Should I switch from UA to AS?
Nov 15, 2014, 1:50 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 4
Should I switch from UA to AS?
Hi! I am a United Gold member thinking of getting a status match to Alaska Gold but looking for advice, feedback, thoughts. I live in the Seattle area and have always really liked Alaska but rarely fly with them anymore because of Star Alliance. While I have quite a few domestic west coat trips, I fly internationally (South America, SE Asia, Europe) just as much if not more.
It seems like Alaska has a pretty good Mileage Program but given that many of my trips are to destinations that Alaska doesn't fly, I don't know if it makes that much sense. Also it doesn't look like you get lounge access with Delta or AA (or anyone else) on International flights. Can someone clarify this?
Thanks for your help!
It seems like Alaska has a pretty good Mileage Program but given that many of my trips are to destinations that Alaska doesn't fly, I don't know if it makes that much sense. Also it doesn't look like you get lounge access with Delta or AA (or anyone else) on International flights. Can someone clarify this?
Thanks for your help!
Nov 16, 2014, 12:23 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,024
There are several UA vs other ffp in the links in post 3 here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html
Nov 16, 2014, 7:13 am
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
You can credit AA and DL flights (among others) to AS, but AS status gives only very limited benefits when you fly either AA or DL. Given that you fly international, I would think that you should also consider at least DL from SEA, maybe (depending on the fares you purchase) AA too but that will mean more connections.
In all of these discussions, you need to think about what you want to get from your FF program: award tickets, upgrades, lounge access, etc.
In all of these discussions, you need to think about what you want to get from your FF program: award tickets, upgrades, lounge access, etc.
Nov 23, 2014, 9:28 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVPG, Hyatt Discoverist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,399
I agree with others. You don't get much international benefit with AS. I primarily fly up and down the West Coast. I get the AS domestic benefits for my paid flights and then use my miles for international vacations.
Nov 23, 2014, 5:41 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
You can credit AA and DL flights (among others) to AS, but AS status gives only very limited benefits when you fly either AA or DL. Given that you fly international, I would think that you should also consider at least DL from SEA, maybe (depending on the fares you purchase) AA too but that will mean more connections.
In all of these discussions, you need to think about what you want to get from your FF program: award tickets, upgrades, lounge access, etc.
In all of these discussions, you need to think about what you want to get from your FF program: award tickets, upgrades, lounge access, etc.
Nov 23, 2014, 6:04 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,642
i have been happy with my AS status after switching from UA but not happy enough to prevent me from using my expiring 1K to execute a PM challenge on DL (~40% complete to date).
on AS metal, MVPG is awesome. on DL/AA, it's just "OK". for regional west coast travel AS is the way to go. transcon i'm having trouble making it work and >50% of my domestic travel is transcon. internationally, i tend to buy premium economy on AS partners (or J if the cost is right) and credit to AS, which works fine.
on AS metal, MVPG is awesome. on DL/AA, it's just "OK". for regional west coast travel AS is the way to go. transcon i'm having trouble making it work and >50% of my domestic travel is transcon. internationally, i tend to buy premium economy on AS partners (or J if the cost is right) and credit to AS, which works fine.
Nov 23, 2014, 11:06 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: AS: MVPG, Hyatt: P, SPG: G, Marriott: G, IHG: P
Posts: 305
I was UA Gold and matched to AS MVPG last November, I re-qualified as MVPG this year.
Domestically I fly AS as much as possible, as ex-SJC I got a really high chance of complimentary upgrades (in fact, I only sit on coach once on AS metal!). For international my main route was SFO-China, so I fly CX's SFO-HKG-China on Premium Economy instead. Downside is that I no longer have lounge access or priority baggage, but the inflight service was much much better than UA's E+.
I also flied some AA this year. MVPG gives me free MCE seat and some priority, which is nice.
Domestically I fly AS as much as possible, as ex-SJC I got a really high chance of complimentary upgrades (in fact, I only sit on coach once on AS metal!). For international my main route was SFO-China, so I fly CX's SFO-HKG-China on Premium Economy instead. Downside is that I no longer have lounge access or priority baggage, but the inflight service was much much better than UA's E+.
I also flied some AA this year. MVPG gives me free MCE seat and some priority, which is nice.
Nov 24, 2014, 10:37 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: LGA
Posts: 396
The great thing about AS out of SEA is that for now, you can do your business travel on so many different international airlines. To me, the benefit of having non-stops to so many European cities, Dubai, and Seoul credited to a single program is worth the fact that I don't get FF benefits on those trips. In practice, the main FF benefit people care about is upgrades and you don't get those on international flights anyway.
Nov 25, 2014, 9:16 am
#11
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SEA, formerly DCA, PDX and JNU
Programs: AS MVPG75, UA 1K, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Gold, Starwood Gold, Hilton Platinum
Posts: 121
I am getting ready to move back to the Pacific NW after five years in DC and will use this excuse to finally so good riddance to UA. I have 1.2 million lifetime miles on US and thus lifetime gold status, but other than burning up my left over balance, I don't expect to fly UA at all. I just passed MVP and should be MVPG by May or June with the travel I have. So long, UA.
Nov 25, 2014, 4:28 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
I am getting ready to move back to the Pacific NW after five years in DC and will use this excuse to finally so good riddance to UA. I have 1.2 million lifetime miles on US and thus lifetime gold status, but other than burning up my left over balance, I don't expect to fly UA at all. I just passed MVP and should be MVPG by May or June with the travel I have. So long, UA.
Nov 25, 2014, 6:03 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,642
will AS status match an already elite (MVP) member to a higher level? OP's signature indicates he is already AS MVP. most other programs (DL, UA) will only match you if you are dirt (makes no sense, but it is what it is).
Nov 25, 2014, 10:45 pm
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
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Wirelessly posted (beckoa's BB: Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9810; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.11+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.1.0.694 Mobile Safari/534.11+)
It also prevents one from status matching in the future. Guess I'm in favor of organically achieved status
It also prevents one from status matching in the future. Guess I'm in favor of organically achieved status
Nov 25, 2014, 10:55 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
I am getting ready to move back to the Pacific NW after five years in DC and will use this excuse to finally so good riddance to UA. I have 1.2 million lifetime miles on US and thus lifetime gold status, but other than burning up my left over balance, I don't expect to fly UA at all. I just passed MVP and should be MVPG by May or June with the travel I have. So long, UA.
I will say that it has been sad to watched a one great mileage program self-destruct so quickly....the revenue requirement is what finally kicked me over to AS and now they are raising it even higher 