Hi -

I used to be a very frequent visitor and poster, particularly to the AA forum, but have forgotten just about everything I used to know, so please keep the flames to a modest burn.

The single most important factor for me in choosing a FF program is my ability to get upgrades (and in worst case scenario, purchase most affordable YUP tickets, etc.) When I started out focusing on this about 10 years ago, AA was the hands-down choice for me because at the time they flew about 300 S-80s, and what routes I cared about that didn't use them were always on full-sized planes (I can't even remember if there's a different term to describe non-RJ aircraft...). That was important to me b/c ALL of their non-RJ planes had at least 16 F seats. By contrast, a number of competitors I came across seemed to have as few as 8 F seats on each plane. Adding in the various tools that AA had at the time to obtain upgrades, and the fact that one of my main destinations is ORD (my home airport is MCI), it was an easy choice.

I don't love RJs, but can tolerate them IF they have single seat configurations on one side of the aircraft. Bottom line is that I'm a big guy, and if I'm traveling alone, I try desperately not to have to sit next to anyone else.

Here are my answers to the questionnaire:

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?

AVAILABILITY OF F SEATS, UPGRADES, AND REASONABLY PRICED F SEATS

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?

I USED TO FLY A LOT MORE, NOW MORE LIKE <25K PER YEAR AND MAYBE 20-40 SEGMENTS, BUT OFTEN PURCHASE REASONABLY PRICED F TICKETS

3. What fare class do you usually buy?

EITHER ECONOMY WITH AN UPGRADE OR REASONABLY PRICED F (OR CLOSE-TO-TRAVEL PURCHASED ECONOMY TICKETS ON RJs)

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?

YES, I CAN CHOOSE AIRLINES, I USUALLY CHARGE MY COMPANY ECONOMY PRICE AND THEN I PAY THE DIFFERENCE NEEDED TO FLY IN F. I FLY MUCH MORE FOR WORK THAN FOR PLEASURE.

5. Which routes do you fly most often:

MCI-ORD
MCI-SNA
MCI-LAX
MCI-BOS
MCI-LGA

(Until now almost all on AA via ORD or DFW, but more recently some nonstops for MCI-LGA on DL.)

6. What is your home airport?

MCI

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?

LIFETIME GOLD IN AA (IN PAST MULTI-YEAR AA PLATINUM; IT'S POSSIBLE I WILL RETURN TO FLYING SUFFICIENTLY TO GET THAT LEVEL OF BIS MILES ON THAT OR OTHER AIRLINES) I HAVEN'T SAVED HUGE SUMS OF MILES. I HAVE PERHAPS 80K IN AA, AND A SIMILAR NUMBER IN THE SPG PROGRAM, WHICH I HAVE HISTORICALLY TRANSFERRED 20K AT A TIME IN ORDER TO GET THEIR 5K TRANSFER BONUS.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?

UNTIL NOW AA. LOOKING FOR BEST NEW RECOMMENDATIONS GIVEN THE ROUTES I FLY, AND MY GOAL OF CONTINUING TO FLY UP FRONT...

Thank you in advance for any flame-free help you can offer!