Mikey,

I was faced with a similar situation a couple of years ago and learned a few things. As a United 1K, the following comps were available:

1) American would not offer an automatic comp in AAdvantage at any level, but offered to enroll me in one of their challenges (See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum.../001108.html). ( The equivalent of UA 1K (AA Platinum Executive) is never comped. You may do only one challenge, and only once per lifetime.

2) Continental Airlines will comp, once, the equivalent UA status for one year. The exception is that they never comp their highest tier, Platinum.

3) US, NW, and DL told me to get lost. Pity, as I was willing to invest quite a bit in flying whichever of them would give me a chance. I did fly enough on CO to maintain Gold and on AA to maintain Platinum.


I do like American's AAdvantage program. It allows me to do some things that MileagePlus does not, like upgrade internationally on any fare and reach million-miler status on all miles that enter my account, including bonuses and partner/affinity miles. Plus you get the feeling that their Top Tier members, as they call them, really are VIPs.

You do not want to fly American between ORD and SFO on a regular basis. They tend to use crappy MD-80's and 737's, many of them without any audio/video at all. That's right; not even music.

Continental has recently made some changes to its OnePass program that, in my opinion, make membership less desirable unless you are in their highest tier, Platinum.

I agree with others here that you are better off reaching the highest level in one FF program vs. middle on two or three. But highest on one and middle on another is better still. It requires 150,000 actual miles a year, but the rewards are excellent. You can shop fares and still get treated with respect when you fly.

I used to think there was no bigger waste of money than the Red Carpet Club and its equivalents. My thinking has changed so far in the last couple of years that I now plan to join 3 airline clubs next year. The cost is less than one airline ticket and the benefits are great. I now cannot count the number of times RCC has saved my butt while in transit. Their check-in staff is attentive, well-trained, and -- perhaps most important -- calm. Incidentally, the higher your level with UA, the less RCC membership costs. You might consider waiting until you reach 1K if you balk at the cost for 1P's, though the difference is not great.

I'm afraid I don't know too much about hotel programs, as I rarely stay in chain properties. I belong to Hilton, Hyatt, Radisson and Marriott, nominally. (I also belong to Super 8 Motel's VIP club; you get the idea.) Of the majors, I am quite happy with Hilton.

But the BEST hotel club I belong to is definitely Inter-Continental's Six Continents Club. Yes, it's high-end, but the occasional values are amazing. Your $35 annual renewal fee includes a coupon for a free night. The weekend savers (http://www.interconti.com/weekends.html) are sometimes stunners. And nicest of all, they treat this infrequent guest like visiting royalty every time I check in (the Churchill in London knows me by sight). As such, I feel very loyal to this luxury chain.

Best of luck with your new travel profile next year. Looks like you'll have some nice options and will end 2001 with a big smile.

[This message has been edited by Horizons (edited 12-26-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Horizons (edited 12-26-2000).]