Took first flight in years in November (mileage redemption), took a few revenue flights recently. I am on an Instant Status Pass and have Platinum through that. Here are some pros and cons
Pros for American
- First class catering actually seems a bit better in normal domestic. I've gotten a hot towel, warm peanuts, full meal tray with veggie, main course, good desert on most regular domestic flights. Delta catering, in terms of food and drinks, isn't really back to pre-pandemic levels. This seems true on both regular and "busness class" transcons (I get to try Delta transcon again pretty soon). I have a feeling this is a temporary condition, but we will see.
- Better mileage value. This one is obvious
- Fewer elites out of NYC. Upgrade lines look shorter, I have been upgraded as a Platinum, etc.
- Improved schedule when combined with JetBlue. When you combine the schedule with JetBlue, AA actually offers a pretty good domestic schedule now. Much better than before. Frequencies are also very good to hubs like DCA, MIA, DFW, etc.
- Loyalty points make it easy to maintain status. Gaining status is hard. But once you get to Gold or Platinum, the enhanced earnings on flights, plus credit card spending and loyalty points, make it easier to maintain status.
- Better schedule / partners to Asia

Pros for Delta
- Much better economy experience for elites due to Comfort Plus. American doesn't seem to have added many Main Cabin Extra seats across its fleet; Delta has added a ton of Comfort Plus. With Delta, you start getting good access to MCE with Gold; comes with drinks and the snack basket. If I am not going to be upgraded, I would much rather be in a Delta Comfort Plus seat than basically anything AA offers.
- Better in flight entertainment. Delta has more TVs in seatbacks; the AA free streaming with iPad works reasonably well but is still clunky.
- Much better ground experience. Delta lounges are much better across the country. Newer AA lounges are fine, but food and beverage still lack. I need to try AA's new JFK lounges for premium transcons, but the reviews don't blow me away.
-Better boarding experience. For some reason, AA's boarding experience adds way too many crowds.
- Better schedule on Delta metal. I still experience gaps of American service when trying to book travel; as a result, American relies on JetBlue out of their terminal at JFK, which I don't like
- Better schedule / partners to Europe

Overall, I am interested in maintaining some kind of American status (Likely alternating between Gold/Platinum over time), but the flights so far haven't convinced me that I should switch from Delta as my primary airline. Newark is too far from me, so United is out.