Originally Posted by
Phasers
You again. Ok I'll bite.
I have purchased a ticker on a carrier I have no status on. So let's review.
- Did not earn miles to my preferred loyalty program - AA is nuking mileage earning anyways, so it's a wash now
- I flew coach - With AA I'm batting around 40% for domestic upgrades this year, and 0% for international upgrades. Sure with AA I get MCE, but booking at the last minute I get MCE seats about 50% of the time anyways since 737s only have 3 rows of MCE.
- No checked bag allowance - I only bring a carry on anyways for domestic trips, as I'm sure many business travelers do
Many of these issues could be solved with simply getting the cobranded credit card.
* But what happens when things go south and IRROPs happen?
* But do you get lounge access on international trips?
* But was there space for your carry on when you boarded in group 4 or 5?
* But did you have to fly in a middle seat?
* But did you have to stand in line at check in or security (no PreCheck, and OLCI not always available/working, at international stations)?
* etc.
Over the 60 to 80 segments I fly in a year, these things matter. The ancillary costs add up. My company's travel policy doesn't allow us to buy domestic F in any circumstance, and international J in only rare circumstances. Nor does it reimburse lounge passes.
And I can focus on a credit card that has much better rebate potential than any airline card.
This is really rehashing a lot of ground that was covered in the other thread. So I'm not sure there's any point in continuing.