Originally Posted by
MKE Traveler
I am currently a UA Premier Exec, and on track to regain 1K this year.
However, my new job requires me to visit Amsterdam (and India) 4-6 times a year, and I was trying to figure out if I should go for a status match with one of the Skyteam airlines, so I can fly directly to Amsterdam rather than through Frankfurt or Vienna.
Your profile says you're in MKE, so you're not flying non-stop to AMS in any case. UA flies ORD-AMS non-stop.
Stick with UA, fly the incremental miles over 100k, and earn additional SWUs for use on MKE-ORD-AMS.
It's not as though you'll be in great shape for upgrades with Skyteam, UA allows upgrades on lower fares.. has more seats to upgrade into.. and is updating their fleet with better seats to boot. Plus the miles you earn are much more valuable than those on Skyteam airlines.