Originally Posted by
Kiwi Flyer
Pertinent if only have a couple of years to go (out of 10? required for lifetime).
Personally, with a travel pattern that could easily include either or both alliances I'd stick with *A because PLT gets many of the same benefits as EXP...
The key differences as I see them are (in no particular order):
1. Access to AA's EXP desk. They've spoiled me in the past and I miss them now. That said, in 8+ months since losing EXP status, I haven't had a need that "PLT desk" agents didn't handle efficiently, courteously and correctly, with very little time on hold.
2. Fee waivers, which would probably save me about $150 per year.
3. System-wide upgrades. Unfortunately, I wouldn't get these in time to use on 2008 travel, and my life seems to alternate lean and fat travel years, so their value in 2009 (when I'll probably fly less) is likely to be less than one might hope. (I don't like the eBay option with these.)
4. Flagship/First Class Lounge access on overseas itineraries. See #3 above.
(There are other benefits, this isn't the place for a complete list, but those wouldn't matter much to me.)
Also, in doing research triggered by a PM in response to the aside about BMWs in my first post, I found that Lufthansa has a 2-for-1 deal for flying to Munich to pick up a European Delivery BMW. It books into Q, which only earns half miles on bmi, but that shouldn't be a problem. The savings would be nice.