I was EXP on AA for a few years and over the last couple years, could not travel much. At some point in 2011, I was offered a challenge but decided against it for health reasons. Last year, AA called and offered to make me EXP as I'd not travelled in a while. I thought sure, not problem. This was towards the end of last year and I did not have travel plans because I had postponed my bulk travel to the new year. Anyway, I thought nice gesture, couldn't hurt, and took it.
Now, I'm EXP and set to drop to PLAT in 2 months. Called AA to request the EXP challenge they once offered and they said no because they had given me that freebie last year. If only I had known taking that would have screwed my chances.
Oh well.
Now, I have 2 choices. Stay loyal to AA and wait until end of year to quality as EXP or request a status match with UA now based on my EXP status. Not sure if they'll give the equiv of EXP, but I hear UA platinums (or their term for it) get free upgrades.
What do you suggest? I currently have about 1.5 million miles on AA and I'm lifetime gold. Based on their new changes for lifetime status, I bet it'll take 5 years for lifetime plat so that's pointless.
Well, upgrades as a UA 1K seem to be notoriously difficult because of how aggressively they market buy-ups to FC (and how easy they make the process, unlike AA, but I digress).
I think you'd probably have a similar upgrade success rate as an AA Plat, but you would probably have to shell out some $$ to buy the stickers until you hit EXP, depending on your travel patterns.
On the other hand, using UA SWUs is likely to cost you additional money (minimum fare class requirements), which could easily offset what you might have to spend on AA e500s, and also mileage upgrade co-pays are higher on UA at the lowest fare levels (UA had a graduated co-pay system based on fare class).
So I think the decision should really come down to where you want to be over the longer term. That's a whole different discussion and has probably been beaten to death in other threads, though of course it may also depend on your personal situation (particularly where you live and who has the best network from there).
Most threads like this seem to focus on endless benefits discussion but omit the most important question - what's the best fit for your travel?
What he said.
OP, what airport is your base? What route(s) do you usually fly? Domestic vs. international? Business vs. leisure? So many variables...
I'm a 1K and EXP based in NYC (was comped the latter in the Great Match and am losing 1K this year). If I had the choice, I'd probably move everything to AA. I hate EWR, an my bread-and-butter LGA-ORD is going all RJ and expensive to boot. F is being eliminated on UA's premium transcons, resulting in a net decrease in premium seats...along with the reduction in RPUs is bad news for NYCers. AA on the other hand is much better out of either LGA or JFK, offers comp upgrades on their transcons and -- critically -- allows SWU use on the lowest fares. CS for EXP is much better than for 1Ks. *A is better than OW, but with the addition of QR, UL and MH, OW's looking a lot better.
Don't switch to UA for free upgrades. I didn't get any as a 1K for the last half of 2012. Switch to UA if it fits your flying patterns (including award flights), but not for upgrades.
Also, "loyalty" is something that people earn, not companies. Go with the company that gives you the best overall package.
Programs: AA EXP, Amex Plat, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Plat, Global Entry, National Exec, DL HM, UA TODer
Posts: 4,987
Quote:
Originally Posted by rjque
Don't switch to UA for free upgrades. I didn't get any as a 1K for the last half of 2012. Switch to UA if it fits your flying patterns (including award flights), but not for upgrades.
Also, "loyalty" is something that people earn, not companies. Go with the company that gives you the best overall package.
UA would "match" an AA EXP only to Premier Platinum, not to 1K, and a PP would be behind a 1K of course. UA's upgrades at the present time are quite awful, percentages are not good at all due to the TODing.
__________________ My Flight Memory Next destinations GIG, SIN, KUL, DFW, ANCx2, ICN
If I had the choice, I'd probably move everything to AA. I hate EWR,
EWR is just fine, and even preferable, for many people on the west side of Manhattan (and obviously those in NJ). I don't think delays are meaningfully (if any) worse than JFK/LGA, and the Terminal C facilities are good.
Quote:
AA on the other hand is much better out of either LGA or JFK
To be fair and impartial, I think it's worth saying that a NYC-based AA flier could end up having to make a lot of connections. Short of good/great service to a handful of cities (MIA/ORD/DFW/SFO/LAX/ATL/LHR) their network is rather weak. A lot of the nonstops to other cities have low frequencies and poor timings, as they seem geared toward international connecting traffic. Bottom line, it really does depend on one's travel patterns.
Programs: AA EXP,Lifetime Admirals Club - Crown Room -Red Carpet -USAIR CLUB ,many others-some bankrupt!
Posts: 292
Pointless?
Quote:
Originally Posted by badjuju
Hi All,
Just need some advice on switching to UA.
I currently have about 1.5 million miles on AA and I'm lifetime gold. Based on their new changes for lifetime status, I bet it'll take 5 years for lifetime plat so that's pointless.
Pointless - hardly. Based on 500,000 eqm's in the next 5 years you say you'll earn - that's 100,000 a year - plus bonus miles, plus 8 evips per year (40 over the next 5 years based on the current program), plus free domestic upgrades, - I don't consider this pointless. The finish is lifetime Plat - good bonus miles forever. A lot of value down that road....
I do agree with what many have said - pick the program that serves your flying needs.
UA would "match" an AA EXP only to Premier Platinum, not to 1K, and a PP would be behind a 1K of course. UA's upgrades at the present time are quite awful, percentages are not good at all due to the TODing.
UA matched me to 1k last week. I have to fly 35k in the next 90 days to keep it though, plus their match doesn't give any upgrade instruments until you fly the 100k.. Kinda weak...
Programs: AA EXP, Amex Plat, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Plat, Global Entry, National Exec, DL HM, UA TODer
Posts: 4,987
Quote:
Originally Posted by flipside
UA matched me to 1k last week. I have to fly 35k in the next 90 days to keep it though, plus their match doesn't give any upgrade instruments until you fly the 100k.. Kinda weak...
If you're commiting to flying an annualized average of 140k over the next 3 months, then yes, I would think they should match you. Hopefully you like Y+ .
__________________ My Flight Memory Next destinations GIG, SIN, KUL, DFW, ANCx2, ICN
OP, what airport is your base? What route(s) do you usually fly? Domestic vs. international? Business vs. leisure? So many variables...
I'm a 1K and EXP based in NYC (was comped the latter in the Great Match and am losing 1K this year). If I had the choice, I'd probably move everything to AA. I hate EWR, an my bread-and-butter LGA-ORD is going all RJ and expensive to boot. F is being eliminated on UA's premium transcons, resulting in a net decrease in premium seats...along with the reduction in RPUs is bad news for NYCers. AA on the other hand is much better out of either LGA or JFK, offers comp upgrades on their transcons and -- critically -- allows SWU use on the lowest fares. CS for EXP is much better than for 1Ks. *A is better than OW, but with the addition of QR, UL and MH, OW's looking a lot better.
But that's just me...
would echo much of what this (and other) posters have said. tough to say wihtout knowing your home airport and flying patterns. Was GS on UA and did a EXP match to AA. Tried to fly AA as much as i could this year but just couldn't find more direct routes than UA for my travel needs. Would say i would NOT make the switch based on an assumption of upgrades (whether they be plat or even 1k) i just don't get the sense the clearance rate is something you can count on. Just to add somethign original, IF you were going int'l somewhere served by both AA and UA, i think the UA J seats (hard product only) are amongst the best if not the best biz class options that i've ever flown (even including non-US carriers)
Just to add somethign original, IF you were going int'l somewhere served by both AA and UA, i think the UA J seats (hard product only) are amongst the best if not the best biz class options that i've ever flown (even including non-US carriers)
Well, there's a lot of unfavorable views of the pre-merger UA J seats (8 abreast on the 777/747), and some unfavorable views of the pmCO J seats, so it's not quite so clear-cut. And of course I think UA still has a handful of planes with old-style recliner seats. Complete flat bed fit-out scheduled for "early 2013" on their website now.
But I think many would claim the current best J seats are the ones on CX (and, amazingly, US). AA will be getting the CX seats on its new 77Ws and will eventually be retrofitting the rest of the fleet through 2013. Longer-term, AA might be the place to be for international J.
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