It depends on how often you fly and where you fly.

AA has a slight advantage over NW in terms of in-flight product – NW compensates by offering lower fares, but that’s usually not the case flying out of ORD. NW offers a superior elite program if most of your flying is domestic – unlimited First Class upgrades (space available, as a NW Platinum I’m virtually always upgraded) are the selling point. AA offers a few free upgrades, but charges for the rest. If you fly 100,000 miles per year, you’ll get VIPOWs. I’m AA Gold and think the benefits outright suck – NW Silver is far superior. But I may feel differently if I were AA Platinum.

[This message has been edited by IndustrialPatent (edited 02-26-2003).]