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Status and upgrades on AA vs DL: seek advice

Status and upgrades on AA vs DL: seek advice

Old Apr 7, 2019, 8:15 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: Delta Skymiles Platinum, American Gold
Posts: 89
Status and upgrades on AA vs DL: seek advice

Hello. I post seeking some advice. Most of my travel for the past fifteen years has been on Delta or Delta partners. I have had a Delta branded American Express card personally and through my business. We routinely run around 400k through the cards plus enough butt in seat miles to hit Platinum status each year. Well, I am moving to Florida and will be flying SRQ-CLT-SBY and SRQ-CLT-PHL-SBY, and return, around 15 times a year. Because only American flies into SBY I figure I'm going to be taking this airline a lot and I want to maximum status opportunities. I'd like to ask opinions and recommendations on switching to the American Airlines branded credit card (or another) and other ways to get more out of this new flight pattern. In addition to those fairly regular FL-MD trips we also do probably three to five other flights a year, either to Europe or to various destinations across the USA for business meetings. We pay for business class when going to Europe and typically do pay for First class when flying to business meetings. I am not sure I'd pay for first class on the Florida to SBY flights because they're so short and the flights into and out of SBY are on economy-only regional jets.

I hadn't flown American all that much because my limited experiences have been of a pretty lousy product compared to Delta and having that branded American Express card brought some perks.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions on how to maximize the new travel pattern on American.
michaelaeaston is offline  
Old Apr 8, 2019, 8:36 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: AA lifetime plat 2.5 million
Posts: 297
I live in your connection city (PHL) and we have a place in Sarasota (SRQ). My comments are based upon 6 to 8 roundtrips a year PHL/SRQ. I am also thinking you will typically connect in Philly. We have not yet chosen to leave a car in Florida, so we rent one. I typically use Hot Wire's value pick.

SRQ is a pleasant smaller airport. From PHL, the only current non-stops are on regional jets Friday to Sunday. And they are expensive.

The best and most economical solution for me has been to fly into Tampa and rent a car there. TPA to Sarasota is a relatively easy drive on the interstate which lasts about an hour. The car rental process in TPA is also easy with a new rental center you access via a modern shuttle train (like DFW) which runs every 4 minutes. The airfare PHL/TPA is typically around $270 (not including Easter crush) while PHL/SRQ is around $460. Since there are 2 of us traveling, this difference more than pays for the rental car. Also, rental cars in TPA are typically 10% to 20% less than SRQ. Sometimes, local friends offer to pick us up or drop us off; I have also rented one-way, which is about $50 all in for mid size.

So much for economics.. If your company is picking up the tab, that's not so important.

The questions of convenience and timing come next. There are currently 6 daily flights TPA/PHL. And these are on real jets, not regionals. There are 3 PHL/SBY flights at about 3, 6, and 9 pm. SBY/PHL are approximately 6am, 9am, and 4pm. Flight lasts about an hour, all on regionals. There are 2 CLT/SBY flights. You could figure which routings are least painful for you.

But, in case of irr-ops, PHL is a 2:30 drive to Salisbury. At least you're not stuck. CLT is not really drivable.

If you have more specific questions, just ask them. Any change, even one for the better, is always a bit traumatic. As with most travel-related things, convenience and comfort are valued at different rates by different people.

Now the miles thing. I currently use a Citibank AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard. (What a mouthful!) When I signed up, there was a 60,000 mile bonus. Although it costs $450 a year, you get Admirals Club membership (a $350 value) and all kinds of travel insurance, including trip cancellation, Global Entry reimbursement, rental car protection, early boarding on AA flights, etc. You can also sign up for another card with a $99 fee and a 70,000 mile bonus. Just be careful because, to receive the miles, you must spend $3k or $4k within the first 3 or 4 months. I got one, met the spend requirement, then got the other. After about 6 months, I had 130,000 miles, which I converted into a business class trip to Europe. But don't listen to me. See if what is offered is of value to you.

Finally, if you had status on DL, ask AA to match it. If you fly a certain amount of miles within a specified time, they match.

So, enjoy your new location. Perhaps we can meet for a drink on St. Armand's Circle one afternoon!
phillyjoe is offline  
Old Apr 8, 2019, 9:16 am
  #3  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
(I can't say that I have checked lately but) I don't believe any of the AA cards grant an elite spending waiver as may have been helpful to you for Delta Plat or Diamond status. If you have been choosing Delta Regional Upgrade Certs (RUCs) and been getting good value out of those you should look carefully at AA Plat and Plat pro statuses.

I almost hate to suggest it but do you really think you want to double-connect for SRQ-CLT-PHL-SBY rather than just flying Allegiant non-stop SRQ-BWI the 2x weekly it's offered?
3Cforme is offline  

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