Originally Posted by Thunderroad
Pinniped, you make a lot of sense, but I have a questions a couple of these points:
B - Are you sure AA always offers full RDM and EQM? My wife and I recently flew it a couple of times domestically on discounted fares and only received 50% RDM. Or perhaps when you say "leisure fares" you're not counting the deeply discounted ones?
Well, I'm *fairly* certain.
I don't fly AA as much anymore because I'm always going to Seattle, which limits me to UA. But, I believe you still earn full EQM's and RDM's, but 50% EQP's. (The P being "Points".)
The whole notion of "EQP's" is unique to AA, I think, and is designed to provide a subtle fast-track for people who fly refundable coach or higher. UA effectively provides the same thing simply by providing 150% EQM's on similar fares.
But...since you can still hit Gold, Plat, and even ExPlat on regular EQM's or Segments, you can pretty much ignore your EQP counter if all you fly is deep-discounted coach.
At least...I think this is how it works. I also have read that there are a couple of oddities within AA's structure - e.g. non-mileage-earning "O" fares. I've never seen these personally so not sure if they'd affect the OP.
C - The contrary argument I've read elsewhere in FT is that by virtue of having far fewer elites based in the SF area AA actually offers a better chance of upgrading. I just haven't flow it enough domestically to know about this personally, though. Plus AA fans argue that its narrow body planes have more seats in F than most UA ones do. BUT as you say, you're definitely better off in UA's E+ if you can't fly upgraded.
Yeah, probably true - especially in the Bay Area where 1K's and UGS members are probably thicker than just about anywhere. Being a 2P out of MCI usually puts me #1 or #2 on the standby list and has even yielded op-UG's three times this year. Being a 1P in SFO probably puts you well down the list, whereas AA Plat might get more notice. Plus, AA does run a few 767's at SFO (e.g., to JFK), so it's not all Mad Dogs.
Still, E+ would probably be the kicker for me, especially if I saw myself doing any kind of long-haul (either transcon or int'l) travel.