I'm a current Delta Silver Medallion with ~375k Million Miler Points. I've moved from Cincinnati (former major, now minor Delta hub) to the Northern Virginia/DC area and I'm considering switching to AAdvantage based on its high $/point value I've seen on some travel sites and the fact that DCA is an American hub.

What are your thoughts? Is it worth giving up my (minor) status and starting anew with a new airline?

Study the networks and where you want to fly, then look at incidentals like the frequent flyer plan. A slightly better one-a-year domestic award redemption isn't worth making connections five times vs. non-stops.

DL award search has improved greatly in the last few months (even if DL-metal award availability hasn't). AA award availability has gotten worse, notably for long-haul travel in premium cabins. References to the superiority of AAdvantage may be dated (or hubris at this point).

I have been a DL FF for almost 10 years, 3 of them as Diamond at MSP but gradually becoming PL and now GL after my move to PHL 3 years ago.

Since my move to PHL I have been able to maintain US Plat and now Chairman status for 2015. Chairman for me has meant UGs 100% of the time, but I am sure the mileage varies for other CP status folks.

I definitely like the US FF program more than Delta's. My GF and I have been upgraded countless times in US, something that never happened while at DL where I had to use miles to secure UGs. With DL I saw my UG percentage when flying solo go down a lot when I lost Diamond for Platinum and it did not help I had to connect in ATL.

Service wise I find DL a bit better than US, but not by that much; however, the AA merger did help the FC product in US make it more DL like. I also flew AA metal twice early this year and found FC to be about the same. Nothing really makes them very different IMHO. US, DL, AA are about the same when riding FC, give or take, so for me it is all about the UG percentage and companion UGs.

Awards have been great in US Air. I go to Europe twice a year and take advantage of the super savers early in the year with RTs for 35K miles, 30K if I use my MC CC. Not sure what will become of them with the new AA program but I usually pay 110K miles for the GF and I when we go in September. We fly coach as Business is not that big of a deal anymore (we did it 2 times) and prefer to go 2 or 3 times to Europe in coach rather than once in Business, combined with Marriott points makes for excellent 5 day trips using rewards (with Marriott in Europe the 5th night is free when using points).

With the AA Merger many of us are not happy with the new AA FF program as the only level that matters (for those used to comp UGs) is the AA Executive. We also lost complimentary UGs for companions. However, for those that do not make it to PLAT EXEC the sticker deal at least gives them a chance to get an UG.

I would say you have little to lose from moving to AA if all you are is Silver or Gold. In fact you may have more to gain with the sticker program. The same goes for platinum unless you do not go through ATL, which is a Diamond mine.

I am looking forward to the new AA FF program and learning how to keep riding up front when flying with the GF domestically.

You are only 1/3 of the way to attaining comp FO which has minimal benefits over what you can get just having an AMEX card. If that is what you are basing your decision on I would suggest shopping for the best airline for the area instead.

Your question has been asked before
Look at the links is post 3 here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html

Thanks for the insight and links to other resources, everyone!