Based in Shanghai: Stick with AA?
Nov 9, 2011, 7:47 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DFW
Programs: Former AA EXP; 2M Lifetime PLT member-
Posts: 405
Avoid Star Alliance-- competing for the upgrades is fierce b/c so many 1Ks (United) are based in the west coast....
And with oneworld you get nonstop to LAX and also ORD and you also have decent options via NRT. And 8 systemwide upgrades are a great deal, and you get 4 more everytime you hit the million mark and you can upgrade even from the cheapest fare codes (unlike Delta and United).
Skyteam would be good, especially with the China Eastern/China Southern Alliance.... and you also get nonstop Delta flights to USA ( ATL and DTW?) (and also via NRT)
And with oneworld you get nonstop to LAX and also ORD and you also have decent options via NRT. And 8 systemwide upgrades are a great deal, and you get 4 more everytime you hit the million mark and you can upgrade even from the cheapest fare codes (unlike Delta and United).
Skyteam would be good, especially with the China Eastern/China Southern Alliance.... and you also get nonstop Delta flights to USA ( ATL and DTW?) (and also via NRT)
Nov 9, 2011, 7:58 pm
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,032
While CA's presence in Shanghai has grown substantially over the course of the past 5 years, and the trend is continuing, their network pales in comparison to MU/CZ. Plus, CZ's W fares are a nice treat.
Nov 9, 2011, 11:56 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Shanghai
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 46
I'd stick with AA. The 8 eVIPs and the F lounge access is a huge plus. Don't forget that OW is the only alliance that grants status-based F lounge access.
If CA works for your domestic travel, then you might want to think about banking miles with UA or some other *A carrier. 50k/yr is enough to make *G with lounge access - some *A carriers offer *G at <50k. If you do want to combine miles in one alliance, UA would be the way to go, though you won't earn as many SWUs and you may want to look into how difficult the PVG routes are for upgrading.
DL is not the carrier for international uprgades or lounge access. Getting to the forward cabin on DL involves purchasing only the most expensive Y fares and then dealing with the upgrade shenanigan lottery. The only benefit would be to have MU and CZ for mileage earning.
My advice, stick with AA and consider Priority Pass for lounge access on non-OW carriers. The domestic flights will be short anyway.
If CA works for your domestic travel, then you might want to think about banking miles with UA or some other *A carrier. 50k/yr is enough to make *G with lounge access - some *A carriers offer *G at <50k. If you do want to combine miles in one alliance, UA would be the way to go, though you won't earn as many SWUs and you may want to look into how difficult the PVG routes are for upgrading.
DL is not the carrier for international uprgades or lounge access. Getting to the forward cabin on DL involves purchasing only the most expensive Y fares and then dealing with the upgrade shenanigan lottery. The only benefit would be to have MU and CZ for mileage earning.
My advice, stick with AA and consider Priority Pass for lounge access on non-OW carriers. The domestic flights will be short anyway.
Nov 9, 2011, 11:58 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Shanghai
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 46
Avoid Star Alliance-- competing for the upgrades is fierce b/c so many 1Ks (United) are based in the west coast....
And with oneworld you get nonstop to LAX and also ORD and you also have decent options via NRT. And 8 systemwide upgrades are a great deal, and you get 4 more everytime you hit the million mark and you can upgrade even from the cheapest fare codes (unlike Delta and United).
Skyteam would be good, especially with the China Eastern/China Southern Alliance.... and you also get nonstop Delta flights to USA ( ATL and DTW?) (and also via NRT)
And with oneworld you get nonstop to LAX and also ORD and you also have decent options via NRT. And 8 systemwide upgrades are a great deal, and you get 4 more everytime you hit the million mark and you can upgrade even from the cheapest fare codes (unlike Delta and United).
Skyteam would be good, especially with the China Eastern/China Southern Alliance.... and you also get nonstop Delta flights to USA ( ATL and DTW?) (and also via NRT)
And yes, upgrading from the cheapest fare codes with AA's SWUs is a very sweet benefit, indeed.
Nov 10, 2011, 12:03 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Shanghai
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 46
Dear All: Thanks for all the advice, I think I'm going to stick with AA (first order of business, need to book another 30K in flights this year for Exec Platinum!) and do MU/CZ domestically and CX/JAL intra-Asia when I can.
The bottom line is that, for me, AA does have a superior product, internationally. The SWUs and F Lounge access are quite a deal.
Nov 10, 2011, 12:12 am
#21
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Seoul (GMP/RKSS) HNL/PHNL
Programs: A3 *G, fmr DL PM
Posts: 404
Drawback to AA, now that I'm based in Shanghai:
- No China partner: It's unbelievable to me that both China Eastern and China Southern are Sky Team partners; I know AA pursued on of those two, but lost.
- I'll fly 50K per year inside China, none of which will be credited to AA.
- I'll only fly 3 times non-personal trips to the US on AA (~45K-50K EQM)
- No China partner: It's unbelievable to me that both China Eastern and China Southern are Sky Team partners; I know AA pursued on of those two, but lost.
- I'll fly 50K per year inside China, none of which will be credited to AA.
- I'll only fly 3 times non-personal trips to the US on AA (~45K-50K EQM)
Keep both if you can. Your 50,000 MQMs on MU and CZ will net you ST E+, which is all you really need if you aren't in the USA much to enjoy unlimited domestic upgrades on DL.
Do what you can to enjoy either OneWorld or Star Alliance status, because at the higher levels you tend to get more international upgrade options.
I live in Seoul, and being above DL Gold does absolutely nothing for me. Heck, I have a Y fare for a flight ICN-ATL next week and can't even get an upgrade with both SWU or miles.