yeah how do you like AAs old crummy planes and first class seats!!!

I like them a lot, especially the international business and first class seats that I upgrade into via VIP certs with no miles and no HoKeY fee$. ;)

I also receive free upgrades domestically and have a much smaller chance of seeing a jungle jet deployed on a route for which such an aircraft is inappropriate (> 1 hour flight).

Its all subjective. I agree that an international upgrade would be nice. I also like AA's service, but as for metal I would prefer a jungle jet to those aging S-80s. I have around 20k AA miles, but it just sits there, as I avoid them like the plague due to the poor airplanes.

"Labour" is just a convenient way of alluding that the hourly employees (who often just get by themselves) are screwing CO. Do you really think Gordo is willing to give up a large chunk of his (obviously ample) pie? Has management made the same concessions they're asking of "Labour?"

Wow, that is subjective. I'd take an S80 or even a F*kker 100 or A300 anyday over a cramped RJ.

Heck, I'd even take a LRTC 757, where I have a 90+% chance of sitting in F for free and a 99+% chance of getting either an exit row or an F seat, both of which come with a power outlet and 100+% EQMs, regardless of fare paid. :D

Whose Grass is Greener
 

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Are we going to play the game of "Whose grass is greener?" Every airlines has thier perks and downsides... Continental right now is just trying to experiement to see what will work in the long term and now ... I'm always an advocate of hanging in there waiting to see the end product...

AA is better for some things and Continental is better for others... thats life...

My point is that the CO grass is not green enough to be worth 50% EQMs... unless you happen to be smoking it. ;)

Maybe I just can't find it!!!
 

Please share as to the better part of CO (vs. AA)

Right now Im with spiff.. you'd have to be smoking the green grass to tolerate CO

Lets go down the list
 

I haven't been on ALL types of AA aircraft but here is what I have been on in comparison to CO

738 AA... why? MRTC any day any time over CO's Y Seat... No diff in F and AA doesn't have four other versions to worry about... 733/5/7/8/9 how many F seats or what Y seat to select..

757 - Haven't been on An AA 752 (I know not all have MRTC as well) but I'll take MRTC over the 752 or 753 on CO anytime.. I don't "think" AA fly's these tubes over the pond either like CO does.. so you can have your overpriced BF in a 757 on this one... domestically in F.. I can't say... haven't flown one, they don't really fly many 757's on the routes that I fly.


767 - AA fly's two versions I think.. 762 and 763.. If I recall correctly.. the 762's are 3 class (oh thats right.. those at CO don't know what those are) sold as two class domestically.. or as 3 int'lly, and the 763 is a two class used on transcons a lot or int'lly again. I've flown these in J domestically and int'lly and they are not BF I'll give you that.. however for the price diff (my last AA J was 3K less than CO) AA dollar for dollar takes the cake.. plus there is a Real F class on the 762's... Again something CO doesn't have.. if you are in Y.. MRTC any time anywhere... CO coach.. I can't stop cringing CO flies three versions of the 767??? the 762/4/4Hawaii.. I've been on the 4H and the 762 domestically.. not bad for a EUA upgrade domestically.. but I'll take the AA J seats that I know I can get over the hoops I have to jump through just to have a snowballs chance in a roaring fireplace just to play a lottery. The 764 overseas is a good aircraft if you are in BF.. but then again.. AA in many cases will give you a real F or a slightly less than BF J for less coin. Lets not even go to the back of the bus on CO... even you know it stinks


777 - AA has two.. 777A/777B I'll take my options with AA again... choice of Three classes of which AA F is better than BF at CO; BF is slightly better than J on AA, or Y where AA is infinitely better than CO.. CO Y Y=Yuck

S80 - anyone who says that they will take an RJ (1/2 seating) over the S80 is flat out lying or needs to really get some professional help.. I'll take the S80 (note: i've never taken the TWA S80's though and have heard bAAd things about them) over the CO RJ anyday

RJ - An RJ is an RJ to me.. its something I dread.. and my chances of flying one on AA are less than on CO and on that note right there, I would find AA better.. Again thats based on the common routes that I fly.. IAD-LAX or IAD - SLC

Spiff feel free to chime in here.. I've only been at AA 9 months.. so you know the aircraft a lot better than I do..

Battlefield upgrade? Never heard that at AA.. hmm maybe b/c everyone is already up front

Interesting comparison. How easy has it been for you to get upgraded on AA v. CO & what airport(s) are you based?

I think the better comparison is the treatment of top tier customers, although to earn top tier on AA you need to fly an extra 25,000 miles.

ExecPlat on AA offers unlimited, free upgrades in the US, Canada, Mexico and Central America/Carribbean (space available, of course) confirmed at 100 hours before departure. ExecPlats get 8 one-way systemwide upgrade coupons which can be used anywhere. An AA top tier should almost never fly in coach unless they fly alot of international trips in paid coach and dont want to use miles or buy certs to upgrade past the 4 roundtrip freebies.

I think the FC cabins on CO aircraft are abit nicer (newer) and you get the IFE and decent meals...but I think AA offers a better total package to their top tier. Award redemption is a snap on AA compared to CO.

Once again, each program and service has its own pros and cons...and each customer should do their homework to decide which works best for their personal situation. AA does not penalize discount customers in any way - they permit higher revenue customers to get their status faster, which is perfectly fair.

You've done a fine job describing AA's aircraft. Not much to add there.

No matter what features one finds more pleasing with OnePass or with CO's planes, service, or amenities; I contend that none of these aspects makes up for 50% EQMs for cheaper fares.

A person with a choice who doesn't consistently fly on higher fares would really have to be high to choose CO and 50% EQMs over AA and 100% EQMs.

My take...
 

Interesting comparisons, thoughts and comments.

As a person who flies almost 30k miles per year, mostly on leisure (I pay, almost 20k miles), I have absolutely no complaints about CO's policies about EUAs and Elite Access. Do I expect to be upgraded to First Class on all flights, when I'm flying $300 EWR-SAN? Absolutely not. However, if there's space available, I do expect an upgrade.

Having said that, I don't see how or why my el cheapo transcon ticket shouldn't qualify for all miles flown - if I fly 6000 miles, I expect 6000 EQM. I'm not mooching off CO - I paid, I expect. Simple. If CO changes that policy, I'm bailing out.

As for rewards, I've never tried to redeem my miles, so I can't comment.
I seriously contemplated switching from CO to AA. However, after comparing CO & AA, and reviewing EUAs, I think CO is fair and better than AA. I have no complaints about the food in both FC and cabin...Besides, I'm only a lowly Silver, but fly FC on 80% of all flights, lot of it on U, V & S fares..

My Friday morning rant, and my $0.02.

I have to agree. If 50% EQMs, the worst award availability of the major programs, and draconian BF award/upgrade rules & restrictions don't push frequent flyers off CO planes, nothing ever will.

AA vs. CO
 

Not totally familiar with AA program, but it sounds to me that for lowest tier, OnePass is better, but for middle or top tier, AA has the better program. Is this a fair assessment?