United & Mexicana :
United wins hands down. MX is not consistent in their services, their aircrafts have no IFE (UA has), when their flights are full they got cramped as everything and their mother gets carried on board and stuffed, pushed and punched until it fits, wherever. That has been probably the reason why MX got no additional pax from UA. Regarding upgrades one could either get them for free or travel compulsory in coach, depending on the mood of the MX agent, while with UA you could upgrade or get E+ .

American & Mexicana :
Amazingly interesting as neither has IFE, but MX offers free booze (as UA) and AA charges 5 USD, MX offers hot meal in Y (as UA) versus no meal at AA, MX has an outstanding lounge in MEX (UA is excellent) versus AA which offers a selection of coffee and hot water; On a good day there may be yoghurt but don't count on it much, MX metal passengers will get double bonus when flown under AA flight number (unlike UA). So, I see no good reason for an AAer to keep flying AA metal, plus some AA routes are equipped with Less Room Throughout Coach aircrafts, and when flying for other cities than MEX MX offers lounge access to AAers !
Question to self: Will MX offer lounge access to AA elites, as they're not OneWorld ?

So MX move seems smart, for MX.

[This message has been edited by pb9997 (edited Mar 04, 2004).]