Originally Posted by JaredH

I am a CO elite who is trying AA out.

I had not flown AA regularly at all for about 12 or 13 years, until a few months ago when I missed my CO flight due to a TSA holdup at the checkpoint. I walked over to the AA counter in the terminal, and bought a ticket to my destination.

Since then, I have come to realize that AA service is pretty comparable to CO, though not as efficient during IRROPs. It also happens that AA is half the price on the route I fly most often, so... CO's fares on that route had really gotten out of hand.

Our policy is that we can fly in F, so upgrades are not really a consideration, though I did often travel on CO on a full-fare with an automatic upgrade, if it is less than F.

Here are my observations:

AA pluses:

-Upgrades are not given out as liberally, meaning that FC is not always sold out when I need to change my schedule
-FC is less crowded on some routes (CO is almost always packed)
-Planes are roomier
-GoGo Internet is great
-In seat power
-Like the quiet ride on MD 80s (miss those from CO, they were always my favorite)
-On board service seems slightly better (plus they have Diet Pepsi)
-Furnishing and cleanliness of AC is nicer than PC

CO pluses:

-Like snacks and drinks at PC better (plus free liquor).
-EliteAccess baggage works more often.
-Planes are cleaner
-IAH is easier and faster to navigate than DFW (for me, at least)
-Elite accrual is much better on CO (1.5 pts per segment)
-DirecTV on some planes (though I never watch it)
-Overall operations seem more efficient