Relatively complex question regarding FFP
 

So this summer, I took a RTW F OW trip with my family. We went ORD-LAX-SYD-BKK-HKG-LHR-ORD on AA, QF, CX, and BA. There were also 3 intr-Aus segments in J on QF, SYD-CNS-AYQ-SYD. The miles were supposed to go to BA but then they screwed us over and didn't give us elite status since we didn't have 4 segments (We would have but changed BKK-LHR on BA to BKK-HKG-LHR on CX because of their cancellations following the terror threats). I don't have a QF FFP account but am wondering if I open one, would I be able to transfer all these flights and if so, get elite status on QF? Also, would opening a USA account cost any money? Thanks for the help!

There is no charge for QFF membership outside of Australia. However, one of the rules is that only flights taken after you join QFF can be credited. So while QFF does allow retroactive credit, it must be for flights after you have already joined. Almost all airline FF plans have a similar restriction ... so what FF plans are you and your family already a member of? BTW, this BA requirement of 4 segments and strict enforcement of this requirement (alone amongst OW airlines) is well documented on FT so it should not have come as a surprise.

The QFF rules are at http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/terms#jump9

"9.1.2 A Member may earn Points only in relation to acquiring eligible goods or services or other eligible transactions made after the Member's enrolment date"

Edit to add: you cannot double-dip. If these flights were credited to BAEC and the miles posted for the flights, you cannot claim the same flights in a 2nd OW plan; and BA will not reverse flight credits after about a week. So you are stuck with BA miles and your BA Blue status. There is no way around this except by having BAEC make an exception to the rules for you. They will do this if you are VP of a Fortune 500 company, otherwise they generally do not.

That's a change. They used to allow flights for 1 month prior to be credited.

Well that's too bad. My scheme has failed. I guess it means AA if BA refuses to credit any status.

Have you thought about contacting BA and explaining that because of the terror threats you couldn't complete the 4 segment rule. It may or may not be true but if you approach them on a nothing ventured, nothing gained attitude you could surprised.

I agree with bravoecho. You need to explain clearly to BA what has happened. You posted a query on the BA board, but despite responding several times it wasn't clear at all whether you had planned to fly 4 BA sectors and ended up one short because of the cancellations, or whether you would never have had four BA sectors at all. I agree that if you would have had 4 BA sectors but for an involuntary reroute onto CX because of the August problems, there's a decent chance that BA will respond favourably to the request.