Originally Posted by pinniped

My strategy has become A3 (flying UA, AC, and US metal) with AA as my backup.

...Always with a side check to Kayak.com to see what, if anything, I'm paying to avoid Skyteam. I'm definitely willing to pay something out of my own pocket for the basic level of semi-humane (stress semi-) service that low-elite brings.

But twice already this year, DL has been $500-800 cheaper than any other airline for a four-person itinerary, so we've taken the risk and flown them. (Thankfully, uneventfully.)