Considering where you are, you may be making the right choice splitting UA and NW.
Originally Posted by bhatnasx
I don't like the concept of having to blatantly pay for the ability to UG on international flights -
However, in my opion, you really should not count this as a strike against AA. Lets compare with NW.
On NW, you have to buy B or Y. So to go to Asia you would pay $1600+ or so plus miles.
On AA, you can buy deep discount econ. So to go to Asia, you could pay $700 for the cheapest N or L ticket + $500 in upgrade fees = $1200 total plus miles.
In this scenario, AA clearly wins even though they have a co-pay.
UA is only better if you can find cheap enough upgradable fares - which yes, you sometimes can, but can't count on it costing less than AA.
For domestic upgrades, AA EXP wins if you can make it. Unlimitted domestic upgrades on any fare with most people EXPs getting 90% to 100% success rates. On UA, 1Ks do not get free unlimitted domestic upgrades.
For international upgrades, AA gives 8 systemwides to EXP verses UA 6. Both allow free upgrades from low fares and no copay.
It seems to me that with connections and all the trips you are planning, you really should get about 80K BIS from you business travel. If you are on higher fares, this will give you EXP on AA from points alone. (on high fare buckets you get 1.5 points per mile flown). 100K points OR 100K miles = EXP If your fares aren't high enough, add 20K/year in leisure and you would have it.
AA EXP would give you:
- Unlimtted free domestic upgrades on any fare with very high success rate
- 8 international upgrades from deep discount fares with no co-pay per year
If I were in your situation, I probably would go 100% AA...but that is me.