You ask a tough question.

I used to fly AS SEA-EWR, and last year took my first CO flight SEA-EWR, and WOW what a difference on CO, I loved their product in F. Generally I actually find that CO, UA, and AA probably have the best F product for domestic USA flights.

However, as a CO gold, how many free upgrades will you get with CO, not that many. On AS from SFO, you would probably do quite well. Besides PSP and ANC and any EWR, BOS, WAS, MCO, MIA flights, as a MVP Gold you would probably get many free upgrades.

The best part of the AS program is you can actually use the miles, availability is pretty good. However, you could not use the miles to upgrade any CO, NW or AA flights.

We really need more information here as to how you plan on using the miles you earn and what you want out of a FFP.


AS benefits
- good availability for miles redemption
- earn with many partners, AA, NW, DL, AS CO etc.
- great westcoast route
- good upgrades percentage on flights from SFO to SEA, PDX, LAX, Mexico (except during peak times)
- great credit card (20,000) bonus points right now and companion ticket

CO benefits
- better First Class product however free gold upgrades are getting fewer every year
- ability to use miles to upgrade long haul flights (europe and asia)
- larger airline more routes served globally
- strong partnership with NW (include free upgrades)