Make no mistake. Across the board, UA holds a huge advantage over AA in terms of on-time operations.

While AA has improved on-time departure and on-time arrival rates from last year, they are still below average for Q1. We'll see about Q2.

It seems that weather affects AA more simply because it does. Each and every time. Because the network has been grounded to the point where 99.9999% of all flights depart from 5 locations (3 of which are known for bad weather JFK, DFW, ORD) - someone going SFO-ORD-MSP for instance like I was in late May, had to wait a day and a half before even being able to get out of SFO, considering the motherload of 738s that depart here on a daily basis were all sold out.

AA also rarely issues weather waivers, and seems to only do so after the tornado hits STL or after the monster storms hit ORD. United has weather waivers in tact atleast 24-48 hours before the storm hits. The cost cutting mentality at AA, I guess, doesn't extend toward making basic accommodations and making it less hectic for customers. Let us change our flights online and reschedule online with weather problems. How much of an IT investment could that be? I waited on hold for 45 min. at the EXP desk at last months storms. Ridiculous.

Go to ORD in the winter (or during a summer storm for that matter). Walk around and check the UA departures and the AA departures. Very different picture.