Originally Posted by
3Cforme
Such a comparison is going to be very route-specific. If one's needs are largely served by AA metal (and I know that AA's worldwide network is inferior to UA and DL), one may not be paying fuel surcharges at all, in contrast to needing to buy up to an upgrade-eligible fare on United.
Yes, if I can stick to AA metal for award travel, it looks like the costs will actually be a bit lower than on UA (although I wish the C seats were more horizontal). Fortunately I have plenty of UA points to burn, so for the next few years I'll likely be giving AA most of my money and COdbaUA will get most of my award travel.