US Airways Dividend Miles - Considering switch to US

Hello everyone,
I am considering a switch from DL to US, and I would like to see if anyone has any helpful input to aid in my decision.

I fly DTW to RDU once per month. I have silver status, earned through segments and not miles. The last couple of years I have had 32-35 segments per year. This year I am on track to do the same.

The cost for flying DL has been anywhere between $480 and $580 per trip. I checked the price for US, and I can get a ticket for $286 with times that are good for me.

Direct flights are not important to me, because I use the segments to maintain status.

I see that US does not status match, but has the preferred trial thing going, which I do understand. However, I would probably have to pay the trial fee out of my own pocket, which I do not want to do.

Any reason why I should or should not switch to US? If there is any information that I left out that would be pertinent to the decision, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.
Adrian

I've been happy with US since my switch late last year.

A $215 investment in the Silver Trial is worthwhile, IMHO. You'll be Silver from Day 1. Time it so that you'll fly four R/T's in the 90-day window, and you'll have Silver through February. The 500-mile minimum applies to the Silver Trial. You don't have to fret DCA connections vs. CLT connections. Both of those airports are pleasant places to connect.

US and DL are, to me, the toughest miles to use for simple domestic itins on their own metal. The round-trip requirement on awards, which so many other major carriers around the world have dropped, is a royal pain. However, I find Star Alliance awards globally more easy to redeem if you have some flexibility. (There is still a roundtrip requirement though.) So I'd probably call this a "pro" for US vs. DL. Looking into our possible future, I've also had much better luck using AAdvantage miles, both for AA and OW awards, than Skymiles. (In a US-AA merger, everybody expects it would be AAdvantage that survives with all of us in the Oneworld alliance.)

That downside is that I'm assuming you're giving up a nonstop. I know you like to requal elite on segments, but it's always nice to have that nonstop when you need it...

Hello everyone,
I am considering a switch from DL to US, and I would like to see if anyone has any helpful input to aid in my decision.

I fly DTW to RDU once per month. I have silver status, earned through segments and not miles. The last couple of years I have had 32-35 segments per year. This year I am on track to do the same.

The cost for flying DL has been anywhere between $480 and $580 per trip. I checked the price for US, and I can get a ticket for $286 with times that are good for me.

Direct flights are not important to me, because I use the segments to maintain status.

I see that US does not status match, but has the preferred trial thing going, which I do understand. However, I would probably have to pay the trial fee out of my own pocket, which I do not want to do.

Any reason why I should or should not switch to US? If there is any information that I left out that would be pertinent to the decision, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.
Adrian

Trial Silver is about what you would save on fares on one trip (although I understand well that there is a big difference between your money and someone else's ;)). It sounds like you would hit 12 segments in a month, which would meet the challenge IIRC (but often I don-t -- so, please, double-check).

The one thing that has changed recently is that many of the DTW-PHL flights (I am guessing that this is true of DTW-CLT as well) is that many of the regional jets now have F cabins. These are routes where you would, as a Silver, have a decent chance of an upgrade.

Finally, if you eventually decide to go all in and eventually join the US Club, the ability to use the LH lounge at DTW for US domestic is a hidden benefit of the club system.

Just keep in mind that while US may be cheaper this week/month, DL may be next week/month. DL, I assume, does have the advantage of non-stop DTW-RDU-DTW flights and those would probably remain more expensive than US' connecting flights so is it possible without much inconvenience to connect on DL?

Other than that, there is a changeover date where a trial switches from gaining status for only this program year (through the end of Feb 2013) to where it gives status for this and next program year (through end of Feb 2014). Not especially important if you'll get the normal 30 segments needed to qualify for Silver for the 2013 program year (end Fec 2014). IOW, if you'll fly 30 segments from trial sign-up to 12/31/2012 you'll have silver into 2014 anyway.

Jim

Hello everyone,
I am considering a switch from DL to US, and I would like to see if anyone has any helpful input to aid in my decision.

I fly DTW to RDU once per month. I have silver status, earned through segments and not miles. The last couple of years I have had 32-35 segments per year. This year I am on track to do the same.

The cost for flying DL has been anywhere between $480 and $580 per trip. I checked the price for US, and I can get a ticket for $286 with times that are good for me.

Direct flights are not important to me, because I use the segments to maintain status.

I see that US does not status match, but has the preferred trial thing going, which I do understand. However, I would probably have to pay the trial fee out of my own pocket, which I do not want to do.

Any reason why I should or should not switch to US? If there is any information that I left out that would be pertinent to the decision, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.
Adrian

I moved all my flying from (then pre-merger) Continental when Smisek's "changes we'll like" started about a year ago and never looked back, was even able to start flying out of the local airport rather than schlepping up to Syracuse - and US was consistently cheaper over CO.

When I stopped crediting to OnePass/MileagePlus and dusted off my Dividend Miles account I gained Silver via a trial, best $215 I ever spent - no bag fees and upgrade eligibility from Day 1, actually started seeing upgrades (which were rare on PMCO as a Silver, and from what I'm hearing on post-merger are practically non existent below 1K).

Welcome to the USeful Airline!

Hello everyone,
I am considering a switch from DL to US, and I would like to see if anyone has any helpful input to aid in my decision.

I fly DTW to RDU once per month. I have silver status, earned through segments and not miles. The last couple of years I have had 32-35 segments per year. This year I am on track to do the same.

The cost for flying DL has been anywhere between $480 and $580 per trip. I checked the price for US, and I can get a ticket for $286 with times that are good for me.

Direct flights are not important to me, because I use the segments to maintain status.

I see that US does not status match, but has the preferred trial thing going, which I do understand. However, I would probably have to pay the trial fee out of my own pocket, which I do not want to do.

Any reason why I should or should not switch to US? If there is any information that I left out that would be pertinent to the decision, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.
Adrian

Hi, my situation is similar to yours. I fly DTW-BDL twice a month. US Airways fares were very usually cheaper than DL, and it was harder and harder for me to find a way to purchase tickets with DL over US without violating my company's policy. I started to question why I was jumping through hoops to try to stay loyal to Delta when they basically treat you like crap. 1 trip on DL on a nonstop gives you 24 segs a year, which isn't even enough for Silver unless you throw in some other trips throughout the year. So basically the best you could do with them is earn benefits that you can get already with the AmEx, and for me anyway, the flights were usually on CRJ200's too which sucked.

I decided to switch to US and did the trial. Fast foward to now. Gold on US. I have missed one upgrade on one segment so far this entire year, so I'm 31/32 for upgrades. You would NEVER see that on DL. Also get access to the priority security lane at DTW, free MoveUp, etc. Benefits wise its great. I have to admit I am getting slightly sick of always having to connect, but it is not really that bad. And plus, Gold on US with a connection would mean you'd net 3K miles/trip vs 1000 per trip from DL which is great, especially when you figure in how many miles you can earn with Grand Slam if you try at all.

IRROPS have been very rare for me - not sure if I've just been lucky or US is better than people give them credit for. A few delays out of PHL that made me a little late getting home, haven't ever missed a connection though. Twice I've had cases where I WOULD miss a connection, and by the time I got to the gate US was paging me to the counter and giving me a ticket on a nonstop DL flight to get me to my destination quicker than I was supposed to arrive anyway, without me even having to ask, so hard to really complain about that.

I left DL about 3 years back. As a silver, the only upgrades i would get were ATL-TPA, if they had a 767 on the route, on a saturday. Any normal flight (even weekends) I would be number 20 something on the list with F checked in full.

On US, I score enough of them that it is an actual benefit. The recent addition of F to most of the RJ fleet is a positive as well.

I would never go back to the two hour ride in the devil's chariot (CR2) that was ABE-ATL. I have no gripe with mainline Delta, the FA's were always friendly and professional, but getting away from ASA (Americas S***tiest Airline) is the icing on the cake in my book.

Another reason I've liked US Airways for the most part: a lot of my RJ segments are on E170's. As RJ's go, that's a pretty good plane. Routes where the other guys use a lot of CR2's and E145's have US using E170's.

I have no gripe with mainline Delta, the FA's were always friendly and professional

When I was still with Mrs. Thomwithanh, about a year ago we took VDB twice in one day on DL coming back from Florida. Both of us got courtesy upgrades on the mid-con segment (empty seats up front). Mainline domestic F soft-product was miles ahead of US, even on a 2.5 hour flight. I've never had status on Delta, but I've heard their upgrade rates aren't much better than United (PMCO Silver I was seeing 5%-10%). I'd personally rather have my seat up front more consistently.

When I was still with Mrs. Thomwithanh, about a year ago we took VDB twice in one day on DL coming back from Florida. Both of us got courtesy upgrades on the mid-con segment (empty seats up front). Mainline domestic F soft-product was miles ahead of US, even on a 2.5 hour flight. I've never had status on Delta, but I've heard their upgrade rates aren't much better than United (PMCO Silver I was seeing 5%-10%). I'd personally rather have my seat up front more consistently.

No question that the mainline product was better, paid a few A fares when they were reasonable - but as a silver on anything involving ATL, you have a better chance of meeting god on the flight than sitting up front for free. And ASA, well, they sucked

Domestic F, I don't need caviar and Dom Perignon, just give me a place where I can use my laptop and not share shoulder space with a stranger and I'm happy, so US works. And I actually GET upgrades on US.

No question that the mainline product was better, paid a few A fares when they were reasonable - but as a silver on anything involving ATL, you have a better chance of meeting god on the flight than sitting up front for free. And ASA, well, they sucked

Domestic F, I don't need caviar and Dom Perignon, just give me a place where I can use my laptop and not share shoulder space with a stranger and I'm happy, so US works. And I actually GET upgrades on US.

I've heard AA domestic F is supposed to be pretty good too - fingers crossed that will be the product that sticks if and when the merger happens.

On a American related note, I found a very reasonable promotional Business Class fare for mid-August, SYR-ORD-LHR, 2600 a/i with a 60 day advance-purchase requirement. I'm very tempted to try out the new AA J and do a PLT challenge (8.5K base miles = 13K EQP's with the premium cabin bonus, also results in a few stickers to try out domestic F). I'm torn though, Envoy for the same dates is only slightly more. I've had a tough time snagging GoEnvoy's in the summer and unusually with this particular fare sale Y + two upgrades is about the same as just paying for J outright. Guaranteed flat bed seat up front and the 1.5x PQM's seems like a no-brainer, especially if AA's 773's aren't in service by August and I end up with angled or a recliner instead.

My $0.02:

Domestic mid-con, I've flown AA, UA, and US quite a bit. Never DL. I don't know if I'm alone on this or not, but I've actually like US the best, followed by UA, followed by AA.

US has a PDB maybe half the time. UA and AA usually don't. I actually prefer the US snack basket over the bags of snack mix that UA and AA serve. Although if it's a UA flight long enough for the full snack box, I like that over the US snack basket. Coming from MCI, I'm never on anything long enough to warrant a hot meal in domestic F. No idea whether one carrier has better food or - more importantly - whether one actually serves it on a greater percentage of flights or has a shorter threshold for when they'll serve it.

Internationally, I flew AA F TPAC last fall and thought the soft product was terrible. As a Gold, I was the last to be asked for my meal choice...so there was nothing left except vegetarian pasta. The FA said they had a couple extra crew meals, so I ate one of those. Overcooked steak. Hard product was fine...but I'll never fly AA long-haul premium cabin in the future unless I really don't have a choice. This fall, we're going to India and I managed to find Royal Jordanian seats...perhaps accepting a slightly-worse hard product in exchange for a much better soft product. We'll see...

My $0.02:

Domestic mid-con, I've flown AA, UA, and US quite a bit. Never DL. I don't know if I'm alone on this or not, but I've actually like US the best, followed by UA, followed by AA.

US has a PDB maybe half the time. UA and AA usually don't. I actually prefer the US snack basket over the bags of snack mix that UA and AA serve. Although if it's a UA flight long enough for the full snack box, I like that over the US snack basket. Coming from MCI, I'm never on anything long enough to warrant a hot meal in domestic F. No idea whether one carrier has better food or - more importantly - whether one actually serves it on a greater percentage of flights or has a shorter threshold for when they'll serve it.

Internationally, I flew AA F TPAC last fall and thought the soft product was terrible. As a Gold, I was the last to be asked for my meal choice...so there was nothing left except vegetarian pasta. The FA said they had a couple extra crew meals, so I ate one of those. Overcooked steak. Hard product was fine...but I'll never fly AA long-haul premium cabin in the future unless I really don't have a choice. This fall, we're going to India and I managed to find Royal Jordanian seats...perhaps accepting a slightly-worse hard product in exchange for a much better soft product. We'll see...

I think I'm going to snag the seat in Envoy... I know what I'm getting with that, and the extra PQM's and earning GP on US is more valuable to me than PLT on AA - the latter realistically I'd have no way to maintain without flying from an inconvenient airport and doing MR's.

I think I'm going to snag the seat in Envoy... I know what I'm getting with that, and the extra PQM's and earning GP on US is more valuable to me than PLT on AA - the latter realistically I'd have no way to maintain without flying from an inconvenient airport and doing MR's.

I'd opt for Envoy over AA J if they're priced similarly. Although a summertime $2600 R/T to Europe in J hard to complain a lot about, especially with Y fares being high and planes being 100% full.

I'd opt for Envoy over AA J if they're priced similarly. Although a summertime $2600 R/T to Europe in J hard to complain a lot about, especially with Y fares being high and planes being 100% full.

I was surprised - especially considering coach is $1100 RT...

Thank you very much for all of the info provided.



Other than that, there is a changeover date where a trial switches from gaining status for only this program year (through the end of Feb 2013) to where it gives status for this and next program year (through end of Feb 2014). Not especially important if you'll get the normal 30 segments needed to qualify for Silver for the 2013 program year (end Fec 2014). IOW, if you'll fly 30 segments from trial sign-up to 12/31/2012 you'll have silver into 2014 anyway.
Jim

Here is my dilemma. If I do the trial now, I know that I will have 12 segments within the 90 days. That will mean I will be Silver until the end of Feb 2013. However, after that, it will drop down to no status (I think). At 4 segments per month, it would take me until the middle of the year to gain status again. But, if I start the trial later as Jim said, I could potentially get Silver into 2014. With this being said, I do not know if it is worth to buy the Silver trial now. Any additional input would be appreciated.

The reason that I try very hard to maintain Silver on DL is (in order of importance to me):
Able to get an exit row seat at no extra cost
Zone 1 boarding (which is not the best, but better than general boarding
Upgrade to FC (however, this is rare on DL)
Free checked bag (which I have yet to do in more than two years)

Again, thanks for the info.
Adrian

If you cut over to US right now, wouldn't you qualify for US Silver the normal way towards the end of the year? If you do that, you're Silver through Feb 2014.

In other words, you pay the $215 and you're immediately Silver for 90 days.

You fly the 12 segments now, achieving Silver through Feb '13.

Then, late this year, you fly your 30th segment, achieving Silver through Feb '14.

The $215 effectively buys you the Silver status for those 30 segments. Seven bucks a segment...pretty sweet deal... :)

Delta holds sometimes 50% of seats back for purchase instead of upgrading elite's until day before. US used to always upgrade plat and gold when there spot came up but is starting to hold seats for revenue - but not as much.

I was a double million miler with delta with lifetime gold.
delta used to match their ads in being fun to fly.

Now plat with us and like much better

If you cut over to US right now, wouldn't you qualify for US Silver the normal way towards the end of the year? If you do that, you're Silver through Feb 2014.

In other words, you pay the $215 and you're immediately Silver for 90 days.

You fly the 12 segments now, achieving Silver through Feb '13.

Then, late this year, you fly your 30th segment, achieving Silver through Feb '14.

The $215 effectively buys you the Silver status for those 30 segments. Seven bucks a segment...pretty sweet deal... :)


If I went over to US right now, I would barely, and I mean barely have enough segments to get Silver through 2014. If I miss one month (which could happen), I would not get the status, and also lose status on DL for 2013.

I think that I am going to wait until later this year or the beginning of next year to try US. I'll try to sweet talk the powers that be at that time to buy the Silver trial, since I cannot afford it myself.

Again, thanks everyone for the great info.

If you missed one month, you could always throw in a US leisure trip late in the year... I hesitate to say "mileage run" because I doubt there'd be a great one out of Detroit. If you're hesitant to lay out $215 for the Silver Trial, I imagine the idea of flying a not-so-great mileage run wouldn't be all that appealing.

But if you found a late-year trip that you felt was a good value and interesting to you...*and* nudged you over the top for Silver through 2014...then things start to look a little better. :)

I've personally never done a true mileage run in my life - not the way some of the guys on this board would define it. (Not leaving the airport...that kind of thing.) But the pursuit of status or miles has influenced me to search for an early-December weekend getaway on four or five occasions... ^

If you work at a large firm - esp if you are senior - you can get your travel person to talk to us air and they will usually match another airline to hook you

I think I'm going to snag the seat in Envoy... I know what I'm getting with that, and the extra PQM's and earning GP on US is more valuable to me than PLT on AA - the latter realistically I'd have no way to maintain without flying from an inconvenient airport and doing MR's.

Took the envoy over to Italy. Was able to use miles for my wife and my tix but even though saw no seats booked in Envoy, for 2 tix it was 150K each, but if I just wanted one, it was 75K for one, then 150K for the other. So lesson is to book each tix individually. Was able to book open jaw, BDL to VCE, then back FCO to BDL but that had to be done over the phone.
Envoy club in PHL was great place to hang out before flight as we had 3.5 hr layover. Good canapes, snacks, much higher quality than the club.
That being said, I've been Chairman's and now gold with US and agree with threads that upgrades are common. Except what do you get? went direct PHL to LAX, not even a movie. Redeye home, not even the snack basket.
Ending note: On envoy to VCE F/A didn't even take drink orders, had to ask for everything, Said it was her first time in 1st class. Why not ask the other F/A or follow their lead?

Took the envoy over to Italy. Was able to use miles for my wife and my tix but even though saw no seats booked in Envoy, for 2 tix it was 150K each, but if I just wanted one, it was 75K for one, then 150K for the other. So lesson is to book each tix individually. Was able to book open jaw, BDL to VCE, then back FCO to BDL but that had to be done over the phone.
Envoy club in PHL was great place to hang out before flight as we had 3.5 hr layover. Good canapes, snacks, much higher quality than the club.
That being said, I've been Chairman's and now gold with US and agree with threads that upgrades are common. Except what do you get? went direct PHL to LAX, not even a movie. Redeye home, not even the snack basket.
Ending note: On envoy to VCE F/A didn't even take drink orders, had to ask for everything, Said it was her first time in 1st class. Why not ask the other F/A or follow their lead?

Venice is served by a B767, which has the inferior slanted seats. You're not getting the full Envoy experience on those - the longhaul Airbus fleet has the fully flat suites, and usually more FA's/ better service in the pointy end.

No movies on domestic flights (except Hawaii) - though we're getting Gogo vision with the Wi-fi upgrades, so we'll have IFE, but it will be a "bring your own device" type of situation. From a business standpoint, it's more cost-effective and practical than installing seatback TV's on the domestic fleet, considering the proliferation of tablets and laptops nowadays.

Open jaw to Europe in Envoy for 75k is a pretty nice deal, even in the older seats.

I've never cared much about IFE since 2000 or so...I always bring my own. Well, sometimes I still *use* the IFE, but it's never been a driving factor for how I choose an airline or route.

Annoying that you didn't get excellent service in Envoy. In the past, I've flown in two-cabin services and felt like the airline tried to provide a "near-F" soft product even though the hard product was clearly not on par with a 3-cabin F product. That is, a winelist, food, and general ambiance a cut above your typical 3-cabin business class product. It felt like the "pointy end", not the "middle part". Sounds like this Envoy service was on par with AA or UA J... :( (Having returned to US six months ago for the first time since 1998, it's been almost 15 years since I flew Envoy.)

Hello everyone,
I am considering a switch from DL to US, and I would like to see if anyone has any helpful input to aid in my decision.

I fly DTW to RDU once per month. I have silver status, earned through segments and not miles. The last couple of years I have had 32-35 segments per year. This year I am on track to do the same.

The cost for flying DL has been anywhere between $480 and $580 per trip. I checked the price for US, and I can get a ticket for $286 with times that are good

Any reason why I should or should not switch to US? If there is any information that I left out that would be pertinent to the decision, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.
Adrian

I live in PHX so US is always an option. I switched to WN 100% because US does not allow one-way reward travel and because of the $150 change fees. DTW to RDU has nine options a day on WN. I was Chairman with US but now I have a Companion Pass, better free travel options, free Internet, lots of free drink coupons, and preferred boarding with WN. I've never looked back.