Originally Posted by
crimson12
This is a little different from the OP's question, but here goes.
I currently have DL Gold status through a combination of credit card MQMs and flying. If I really make a run I could probably hit Plat. But alternatively, I could let miles roll over and start 2013 pretty close to Silver.
Next year, with some effort, I could probably get up to Gold or even Plat (depends on how much business travel I have, but I could probably get to Gold again just on personal travel, maybe with a MR or two).
But I've been a little annoyed with the difficulty of redeeming DL miles. So I'm considering switching programs. Here are my main options:
1) Roll over ~20k miles on DL this year and make a run for DL Gold or Plat next year.
2) Make a run for DL Plat this year and start over at close to zero next year on DL. If I'm back at zero, I can try to make a run on another airline. I can almost certainly hit low tier and maybe mid tier.
I'm in NYC so any area airport is fine for me.
I most value upgrades, and then E+ seating. Other things (priority boarding, no checked bag fees, etc.) are not important to me.
So should I continue on DL, or is there a good case to be made for switching allegiance? One thing that keeps me from switching: I don't fully understand how upgrades work on other airlines.
Thanks!
I'm in the same boat as you. I've decided to hold short of 50K for this year (I'm at about 43.8K so I can still do a transcon round trip without going over).
My GM status is good until Feb 28 2013, so I'm going to move up some March travel to try to regain Gold before the end of February. That way, I'll limit the amount of time I'm stuck at Silver. I also value EC and Sky Priority the most so I want to avoid FO.
I'll then try to hit Plat by mid-year so that I can see what status matches are available after July 1, where matches are good for 18 months instead of 6 months if you do them on June 30. Also, my PM status will be good through 2/2015 instead of 2/2014. In my mind, that's forgoing 6 months of PM now for 12 months of status later. Plus as I begin to move Skypesos out of my account, PM will help with award changes/cancellations for free before T-72.
As for matches, AA does challenges but only up to PLT (50K level). You have to use 500-mile upgrade stickers for non-EXP elites there, so it's not an automatic upgrade, though you get to pick and choose which flights you want to upgrade, which means that mid-tier upgrades have a better shot. There a ton of EXPs valid through the end of next year (because of Jan 2012 DEQM and TEQM) so UGs may not be the greatest.
UA does status challenges now and DL PM can challenge for their 75K PP level. I don't really get the UA UG system, but I'm interested in that for the ability to change awards for free (since I have a lot of UR/UA miles from credit cards).
If UGs are your thing, I know US Silvers who get decent UG %. But there's no EC/MCE/E+ for when you don't get the UG.
For me, domestic upgrades are nice, but I'm fine with extended legroom coach seats. To me, the award change rules and better earnings of more usable miles are what are attracting me to other programs.