Do you like United Premier Upgrades? I do like United's Business Only planes from LA to NY. What a great deal!

One of my concerns is starting from 0 with a new airline program. AA will let me start at Platinum, and after another 50k miles, I would make EXP. But for my first 60k miles, I would have to pay to be upgraded, about $300 per trip. United seems to cost even more if I read it right, and it seems they charge $500 for a round trip LA to East Coast, and this continues after I make 1K right?

US Air upgrades everyone for free, and upgrades Chairmans 7 days in advance. But their routes are not great from LA, and their service is getting worse. Clincher for me was when they removed power from all their first class seats domestic.