So true. I had to go CO---> UA ----> NW to comp over, but I'm glad I did. CO's 50% EQM and increasing numbers of RJs took them out of the running. ATL-CLE is all-RJ, and you can fly some pretty long segments like ATL-IAH-MKE on all RJs on CO.

UA doesn't give the freebie upgrades and only has ORD as a true hub from ATL, with IAD as all-RJ and the others without enough flights. Sale fare availability and an awful website also worked against them.

DL has repealed some of the worst Mullin excesses but still takes itself out with the 50% EQM. US doesn't have the route network for awards I want. AA is slightly stronger in ATL than UA but still limited, and 1W isn't as good as *A.

NW is the only option other than DL (unless you count FL) with a decent number of jets and a good upgrade policy.