So, currently an EXP which will be expiring in February (but a Lifetime Platinum). I don't have enough flying to get me to EXP again so I thought, what the heck, what's UA like. I live in Chicago so having a 2nd carrier isn't a bad idea. I signed up for a UA Status Challenge and I was offered a challenge to Premier 1K for 35K PQMs (no PQDs required). I am doing a MR ORD-SFO-SIN + (3) one day turns - ORD-SFO-SAN-SFO-ORD @$107 each + (1) business trip to Tampa and I am set. Although I won't get any upgrade instruments, I will have 1K status through January 2018.

I have a good mix of AA & UA travel booked for August and September so will see how things go. Worst case - I keep my AA Plat + get a little bump up on UA for the next 18 months. Or, I may like UA and make that my new home. Or, may hate UA, keep 1K as a back-up and stick with my tried & true AA. Thing is, if AA hadn't changed the program, I never would have considered this gambit.