Retirement FF Program Advice

[Chalkie]

I am retiring at the end of this year, and the 4x year plus AONEXs and all the other business travel on QF will come to an end.

I am moving to Vancouver, Canada in May 19, and most of my travel following that move for about 3 or so years will be in the Americas, with a bit of YVR-LHR-YVR thrown in.

I am currently a QF P1 (and have been since one year after P1 was introduced) and will retain that status until 31 October 2019 (although it won't be much use to me after May 19 as I won't be doing any flying on QF). I will earn enough SCs before 31 October 2019 to get QF WP through to 31 October 2020. I understand, however, that I will have a soft landing to WP from P1 in any event.

So I am wondering whether I should start thinking about crediting my post 31 October 2018 points to AAdvantage. I will be flying on AA once in Canada (but I will also be flying *A airlines (Air Canada and United most likely)). The post 31 October 2018 points will be earned on QF, JL, AA and CX.

I am not sure I fully understand the benefits of holding QF WP and AA Executive Platinum in their own right (other than the AA lounge access through QF WP). I doubt that the amount of flying I do in the Americas after October 2019 will be enough to get to top tier on any *A airline, and I also doubt I'll get to Exec Platinum on AA after October 2019.

I've never had to think in any detail about such matters before as I had a QF/OW work travel policy and got to travel on AONEXs for almost all international business travel (fortunate I know). With my CC spend points directed to the QFF Program and my travel points earn, I had more than enough QF points to buy whatever award travel I wanted. While I know QFF is not the most efficient program in terms of points earning/burning, it worked for me during my working life - with a couple of minor exceptions, as a P1 (and before that WP since about 1999) I was able to get every award ticket I wanted without any difficulties. So the QFF program worked for me with a minimum of fuss.

I'd appreciate the views of the experts here on these matters. Thank you in advance.

 

[Chalkie]

Note to Moderator: I think I may posted this in the wrong spot - please feel free to move to Questions if that's the more appropriate place for it! My apologies.

 

[drron]

You would obviously have LTG with QF so that will give you lounge access with AA anyway.EXP with AA does not give you lounge access on aa domestically and Canadian flights are considered domestic.
I have been with AA for many years now but with my travel can't get to EXP.But I can get to BAEC gold which will give me Flounge access.
A couple of threads on this subject-
Switching from QFF to BAEC

Wiki - Why BA?

 

[Chalkie]

Thanks so much, drron. I'd not considered BA. I do have an Executive Club membership (from when I lived in London years ago) so it looks like it will be time to amp up the activity on that!

 

[drron]

Thanks so much, drron. I'd not considered BA. I do have an Executive Club membership (from when I lived in London years ago) so it looks like it will be time to amp up the activity on that!

But probably only do the 4 segments that are required on BA!