Both AA and QF FF members

[openseat]

Perhaps the best value earner for status in AAdvantage at the moment is 'R' class on AY. For some reason AA still thinks this is a full economy fare and pays 1.5EQM, whereas it is used as the cheapest bucket flying out of Australia (usually SYD as it seems to only work on the AY codeshare on BA10/9 to/from BKK). In addition there were some very cheap deals flying LHR to HKG via HEL in R class which UK based AAdvantage members used as a status run as reported on FT.
For those who are going on a LONE* product and doing the Plat Challenge - AY provide 1 EQP/EQM per mile flown - which is great status earning for a cheap bucket.
Finnair
Of course all this good AY earning may come to an end as it has for QFF members, who now only get 0.25 miles per mile flown in 'R' class and only 0.5 miles per mile flown in 'L' class.

 

[futaris]

Good deal that, ~2200 AUD to Europe. ~30k EQP, ~20k EQM, ~40k RDM if PLT or EXP.

 

[serfty]

Its on the aa.com site, but not always easy to locate .

http://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/aadvantageAllPartnerChart.jsp

And you need to look at the links the the bottom of the following page to ascertain the difference between "Asia Zone 1" and "Asia Zone 2".

AAdvantage Award Travel On Participating Airlines

 

[simongr]

I switched to AA in late 2006 and made Plat. 2007 I made EXP comfortably and in 2008 I just sneaked in. Over that same time frame I actually could have made LTG on QF based on the flying I did - many long haul J/F flights over that period.

I then changed jobs and expected to have a significant reduction in travel (so I was told) and was ok with that still crediting to AA. However my default seat allocation using my EXP number in the booking was very poor. Calling QF they offered a stats match to QF WP (they had really upset my boss's boss [CL] recently so were being very nice to us). Since then I have had much better seat allocations on QF domestic.

I would not have qualified for EXP in 2009 and might have been close in 2010 if I had known what flying I had planned (lots of cheap domestic again but 1 rtn to UK, 1 RTW and one to DEL). Again though I have raced up 2600 SCs flying QF this yearand would not have been close on AA.

I am currently sat at 700K lifetime miles on AA and if I change jobs next year and if it has enough flying to make EXP then I will probably switch back to AA as I really did benefit from the better awards rates.

I did however earn a lot of Amex points which I couldnt launder well to AA so chucked them to QF. This is a major variable for me - if my next job doesn't have a corporate card (which I hope as I hate corporate cards) then the benefit of AA will be lessened.

It is a very tricky decision making process and it is not just about redemption rates for me it is also about status benefits. The extra luggage allowance was very useful as a QF WP last year travelling with the baby for the first time.