I'm pretty sure this oldie-but-goodie topic was first started by Punki, but a search could not turn it up. So I am going to start it fresh...

Why do you fly the airline that you do? Some of you are obvious, as your home is a major hub for your airline. Some are way less obvious, as your home is a major hub, yet you don't fly that airline. Why don't you fly that airline? Why do you choose your airline? And then there are the hundreds of you who do not live in a hub, so you have an easy choice of dozens of airlines. Why do you choose that the airline that you do?.

And thank you to Punki for inspiring me for this thread, even if she didn't really start it the first time like I recall.

I fly United. From Chicago there are 2 choices and United has the better planes and destinations non-stop. Also, since I am a PE, I would lose too much changing to AA.

I found the thread. And I have to give me deepest apologies to Comicwoman. Please forgive me. For it was you who originally started this thread and my inspiration to restart it. But Punki, you too are always an inspiration. Here is the original:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/000547.html

BizJet

Because we don't have a choice here...it's got to be AC in Canada if we want points and want to get to some destinations in Canada... It's MONOPOLY up here!

NW:
* Non-stop service between DTW and SYR. (To/from school)

* 1-stop service to Manila and Bangkok. (Direct service to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka.)

* Past: Cheap economy class consolidator fares to Asia since I was a child.

* Currently: Cheapest consolidator business class fares to/from Manila and Bangkok when compared to other U.S. carriers.

I fly United for two reasons:
1. UA is one of three airlines with decent service to PDX (mostly alas by the inferior Shuttle product now) AND a lounge. (The others are Delta and Alaska.)
2. I have about 250K lifetime miles with UA and -- who knows -- maybe I'll make the million for permanent PE status.

I signed up for AA's FF program six years ago when it was the only airline that gave me a reasonable medical emergency fair from ORD to LGA when my mother had her stroke. They confirmed me at the cheapest rate they could give me but suggested I go standby on an earlier flight. When I got to the airport the rep was SO nice and confirmed me on an earlier flight, at their cheapest rate going. I will always be grateful. They have very frequent flights to LGA (every hour or more) and fly to other desired locations, CA, DFW, Mexico, the Caribean, Europe. They have lots of bonus offers and have been receptive when there has been a problem with some kind of compensation - vouchers or miles. They have come through for me. Unfortunately, they do not serve some markets - I was forced to book DL for an upcoming flight to Savannah since AA was triple the price. When the price went down for DL's ticket, they wouldn't give me a voucher for the full difference, only the difference between my fare and a "telephone" fare even thought I booked my fare at their web and was comparing my fare to the new one on the web. They will not get my business if I can help it.

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DtG

The benefits for a high tier 1K on UNITED (nearly all are unpublished oddly) are sensational IF you live at the "end" of the World route network as I do, and enjoy travelling to far flung places a few times a year, as I also do, so UA is a clear no brainer to select for me. Those systemwide upgrades, useable on any cheapo fare, over any distance, are alone worth $10,000-$15,000 a year to me. However, some USA based 1Ks use those for domestic routes, so we all have very different needs and benefits from the very same plan.

Vive La Difference!



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~ Glen ~

And additionally to selecting UA, the ever integrating and expanding Star Alliance is really becoming a huge benefit too. That Gold * Card has seen us upgraded off cheapest coach fares on Mexicana and Air NZ in past 2 months. Much discussion on it here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum82/HTML/000253.html

Or why do you fly the 10 airlines that you do? Because they leave from where I'm at and go to where I'm going.

Most of my miles are on American. When I have a choice, I try to fly American. If their price is quite a bit higher than another airline, I'll choose another that I have a frequent flier account.

Northwest. No other choice in this area. They lower their fares to drive away competition and then BOOOM, your stuck with Northwest.

I needed 25,000 more miles for 2 Delta rts I had already reserved with FF miles to Hawaii in Dec., so I flew DL for a while. I usually go with cheapest price, but since RDU is not a hub for the majors, I can choose from all the majors and SW, along with Midway. I'm sure 4th quarter choices are more biased toward the carriers when near an elite level, then price and convenience become less of a factor!!!

american
upgrade on any published fare
best million mile program
they appear to lead and not follow

I fly 4 airlines: American, Delta, America WEst and TWA. I fly American and Delta because they are convenient, safe and run nonstops to where I want to go.They also have the best service on board. I will get rid of TWA and AWA as soon as I can. (I have free tickets) because they are the WORST!!!!

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