Just curious about everyone's opinions as to which *A program is best suited when most of your annual qualify is from economy fares transatlantic/transpacific (up to 200k flown/year).

Been looking at UA, but looking at suggestions. Origin airports are IAH or TPA at the momnet, but this may change at any time to origin points in Asia or Europe..

Common destinations include BKK and LGW, and pretty much every major hub in europe (LH, LX, BD are regularily used, deep discount fares though). Asia wise, it seems like AC comes up quite often, and UA.

Objective is highest earning of usable mileage/SWU's. Lounge access appears to be a given (either I purchase a membership UA) or via qualify.

UA gives you 100% for economy flights whereas LH, SQ, NZ do not. BD would be good if you have paid premium cabins, but it does not sound like it. Enjoy TED!

How do AC and BD weigh up when you fly > 100k miles a year though?

With BD, if you fly 100k miles a year in discount economy fares, you will accrue far less than 100k, more like 50k. To a lesser degree, the same is true for AC, though I know very little about their program. UA is probably your best bet with your travel pattern.

Also when you fly >100k miles/yr on UA you get six systemwide upgrades you can use on any int'l flight as long as w fare or higher, and 2 US/Canada/mexico (CR-1s) confirmable upgrade instruments per quarter if you fly 10k miles on UA in that quarter, and I believe 6 CR-1s per year to begin with. US is aweful, and unless flying premium cabin LH will not give you full miles. LH will be best if all you fly is premium cabin pd flights (F,A,P,C,D,Z)

I went with TG ROP to go with my DL PM status.While the miles earning rate is just so-so, the top level (*G) is reached at 50K miles and good for 2 years. This way I'll have 2 years of *G to reconsider my long term options for earning/redemption on *A.

Well, that depends. If you are flying on UA, US, or most AC fares, but crediting to BD, you will almost always get 100% mileage, just as you would with Mileage Plus. Discounted fares on LH and other european carriers will earn fewer miles, though.

One good thing about BD is that they give a gold status bonus of 25% on all carriers; also, if you exceed 55000 status miles for the year, every additional status mile is converted into a redeemable mile, in effect doubling your mileage accrual, which makes it very good value for those flying serious amounts.

BD redemption rates are also pretty good, and they allow one way awards and cash+mile awards; note, however, that they are not part of the star alliance upgrade scheme (although that seems to be true of United as well, at the moment).

No, just the 2 (max) per quarter.

Actually LH gives full miles in almost all economy booking classes: 100 % of flown mileage in V, Q, H, M and 150 % in B, Y. Reduced mileage in W (50 %).
This is for long-haul.