Originally Posted by
Yarhead
Mileage Accumulation Rankings:
1. DL (25% bonus after 25K MQM, 100% bonus after 50K MQM, 100% bonus after 75K MQM,
125% bonus after 125K MQM)
-Source:
Delta website
2. AA (25% bonus after 25K EQM, 100% bonus after 50K EQM, 100% bonus after 100K EQM)
-Source:
AA Website
The 125% earning rate as a Delta DM is mitigated by the difficulty in finding low availability awards, sadly. They don't call them Skypesos for nothing.
Originally Posted by
Yarhead
From my understanding, you'd likely see the most regular upgrades on AA, especially because they only give automatic upgrades to their top tier, Executive Platinum, elites.
Yes, EXPs have a terrific upgrade rate (I've missed only JFK-SFO once this year out of about 90k BIS).
Originally Posted by
Yarhead
Also, you get SWUs when you hit Executive Platinum with AA. They're most valuable for paid international flights, but if you end up really wanting to guarantee a domestic upgrade, you can use them on those too.
Importantly, AA systemwides work on
any fare, allowing you to fly to Europe and back in business class for $440 (if you find the right fare
) as I did last month. UA requires buying at least a W fare (not excessively more in
some markets), but DL is outright hostile.
The new lie-flat business class is rolling out next month, so I'm a very EXP right now.
Originally Posted by
Yarhead
From what I understand from other posts, UA does not complimentarily upgrade any of its elites on JFK-LAX, and EWR-LAX (if convenient for you, that's another story, but if not...) is apparently tough to come by re: upgrades. So UA seems to lose in the upgrade category on the NYC-LAX route.
If you're a 1K, op-ups on p.s. are not too rare. I had a very, very lucky string of 3 in August (out of 5 p.s. flights; the other 2 were instrument-backed upgrades at the time of booking). Nonetheless, hope is not a viable strategy for upgrades.