Originally Posted by
PMMMDL
My SWUs will expire unused again this year. I find them mostly worthless, since I will not risk TATL or TPAC flights in Y by wait listing. I would rather have the fare class restrictions and more upgrade availability. I might drop AA for Star later this year for their better route structure.
I get the part about the fare class restrictions (no international upgrade on DL unless you pay for M or better) but I don't get the part about "more upgrade availability." Does Delta really offer "more upgrade availability" than AA? I'm skeptical, given my greater than 99% upgrade success on AA since the capacity controls were instituted.
As for *A, I may be wrong, but doesn't UA restrict international SWU upgrades to certain fares (not the cheapest fare buckets)?
With the thousands of dollars you could save by flying four international trips on AA at Q or O or N fares compared to M, B or Y fares on DL, you'd have enough money left over to buy a couple of discounted I fares on AA (sometimes barely more expensive than DL's M fares) and then possibly upgrade to F.
Everyone needs to find their ideal frequent flyer program, and AA's is probably not for those unwilling to endure any risk of sitting in coach.