Originally Posted by uastarflyer
It's not just schedule and price but FF program. As a USA-based flyer my primary FF program is UA. Fly any other *A as a *G on UA, and I lose the 100% mileage bonus I'd receive if i flew UA metal (LH trans-atlantic does offer the bonus though), upgrade coupons to use on domestic flights, most likely targeted bonuses that work for UA metal flights only, etc.
If I *ONLY* flew international routes (or virtually so) then I'd pay more attention to LH M&M program, and that would also influence my choice in metal.
The past 18 months I did 4-8 NA segments a month on average (even as a CPH based flyer). Quite a few of them were on UA - due to E+. A vast majority of these where on the "expensive" booking classes. Due to the recent move by UA I will now take my business elsewhere - most likely to AA, US and CO for the NA segments. I will bet I am not the only traveller doing this - and what will be the net result for UA?