So here's the deal...

Given the article at:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/business/s_205575.html

I have a big trip coming up and I would love to hear what you all think.

I'm doing a RTW ticket that will result in roughly 48,000 US Preferred miles if I send the mileage to my US DM account. (it's a 29,000 mile trip but after double miles on US metal flights, etc... it works out to i think about 48,000 preferred, but 54,000 total- due to Gold 100% bonus.)

If I send the miles to my UA acct, I will earn the roughly 47,000 miles total because I also have Prem Exec status which also does the same 100% bonus for some of the flights (UA doesnt due the 100% bonus on LH flights other than trans-atlantic while US does), and also... of these roughly 47,000 miles i will get on UA, only 29,000 will be preferred since there are no promo's.

I should also say that I have 20,000 pref miles already this year on US, so with these 48 I would be up near 70 and I will be doing this trip once more before the year's out, which would make me CP....

BUT will i be CP on a non-existing airline?

If I send them to UA I am starting from 0 for the year and will only be Prem Exec again by the end of the year= no chance at 1K given I'm at 0 now and will only be doing the trip once more after this one.

So, what do you guys think is better,

47,000 miles on UA of which 29,000 will be preferred (setting me up for PremExec), OR

54,000 miles on US of which 48,000 will be preferred (setting me up for CP)

given US may be heading toward ch 11.

Thanks for the advice.

So here's the deal...

Given the article at:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/business/s_205575.html

I have a big trip coming up and I would love to hear what you all think.

I'm doing a RTW ticket that will result in roughly 48,000 US Preferred miles if I send the mileage to my US DM account. (it's a 29,000 mile trip but after double miles on US metal flights, etc... it works out to i think about 48,000 preferred, but 54,000 total- due to Gold 100% bonus.)

If I send the miles to my UA acct, I will earn the roughly 47,000 miles total because I also have Prem Exec status which also does the same 100% bonus for some of the flights (UA doesnt due the 100% bonus on LH flights other than trans-atlantic while US does), and also... of these roughly 47,000 miles i will get on UA, only 29,000 will be preferred since there are no promo's.

I should also say that I have 20,000 pref miles already this year on US, so with these 48 I would be up near 70 and I will be doing this trip once more before the year's out, which would make me CP....

BUT will i be CP on a non-existing airline?

If I send them to UA I am starting from 0 for the year and will only be Prem Exec again by the end of the year= no chance at 1K given I'm at 0 now and will only be doing the trip once more after this one.

So, what do you guys think is better,

47,000 miles on UA of which 29,000 will be preferred (setting me up for PremExec), OR

54,000 miles on US of which 48,000 will be preferred (setting me up for CP)

given US may be heading toward ch 11.

Thanks for the advice.
I'd take the US, remember United is already in bankruptcy and doesn't should any great progress in getting out. Their union relations are rapidly going down hill.

I'd take the US, remember United is already in bankruptcy and doesn't should any great progress in getting out. Their union relations are rapidly going down hill.

Especially in the past couple of weeks with the articles that they may default on their pension funding.

So, what do you guys think is better,

47,000 miles on UA of which 29,000 will be preferred (setting me up for PremExec), OR

54,000 miles on US of which 48,000 will be preferred (setting me up for CP)

given US may be heading toward ch 11.



You should think about your future flying patterns, and which airline better meets your needs. If you plan to fly a lot between DCA and FLL, perhaps US offers more schedule choices. Ugrades as a CP are easier, and you'd be thankful for the resources of the CP Desk - one of the best in the business - in irregular ops.

As others have noted, you're having to choose between an airline already in bankruptcy and one whose CEO says is headed there by Sep 30 if unions don't provide the requested concessions. At the end of the day, I think that reasonable folks at US, after negotiations posturing, can sit down and work something out to keep the airlines going.

US is the airline of my choice wherever it flies. I'm basically satisfied with the courtesies extended to me as a CP. I continue to accumulate all *A points in the DM program - life is too short for me to worry about things I have no control over :)

Given the article at:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/business/s_205575.htmlI'd say consider the source - more than a little grousing over in PIT about the condition of USAirways lately. Also, if US continues to substantially reduce their footprint in PIT, the flyers there naturally have incentive to consider other options, more so than someone who woud normally fly out of (say) PHL.

i would only put the miles on U if you are going to use them relatively quickly. Perhaps you can cash them in for a ticket on a partner airline quickly. once you get the ticket, you should be safe, even if the worst should happen in terms of U survival.

given US may be heading toward ch 11.

Hm, UA is in ch 11 (and has been for a while).

Well, considering you have one more trip ahead of you after this one, I would credit enough to US to push you up to *G - then at least you can use the lounges (if not already flying in C). As for the rest - depends what is more useful to you at the moment. I suspect it would be UA if you're down under for a while...

Hm, UA is in ch 11 (and has been for a while).

Well, considering you have one more trip ahead of you after this one, I would credit enough to US to push you up to *G - then at least you can use the lounges (if not already flying in C). As for the rest - depends what is more useful to you at the moment. I suspect it would be UA if you're down under for a while...


I agree with you that maintaining a big balance on either U or UAL is not a great idea. However, U is clearly more risky--no one expects UAL to go chapter 7 in the near future, while U's survival till the end of this year is questionable. However, both U and UAL flyers should expeditiously spend their mileage balances.

iflyswa: are you intentionally ignoring the question regarding status or are you just so swa-centric that you forget that first class upgrades are available on other airlines? I have only been here for a couple of months, and if I had a nickel for every time I have seen you bash US, I could buy a ticket with you in the cattle crush of SWA.

iflyswa: are you intentionally ignoring the question regarding status or are you just so swa-centric that you forget that first class upgrades are available on other airlines? I have only been here for a couple of months, and if I had a nickel for every time I have seen you bash US, I could buy a ticket with you in the cattle crush of SWA.


sure, status is important to some people, but probably not important enough to risk losing your whole mileage balance. If you really care about first class upgrades, I'm afraid to say that the safest option for now is to switch your flying to another carrier--after all, if U goes under, your status will become worthless.

P.S. Acknowledging the possibility that U may not survive is not U bashing. It is simply acknowledging reality.

Not withstanding the mini Battle of BWI going on here, to all but the most deluded observer, US stands a good chance of being liquidated and gone by this time next year. UA has plenty of problems, especially with its blowhard unions that can't seem to understand they are no longer running the asylum, but it is still in little danger of being liquidated any time soon. UA still has lots of things worth lots of $$$ (LHR, NRT & the Pacific routes immediately come to mind) to someone...

I'd stick with UA...or better yet maybe it is time to be introduced to LH M&M.

Not withstanding the mini Battle of BWI going on here, to all but the most deluded observer, US stands a good chance of being liquidated and gone by this time next year. UA has plenty of problems, especially with its blowhard unions that can't seem to understand they are no longer running the asylum, but it is still in little danger of being liquidated any time soon. UA still has lots of things worth lots of $$$ (LHR, NRT & the Pacific routes immediately come to mind) to someone...

I'd stick with UA...or better yet maybe it is time to be introduced to LH M&M.


good points comooter.

I'd take the US miles. Get the highest status you can, watch US financial developments to manage your miles, and should they go under at some point, you can use your US status to be comped to NW or CO as a gold (minimum) and continue to get unlimited upgrades.

If they do enter bankruptcy again, it will not be immediate liquidation. They will reorg, discharge certain leases, discharge some unsecured debt, play harder ball with the unions, etc. Then if that doesn't work, they may enter liquidation. I don't see this potentially happening for a least a few quarters though. And until then, you get to enjoy status perks, and should have time to use those miles.