Originally Posted by dfe

This is sort in reply to all the flamers who say "that if you are so unhappy with UA why don't you fly someone else". Well, I am one that is probably going to do just that.

I am a long time 1K @ 1.6 mm--and was really intent on getting 2mm until just recently--but at least I am *A gold. I fly almost exclusively to BKK (and a little to other SE Asia destinations), and understand that my case is a little unique. With UA dropping BKK; the stupid JV with ANA (where you can't even get a seat assignment until check-in in their sardine can NRT--BKK) and all the other devals; downgrades; down gauges; soft product meltdown, I am soon to give both QR and EK a shot from ORD. If either works OK for me, I am totally done with UA--and at 100,000 + miles per year status should come pretty quickly.

If I go with QR I will have the OneWorld alliance--not as good a *A, but decent enough. Domestic does not matter so much to me and I'll go with whoever when I need those trips. Four hours domestic is nothing compared to 20-24 hours to SE Asia. I'll probably continue to fly UA until March to build miles at the current 1K bonus rate, and then burn them up as quickly as possible afterwards.

I have never flown any other airline for the past 10 years, except for short inter-Asia hops. I never ever thought that I would consider abandoning "My Hometown Airline". A sad day.