Hi Everyone,

After consulting the AA forum for some information on their status match program I'm hoping a few kind FT'ers can provide some advice on what to do with a loyalty program going forward. A quick background, I was based on CLE and was a lifelong CO and then UA flyer, currently have Plat status, and a few hundred thousand lifetime miles. I moved to TPA a few months ago and have found it increasingly tough to adjust my schedule around UA's limited offerings. I am one who when taking a weekend trip prefers to fly out on a Thurs evening instead of Fri morning so many of my flights are late in the day and having different options is important. UA (for connections onward) only has 2 flights that fit that bill, the 7pm to IAD if I'm going anywhere north, or the 7pm to IAH if I'm going anywhere central US or West. This doesn't always work as they can be significantly more expensive (but sometimes the cheapest, it just totally depends on the day).

Getting home from the west coast is also a nightmare on UA because they have no redeyes (or service for that matter) from LAX or SFO to TPA. When I'm in Vegas or LAX/SAN/SFO I prefer to spend the full day there and take a redeye back and go to work (yes I'm slightly crazy, that's what my venti from Starbucks is for LOL). When I was in CLE, this was easy as they had redeyes from both SFO/LAX or I could connect thru ORD and land in CLE by ~8-8:30am and go to work.

I don't mind flying out of MCO as they have the Club (and more then double the UA flights of TPA) but it's a 1.5 hour drive for me so I don't like doing that if I'm going on a quick weekend trip as it just wastes time, but if I want a direct redeye to Florida on UA, going to MCO is my only option, and even then they don't land until 7am and I won't be at work until about 9.

Sorry for the long explanation, but I wanted to give you all a background of what's important to me. AA/US have a redeye from both LAX and PHX and DL has a redeye from LAX that I know of. Not sure if those run all year and if there's others I'm unaware of.

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
>>> Reply: Upgrades, access to extra legroom seats (I'm 6'2")

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
>>> Reply: last year ~75,000 miles and 100 segments. this year roughly same number of miles but less segments

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
>>> Reply: economy, occasionally F if going out west.

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply: ability to travel on any airline of my choice. Travel is majority pleasure but also occasional work.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
>>> Reply: domestic USA

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: TPA; willing to fly out of MCO on occasion (or even SRQ)

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: current UA Plat with a few hundred thousand miles, AA member with 0 miles, DL member with a few thousand miles from a trip earlier this year, WN member with a few thousand points

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: UA as of now. Willing to see if another carrier fits the bill seeing that TPA is not a hub for anyone but WN is by far the largest carrier.

I wouldn't mind being downgraded to mid-tier status on 2 airlines versus just Plat on UA, but just really unsure what to do at the moment. The reason I'm finally considering making a move is I am taking a quick weekend trip to San Diego in 2 weeks and booked a UA flight on a Fri afternoon but had no good option to get me home on Sunday. It was either leave at 1pm (which cuts out 1/3 of my time in SD) and get home at 12:30am or take a redeye at 10:30pm Sunday but connect and not get home until 10:30am. After realizing other carriers have redeyes to TPA, I am finally considering making some changes with my loyalty.
Just doing a rough check, UA has about 18-20 flights a day on a Sunday in July, whereas DL has 31 flights on the same Sunday, and AA leading the big 3 at 36 flights.