Originally Posted by
MDtR-Chicago
You're in kind of a tough place. If you reach 75k, you'll be Platinum with CO next year. That would be a great level if you were actually flying UA/CO...
If you switch over to US and start from scratch, then you lose the mile earning bonus until you catch back up.
I wonder if you could do something like this:
- Earn 75k with CO to achieve Platinum
- Status match to DL or AA
- Status match back to US
No idea if that's at all possible...
I don't think either DL or AA is offering a (published) method to status match without challenge right now. The AF/Flyingblue status match was earlier this year, so that won't help...
Texan6, welcome to participating on FT! You are in a rough spot. Look into your crystal ball and see if there's any chance US will increase fares so that your employer will put you on CO! Being a non-US elite flying on US is miserable -- they even took away exit rows for Star Gold!
Is the difference in fare between UACO and US pretty big? If not, you can legitimately make the argument that a few extra dollars on airfare will save your company money because of better irrops handling when you fly UACO as an elite. Also, of the frequent originating points you listed, only PHL has a direct flight on US. Would your employer rather put you on a one-hopper through PHX when sending you to HNL rather than nonstop on CO? Sorry, I'm going down this route because I don't think there's a good solution that doesn't involve changing flight buying patterns.
Starting over from zero on US in 2012 would be rough. You would also end up as a US elite in Houston, which might not be ideal for your personal travel. I don't think switching to DM is the way to go, but I also don't see an easy way of avoiding 32E!