FlyerTalk Forums - Exit Strategy From AS to Another FF Program

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying for Fun (Post 30506469)

Just shy of 250K with a bulk of that in the last three years.

James

In the sort-of words of Roger Waters, ♫ your butt must have become uncomfortably numb ♫

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastbay1K (Post 30506744)

In the sort-of words of Roger Waters, ♫ your butt must have become uncomfortably numb ♫

When I am Flying for Fun, I "hover" with excitement. ;)

James

Quote:

Originally Posted by VegasGambler (Post 30506739)

I agree with you in principle. I just don't think it's the case for AS.

If you're willing to pay 2c per mile, then the miles must be worth that much to you (I am, because it gives me good value for award travel)

If you can buy a Main (not saver) transcon round trip for $320, and (as Gold) accrue $200 worth of miles... that sounds like a pretty good deal to me. $120 net cost for a transcon round trip where I'm going to be able to select a premium seat for free? With no status, I paid $113 just to select a Y+ seat on AA, one way (and I don't regret it). Being able to do that for free every single time is worth a lot!

For shorter routes it's less obvious. Certainly if you value flexibility on shuttle type routes you might find a lot better value with Southwest. But I still see AS as the clear winner for mid- and long- distance routes, or routes where I just don't value the flexibility. The exception might be "premium" routes if you are willing to pay $1k+ each way for a real premium cabin experience (I'm still debating that one, personally)

If you don't value the miles or the premium seats then it's a totally different story.

But if you do, you've got to "pick" an airline in order to get the status for those premium seats (not having status mean paying every time, which really adds up.. that's not going to be your most cost effective choice). And you may as well pick the one where the price, adjusted for the value of the miles that you earn, is the lowest. And that's still AS.

many people have been mileage running for years. I dont think people used 2c per miles as an yard stick for mileage running.

i used to do 3c/eqm on UA/DL/AA and gain systemwide upgrades.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying for Fun (Post 30507494)

When I am Flying for Fun, I "hover" with excitement. ;)

James

that is **FAR** too much information :p

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrl767 (Post 30507584)

that is **FAR** too much information :p

I survived 29hrs 30 min last Thursday/Friday on PHX-SEA-ANC-HNL-SEA-LAX. After a nice shower and a horizontal nap I was well prepared for my LAX-SJO-LAX immediate turn the next day. That was followed the day after with a leisurely LAX-SEA-PHX. The first 5 segments showed on the app as PHX-LAX with stops in SEA, ANC, HNL & SEA.

Next flights are Saturday & Sunday this weekend and Saturday & Sundayday the following weekend.

James

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbd456 (Post 30507502)

many people have been mileage running for years. I dont think people used 2c per miles as an yard stick for mileage running.

i used to do 3c/eqm on UA/DL/AA and gain systemwide upgrades.

This has nothing to do with mileage running. If you are paying 2c per mile to get award tickets, then every mile you get saves you 2c.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VegasGambler (Post 30506739)

You’re discounting time value at $0. A transcon with an immediate turn is 10-12 hours of my life I don’t get back, that in a best case scenario I spend in a metal tube in a reasonably comfortable chair eating kale and polenta, but not outside, or exercising, or with friends, or any number of things I would love to do. I’m based in SEA not SFO so upgrades are not a gimme; maybe it’s just cheese trays and a free drink. $160 one way transcons in Main aren’t all THAT easy to come by (basically January-March and November-December), so that means I have to cram in 50-60 hours of flying to nowhere in the space of four or five months. I have other demands on my time (that don’t involve flying to nowhere).

Frankly it’s not worth it to wait for the next cycle of “how do I get hosed this year”, because flying in tubes so I can fly in tubes isn’t flying for fun for me. Maybe it is for you or others here. Good for you. Enjoy your flights.

So we're all staying, for the time being, but many (like myself) are headed towards the free agent route. As we should be.

It's a Seller's market, for certain, but only unless we're Buying.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastbay1K (Post 30506419)

Um, yah. I'm not even at 500K and an MP member since 1986.

I am still below 100k and my first AS flight was in 1994. Admittedly, while I was based at SFO there was little reason to fly AS, but even now in my 4th year in the PNW my actual AS MM miles are about 20k this year and I am requalifying for Gold. MM status is just not a goal at all for me. If I wanted another MM challenge to complement my UA MM status, I would be much better off shifting travel to AA where I have maybe 250k lifetime miles. At least they have true long hauls.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eponymous_coward (Post 30507724)

You’re discounting time value at $0. A transcon with an immediate turn is 10-12 hours of my life I don’t get back

Oh, no, I'm not talking about mileage running.

What I'm saying is that if I have to go to New York and I'm going to fly economy, I'm going to pick the airline that gives me a "rebate" in the form of $200 worth of miles from my $250-$320 round trip fare, rather than one that gives me far less.

Also, I'm going to repeatedly pick the same airline, rather than picking a different one each time to save a few dollars each time, so that I can sit in a premium seat for my flights.

I am not going to fly to NY just for the miles. I, too, have better things to do with my time. I am going to fly to LA just to get over the line for gold, but I'm making a 1-night vacation out of it. That's the closest I come to mileage running -- I take an extra, short vacation that I might not otherwise take.

I consider myself free agent. :D i was delta diamond at one point, UA 1k for many years. i go where to deals go.

Hi -

I have been the same. My lifetime EQMs are all over the board, including DL MM, AA MM. 707K on AS, 600K on UA, Mosaic on B6. Hell, even elite this year on F9 and in the past CP on WN.

As the value proposition continues to shift, I will re-evaluate my travel patterns and fly with the company that gives the best value. As we all should.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orwaid (Post 30507840)

i have nothing to show for.. i am 650k in DL 660k on UA..... and half a million on AA.

now i just focus in keeping AA emerald and *A Gold.. when AS stops give premium cabin bonus on partners, i will be gone for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by azepine00 (Post 30502889)

Do other airlines offer you a meaningful route network improvement?

Perhaps the OP is based in SEA. Absent that, it would be impossible for other airlines not to offer a meaningful route network improvement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by notquiteaff (Post 30507796)

I am still below 100k and my first AS flight was in 1994. Admittedly, while I was based at SFO there was little reason to fly AS, but even now in my 4th year in the PNW my actual AS MM miles are about 20k this year and I am requalifying for Gold. MM status is just not a goal at all for me. If I wanted another MM challenge to complement my UA MM status, I would be much better off shifting travel to AA where I have maybe 250k lifetime miles. At least they have true long hauls.

That's my issue as well. UA MP member since '87, but AS (pmVX) only since '08 and it's the average flight length in that time that makes MM seem impossible.