Thanks for all the replies and for the welcome...I can very easily see becoming addicted to this site!

Re: the AA suggestions: I am a former AA Gold member, and left many years ago because AA went to 3-cabin service on transcon flights, which limited my upgrade to their (then) crappy domestic business class...is that still the case? Also, isn't AA undoing their reconfigured coach class to reduce leg room to its previous cramped levels?

Re: the US/UA suggestions: my recollections are horrible planes and service. Has there been improvement over the last several years? (I swore off UA after a 90 minute wait for baggage at SFO). I have a lot of upcoming travel where US makes a lot of sense, but I still think of them as US Scare.