Well, I’m still debating between UA and AA. For me, it’s a near tie, each program with its own specific advantages:

1. Route Structure—Both UA and AA blow away CO, but the nod has to go to United.

Advantage—UA

2. Partners—Again, both * Alliance and oneworld blow away CO’s partnership of third-rate airlines that no one else wants. But again, the nod has to go to UA and * Alliance.

Advantage—UA

3. Domestic Upgrades—Both UA and AA charge for elite upgrades. In spite of EUA and greater competition for upgrades post-Sept. 11, this one still goes to CO.

Advantage—CO

4. International Upgrades—This one is obvious! CO has the best Business service. But that doesn’t mean anything if you can’t get it! AA’s upgrade policy of mileage upgrades on any published fare makes it the clear winner!

But I definitely can’t rule out UA. Although they do have a minimum fare restriction (H class), it isn’t anywhere near as draconian as CO’s policy...similar to CO's pre-HoKeY rules, although less confusing. And no 30 Day Rule, no 72 Hour Rule, no HoKeY Pokey, and no "service fees." In the Asian/Australian market, an H fare is generally only marginally more than the lowest fare. And UA will often upgrade you on miles at the gate if there are BC seats still available. Try that with a CO BizFirst concierge!

Advantage—AA, with an Honorable Mention to UA...and the 31" Raspberry Award to CO!

5. Coach Service—AA has MRTC in all coach seats. UA has slightly more room in Economy +, but it’s restricted to elites (although even the lowest level) and full-fare tix. And an Economy + seat is not guaranteed.

CO still features it's famous "gluteus minimus" seat with 31" pitch (32" in 767’s).

Tie—UA and AA...with CO getting the Marquis de Sade Award for coach service

6. Service to Sydney—This is personally very important, as my wife’s a Sydneysider, so this is a fairly regular route. AA doesn’t fly into Sydney, but oneworld partner Qantas does. Unfortunately you can't use AA miles to upgrade QF flights. And QF's coach seat is the same stingy 31" pitch as CO's. If you want to sit in front, you have to buy a mileage ticket, although AA does offer a reduced mileage companion ticket on QF. You can get both AA status miles and elite bonus miles with them, but only 70% mileage on discount economy flights.

With UA, you can choose either UA metal or * Alliance partner Air New Zealand, which has excellent coach service, 34" pitch seats and genuinely good coach food. This would seem to give a clear advantage to UA here. Unfortunately, there is one major downer. Although UA will give status miles for flights on * Alliance, they won’t give elite bonus miles or free domestic upgrade coupons, and you can’t upgrade partners.

So you have to choose between a comfortable coach seat and good food vs. bonus miles, domestic upgrade coupons, and the chance of a mileage upgrade. CO’s Australian service is limited to one CO Mike twice-weekly flight to the boonies of Cairns, over twelve hundred miles from Sydney. Air New Zealand’s excellent coach service gives the nod to UA.

Advantage—UA over AA in a squeaker

7. Airport Clubs—AA has the nicest clubs. And they have PC’s, not just ports...very handy if you don’t always take your laptop. UA has the most clubs. But CO has free booze...AA and UA don’t, except overseas. But if you have an RCC membership, you can use other * Alliance clubs internationally if you’re flying on that partner’s airline, even if you’re not flying BC. Oneworld doesn’t allow this, although AA and Qantas do have a separate club sharing agreement.

Advantage—UA and * Alliance if you fly a lot internationally...AA if you don’t drink and fly a lot domestically, CO if you do



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"Read my lips! No more benefit cuts!"...Gordon Bethune