Originally Posted by
Fornebufox
.... UA has E+, but AA appears to treat its low-tier elites better and it looks like I could fast-track to Gold with a Challenge.
I'm based in NYC. Coming up at the end of Feb. is a trip to Oslo, with possible hop to Stockholm. Nothing scheduled till summer, which brings trips to DEN, MSN, SEA (the last two lumped together, but possibly not). Probably another trip to Europe in the fall. Another domestic trip or two (SBA, TUS) possible but not definitively planned.
So, if I throw in my lot with AA it looks like a challenge begun on Feb 16 could ring up the 5000 points for Gold right off the bat -- the L fares quoted earn 1 pt/mile, and it's close to 8000 miles RT. Is it really that easy? Is AA Gold worth the effort? Is it worth the discomfort of flying through (gulp) LHR? Or would I be better off buying E+ access now as I start a year with UA?
* Yes, status is worth it.
* 2nd tier status is really worth it. (double miles add up to TATL Biz awards twice as fast)
* If you're going the challenge route, I'd say suck it up, do some running and go for PLAT... there are lots of relatively cheap fares out there now with multiple segs for big accQmulation. A better value than buying E+.
* AA serves NYC a whole lot better than UA.
* AA has "soft landings" from plat - you'll drop to Gold if you don't re-qual. UA drops you into the sheep pen.