside of the US.

80K for Europe-India return in First & 100k for Europe-South Africa in First are 2 examples.

In general, UA is the easiest to earn miles with and the worst to redeem. AA is the best to redeem.

:confused: what does UA have to do with choosing a OW programme?

Like many has said, the best FFP varies from person to person. Some say it's the redemption, others say awards, etc. etc...

I choose AA because of the potential longterm benefit of elite status for life which is based on total miles one earns from all sources of miles (hotel stays, rental cars, credit cards, elite bonus miles, online shopping mall, dining, etc.) not just BIS flight miles like most others FFPs

That's my current goal right now - to get to 1 million total AA lifetime miles in order to get AA Gold status for life, which is equivalent to becoming OW Ruby status for life.

After that will be achieving 2 million total AA lifetime miles which will get me AA Platinum status for life, or equivalent to being OW Sapphire for life. Once I get there I will then have business or first class check-in, ability to reserve better Y seats, lounge access across all OW carriers for life!

I was just comparing AA to the competition, good to see things in perspective since OP wants to know more about AA.