Hey FlyerTalk! Been lurking for awhile; been doing serious bizz travel so thought I'd get your thoughts (btw, this FF stuff is pretty addicting!)

(1) What is your home airport?
SFO

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
Non-refundable economy for work. Same for personal.

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
>50k

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)
UA Premier Gold

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)
- Getting frequent complimentary upgrades (since work usually puts me in coach)
- Award tickets to SCL/EZE (visit wife's family, shuttling them back and forth)


(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
SFO - HNL (2x a month for work)
SFO/LAX - SCL/EZE (for pleasure, visiting family once, twice a year)


(7) Preferred Airlines
Open to suggestions! I like UA so far I guess. Currently have ~40k FF left in UA account, ~100k in Avios (from Amex plat transfer during bonus period, I don't fly BA)

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
~75k a year for work
~ 25k a year for fun/family

Going to hit 75k again next year easy for work. Lost of bizz SFO-HNL flights still with a few to DFW and some to the east coast.

Whaddya think? I have the new year coming up and am thinking of staying with UA since I have gold status. I didn't have a good grasp on the FF thing so I had about 25k in Hawaiian that I just moved to HHonors :/

I might make the switch from *A if I can get a status match and if the awards are better/more convenient to South America twice a year. From what I know, LAN/AA is usually better to get to SCL (family in MDZ in Argentina). EZE on UA/Copa is okay but its longer/pricier to get to MDZ.

Any thoughts help. Thanks!!