Originally Posted by
3Cforme
Think about the route networks more than status, really. Connections suck v. non-stops.
Yes, but there can be significant differences in experience that counterbalance that. I "gave up" AA loyalty last year, even though I'm lifetime plat (actual flying would never get me more than gold) because I live closer to IAD (UA) than DCA (AA). I spent the last several months flying nonstop, but mostly United Express crap out of IAD, with inconvenient gates (OMG, that A concourse, unbelievably awful), cancelled flights, purchased E+ seats that turned out to be not in E+, nonexistent service (OJ and water only on a 1.5 hour late afternoon flight, really?), rude FAs, etc. AA isn't always great but I'm going back (which mostly means DCA and likely more connections), even at the cost of an occasional $70-90 Uber ride to my car at a commuter rail station. The overall stress is just lower.