Home airport SFO, been on United for several years. I used to travel a ton for work and was Global Services until recently. After changing jobs to one without the work travel, they gave me a gradual off-ramp via a year of 1K, but next year I'll be Silver.
I'm thinking of taking this opportunity to switch to Alaska Airlines because I like them better. United has just always had middling service, old planes, no charm, etc.
These days it'll be mostly one 1-2 international vacations per year, in business class, and maybe half a dozen domestic flights per year for holidays/work/etc. One thing I'm unclear on is, if I made the change, would I book the international flights via American Airlines? If so, should I sign up for American's AAdvantage and bank points there from Alaska flights? Appreciate the help.
Here's the questionnaire:
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, priority service
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: 1-2 international vacations per year in business. half a dozen domestic roundtrips per year in premium economy
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy
>>> Reply: international business, premium economy domestic
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply: Yes. Both.
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: International will be different every time. Domestic: SFO-PDX, SFO-LAS, SFO-Austin, SFO-NYC, others
6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: SFO
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: United MileagePlus: Silver, 9k miles. Alaska MileagePlan: No status, 35k miles
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: Would prefer to fly Alaska domestically.