Originally Posted by Starman
As a previous poster commented, if you are willing to forgo the BIS credit on UA, but still get all the M+ miles and EQMs, check US. For your particular example, QUAUP for PHL-SFO on UA is currently $654++ one way, but you can sit in that exact same UA seat as a US code share in YA7UPN (confirmed first class, 7 day advance, change penalty) for $477++, about last year's price.
[Whoops, I see now your example was PHL-LAX, not PHL-SFO. But you get the point....]
Although your point is well taken that, in some instances, US is offering cheaper QUP-type fares, there are two issues. First, FC on US is nothing like FC on UA (I can hear the responses now --- "then pay the higher price for UA and be quiet"
) -- UA's FC product is far better at every turn, in particular on transcons. Second, as a CP on US, I can get the US FC seat for free most all of the time (thank you unlimited e-upgrades
) --- I can't see myself paying for a FC seat on one of those US 26-F seat A321 buses. Although a 1K, getting the upgrade on the predominantly 8-F A-319 transcon routes is tough -- paying the $820 to LAX for a confirmed seat in F was always the better deal than sweating out an upgrade (and spending a couple of CR-1's) on a $400 coach ticket in my opinion.