New York City - Best Airline from NYC?

I'm sure this has been asked and answered many times before, but I don't remember seeing a recent thread, so...

After 3 months back in consulting, I'm about to get on a non-local project for the first time. It's the standard travel pattern of flying out Monday morning and returning Thursday night. I could conceivably go anywhere in the world; most likely I'll stay in the US, though (maybe Canada or London on rare occasions).

Which airline should I choose?

Factors to consider:

I have Gold status on AA for another month (AAnother month? :)).
Historically I've flown a combination of AA and UA, and I'd like to stick with one of those in my dogged pursuit of million mile status. That's probably a ways off, though. I've got about 320,000 lifetime UA miles after their recent recalculation, and about 250,000 lifetime AA miles.
I'd like to avoid EWR if possible since it's too far - just use LGA and JFK
Just guessing, but likely destinations would probably be in Texas (IAH/DFW) and California (SFO and Orange County), and maybe Chicago.
Especially if I get on a project in California, doing AA's Platinum Challenge would be nice, but I'm not wedded to the concept.
I'm mainly interested in nonstop flights. Fewest connections possible is my overriding priority. I'd think this makes AA the choice, but I know two people (a friend and my boss) who are UA Global Services based in NYC...
Company travel policy is that we need to book the cheapest available flight on any airline. Prices seem roughly comparable though. So inasmuch as I have a choice, which airlines should I be trying for?


The reason I stopped flying UA was because I could never find saver awards for J/C/F international travel but I could on AA. Has the UA/CO merger changed this at all?

Not sure if this should go here or the NYC forum...mods please feel free to move if you like.

Thanks!

Finding awards on UA will be easier post-merger due to COs system.

Not sure if this should go here or the NYC forum...mods please feel free to move if you like.
Thanks!

Given that we have a fairly active NYC sub-forum, I think your topic will get more traction there from the members who either live/lived in the area or travel through JFK/LGA frequently. Thanks! :) /JY1024, TravelBuzz co-moderator

Assuming you do not want to use EWR, from a practical standpoint its either AA, DL, or B6 if you want non stops. Of course, B6 has no F class and you would be redeeming miles for a trip like to FLL.

DL has more domestic non stops than AA although many of them are on RJs. AA however upgrades on status and then date of request so if you book travel in advance you are better off. On whole, there are trade offs between AA and DL depending upon your travel patterns and what level of status you think you will achieve. I would use the wikis to research both.

I'd like to avoid EWR if possible since it's too far - just use LGA and JFK
Aren't travel times comparable, EWR/JFK, if taking NJT/LIRR? The ride on NJT is 5 minutes longer than on LIRR, but the Newark Airtrain can be a shorter ride than JFK's, especially to CO's terminals.

The downside with EWR as I see it is the frequency of off-peak service back into the city (you might wait 35 minutes for the next train) and the fact that a cab is an expensive backup plan.

Aren't travel times comparable, EWR/JFK, if taking NJT/LIRR? The ride on NJT is 5 minutes longer than on LIRR, but the Newark Airtrain can be a shorter ride than JFK's, especially to CO's terminals.

The downside with EWR as I see it is the frequency of off-peak service back into the city (you might wait 35 minutes for the next train) and the fact that a cab is an expensive backup plan.

I'd be able to expense a cab/car service, so the cost isn't really a factor. I was more thinking that EWR traffic is worse, what with dealing with bridges/tunnels. Am I mistaken?

I'd be able to expense a cab/car service, so the cost isn't really a factor. I was more thinking that EWR traffic is worse, what with dealing with bridges/tunnels. Am I mistaken?

It can vary depending upon the time of day. If you are going against traffic then generally its not an issue. However, Friday afternoons all bets are off and I would stay away from cabs in favor of NJT. Also, depending upon where you live in Manhattan there is the issue with crosstown traffic.

All three airports can get backed up although JFK tends to better in the morning or early afternoon hours but a nightmare after 5PM if the weather is bad.

Based upon what you have told us I would research the FF programs of UA, DL, and AA and make my decision on which airline best suits your needs. I was pre merger UA 1k but when they basically pulled out of New York I sucked it up and went with AA (the idea of doing a connection at IAD to MIA was just too much). However, this was before the build up of DL in New York. Today I would probably have gone with DL.

If you really don't want to do EWR, then it seems your choice is AA or DL. AA lacks a nonstop to IAH/HOU, but otherwise seems like the better choice given your existing status and million miler progress.

If you don't mind EWR, then UA/CO would probably be the best choice given your desired destinations. They have amazing frequency to IAH, the only nonstop to SNA, ps to SFO and a DFW nonstop. And you can use US in a pinch, too.

When you say you have to book the cheapest trip, do you have to take a connecting flight if it's cheaper than a nonstop? Because on routes where CO has the only nonstop, they tend to charge a pretty hefty premium.

If you don't mind EWR, then UA/CO would probably be the best choice given your desired destinations. They have amazing frequency to IAH, the only nonstop to SNA, ps to SFO and a DFW nonstop. And you can use US in a pinch, too.

AA operates three class planes to SFO and LAX just like UA does. As an EXP, I'm much happier that upgrades are complimentary on AA even on this route (as they're not on UA p.s.). The two products are essentially the same.

AA operates three class planes to SFO and LAX just like UA does. As an EXP, I'm much happier that upgrades are complimentary on AA even on this route (as they're not on UA p.s.). The two products are essentially the same.

Good point. UA ps, AA transcon and DL BusinessElite all seem pretty similar on those routes. The main advantage of UA is the wealth of available nonstops (including SNA and IAH, both of which the OP mentioned).