I've been an EXP for the last 2 years through lots of self funded transatlantic coach travel and a lurker on FT for longer than that - great resource. I've been very happy with AA and the associated benefits during this time. I'm now living full time in NYC and was planning to fly enough to earn my exp again this year through leisure travel, a lot of which was going to be domestic US travel, mostly weekend trips. It's been a bit of a shock looking at the schedules, AA doesn't seem to be great for this, apart from the transcons - already planning a few of those.

Basically wherever I want to go Jetblue for example seems to fly direct at great times (eg. friday night flight and redeye from denver for skiing, direct to New Orleans, good flights to the carribean) AA seems to force you through ORD, DFW or MIA.

Is that just my impression? Are there good places to go direct from NYC? Especially weekends skiing or interesting US cities. Any other airlines I should consider, I'd like to fly an airline that has a FF program.

I'd like to stick with AA as my experience thus far has been good and they seem to have the best FF program based on my research, but I feel a bit stuck.

Thanks,

SB