Originally Posted by
n8-the-gr8
... I've been GS for a year now and it has absolutely increased my strict loyalty to United not because I am trying to requalify but because I have the top treatment in all cases (efficiency of using miles, treatment in IRROPS, chances of upgrade, number of award miles earned, etc.). Why would I start flying American or Delta where I get no preferential treatment, earn very few miles per dollar, etc. just to get status on two airlines?? I've had this before and found it useless....
Well, you're GS.
The differences is benefits received might be better at lower levels. I'm pretty sure (based in Hawaii, and knowing some AAers here) that my upgrade chances out the Islands would be higher on AA than UA, where I'm fighting UA's large West Coast Premier population for CPU and instrument benefits. UA's network/frequencies out of Hawaii is the best of the 3 legacies w/ DL a distant 3rd, which is why I stick w/ UA. If UA is going to give me a pass on qualifying for 1K for 2021 and lowered hurdles, I might give AA a whirl to see how it compares. UA is giving a certain segment of its Premiers the opportunity to try other airlines w/o losing their UA status.
If one status or challenge matches to AA or DL, one gets the preferential treatment.