Originally Posted by Michael Iafrato

I am VERY NEW so please forgive me if I don't know the rules of the board. I usually just watch these boards for information but my question is complex and instead of trying to piece mail it, I figured no better time to start my post.

I live in TUS which is dominated by WN and I refuse to fly them for various reasons. The 2nd largest airline in town is US, which is just really an expensive taxi to PHX where all there action really takes place. So I am trying to pick "my" airline since my wife and I go on a lot of conferences and might be able to get some status... We always fly either AA or DL. I am a DL fan although AA on the last few trips was surprisingly wonderful and usually cheaper to sit up front with then DL

In the next year we are flying BWI, MCI, DSM, MSY, ORD, Possibly NRT, MCO, SEA, DCA

With a bunch more International Travel coming in 2015 and beyond... We are planning Thailand, Tanzania, Italy, France, and possible multiple trips into Mexico (Veracruz, which is only served by UA and AA)

So far we have been using AS to keep our miles between the 2...

DL - I already have about 15,000 miles on them.
AA- I have 0 miles on them.
AS - I have 18,000 miles on them.

We also get Small Business Points with both DL and AA, even if we use AS milage.

The question comes in at status... I know if we fly the way we are planning in 2014 we could get to Gold on any of the airlines we choose.

If we get our status on AS, we really don't get much on AA... On DL, upgrading is a joke, although most of the time we pay to be up front anyhow.

Should I choose 1 of the 2 airlines over the other (AA/DL) and if so which one? Or maybe should I consider UA as well?

Should I keep putting the miles in AS and if I should get status basically only use it on DL and whenever I fly on AS?

Lots to think about... Any help would be appreciated.