Originally Posted by
BenA
...
A couple random thoughts:
- ... it wouldn't surprise me if both airlines announce the partnership end game later this year.
- AS miles expire after two years, so you need to pay attention to keeping them active.
...
- AS has some great partners you can earn on if you travel internationally; it's a great opportunity to broaden your horizons. The best way to combat DL program devaluations is to start giving your money to competitors with a better onboard product, and AS makes that an easy proposition... hi Cathay and Emirates.
... I really like their onboard catering (Tom Douglas meals and local Seattle booze from Sun Liquor distillery) and seating (fortunately DL still grants you preferred seating) in Y. The occasional upgrade is just a bonus if it happens.
Long story short I'm still crediting to DL, but I've been dabbling in flying the Eskimo, and I'm only a few more devaluations away from AS making sense as my primary program someday...
not knowing your travel patterns, the fact that you're based in SEA lends more credence to this
I've been in the "other" Washington for far too long; moving back home in a couple months, but will continue to be bi-coastal for work (probably 2 WAS<-->SEA round-trips per month, plus a couple leisure trips during the year) ... I ended 2014 as PM with 40K rollover, and since most of the moving expenses are going on AmEx another year of PM is a cinch (I typically buy G/A on the TCONs, and whenever possible SDC to the 757s over JFK); the plan is to status match to 75K or whatever AS will offer in the fall so as to have high status on both throughout 2016
the real driver for me, I think, is the ability to change award tix for free (72 hr window notwithstanding); even with SkyTeam constraints, some of the DownUnder options are pretty appealing ways to burn some of my 600K stash