Please feel free to direct me to a thread if there is a decent one already! (couldn't find one) I'm moving back to CA and it looks like I'll do a fair amount of flying out of LAX. I can bet on flying to ORD, NYC (JFK/LGA/EWR), plus with fair potential to fly anywhere random in the U.S.

I understand LAX is a UA hub, but I'm wondering if life as an elite would be better on UA or AA, or another carrier from LAX? I'd imagine flight options are better on UA, but won't I be one of the gazillion elites at LAX for UA? Upgrades, preferential treatment on standby/irreg ops are both important too. Does anyone have advice/thoughts on this to share? Please feel free to make suggestions for other carriers too. Thanks in advance!