1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access, etc.
>>> Reply: Upgrades

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
less than 25000 miles, 50000+ miles and 20-25 flights, etc.
>>> Reply: 50-60,000

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy
>>> Reply: Domestic (15,000 miles) - First/PE .... Intl (40-50,000 miles) - Economy/PE

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply: Yes, 50,000 miles for work, 5-10,000 pleasure (unless intl then more)

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: 10-15 per year I fly domestic (DSM to ORD), 2 times per year I fly intl (DSM/ORD to SIN), then a couple flights per year to random places for pleasure

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: DSM for normal flights, can fly from DSM, MCI, MSP, OMA, ORD for INTL

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: No just started flying this much

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: AA/UA because DSM to ORD direct flights only occur with those two airlines.


Okay here's my situation

I will get plenty of miles on either, my thought surround two specific issues.

1. Mandatory spending - I can manipulate AA on my flights to SIN by booking on a partner airlines and getting MQDs based on miles, which will far exceed PQDs on United metal.

2. AA only flies Embraer jets on my DSM to ORD route so I can book Economy or First, but United flies 737 and A320 with PE which won't be such a big deal when I get status but will be while I work to get status.

My thought is to sacrifice some comfort on AA because I can probably manipulate my MQD over $6,000 and gain better status than I can on United, but am hoping to hear if anyone disagrees and why?

Thanks!