Question on switching...
 

Ok I am afraid of getting "enhanced" out of OP elite.. I am currently Gold going to make Platinum this year but on a mix of fares. I fly mostly NW because it is hard to justify the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ premium put on by CO to fly ERJ's (BTW just as a side note shouldn't they be cheaper to operate and therefore provide lower costs then the big jets? and as a result allow CO a competitive fare?)

My question is is it better to go over to UA/US (assuming comp) or try the NW switch...
AA is out as I have to many Q class tickets (friends on the west coast for long weekends)..

I also do about 3 flights a year to Asia (coach low fare and about 15 domestic mixed pricing)...

Thanks in advance for your help...

My .02....

It's a toss up. Being in NYC, the UA/US partnership would be useful, and I've read that both are pretty good about matching status. The biggest drawback to UA/US is the financial shape of both. Putting the two weaklings together won't make both stronger. AFIK, the employee groups on both sides are likely to start blaming the other for job losses after their bankruptcies. Codesharing doesn't create a lot of jobs, at least not in the short term.

But if you do any east coast flying at all, US would be better than NW. But as far as flying to the west coast, and Asia, they'll do ya just fine, and they appear to be much more sound financially. And besides, you can use your orphaned OP miles for Y seats on NW, and still get an Elite upgrades.

I tried AA this year as well, and while MRTC and a blocked seat makes a difference, the all RJ service to ORD sucks, and DFW connections make my trips to PDX and SEA longer than need be. Looks like it's NW for me next year...

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[This message has been edited by Beef or Chicken? (edited 08-22-2002).]

Hey duxfan,
if everything was equal - fares, schedules, employees, PC's, etc. would you fly CO or NW? Oh, and why?
Thanks . .

Well, in my area (CLE), like yours, it's not really a fair question.

I started leaving CO when they eliminated CAK-CLE service, and started replacing mainline service with ExpressJets in major markets. I'm good for about 90 minutes on any commuter plane of any kind, and when commuters started popping up to ORD, MDW, LGA, etc... I realized that I needed to pass thru a bigger hub to be on bigger airplanes. I still fly CO on occassion, but it has to be mainline nonstops from CLE. I'll fly 'em to Vegas for Labor Day. If all things were equal? Here's the scorecard:

Fares = slight edge to NW, but I never buy full Y

People = NW has made big improvement, but front line at CO is still better

Destinations = NW. I can't get to PDX or SEA on CO unless I go to IAH. NW's NRT hub gets me to TPE, and the NW/KL alliance is much more comprehensive for Europe.

Clubs = I love the look of the new WorldClubs, but I miss the Kirin! I don't miss the bartender in the NW clubs. The lockers with charging stations are a nice touch too.

Equipment = NW, because they fly full size jets into more locations. And there's still nothing like a 747-400!

Upgrade ability = NW. Automated upgrades are much easier to come by on NW. For myself as a plat, it's a wash. But for my wife (silver), NW always comes thru without A9 F0 shenanigans. Anytime I've needed to upgrade an M fare to Asia, it's never been the hassle CO makes it with HoKeY.

Overall = NW. As recently as last summer, it went the other way. I had some real problems with NW last spring, during the mechanics negotiations.

It just seems that NW wants my business these days. CO just seems to want to figure out how to get more money out of me. It doesn't mean that it couldn't swing back, but I don't see it happening any time soon.

Very good assessment, dux. I would add that on recent NW trips, the food in FC has gotten noticibly better. Its still not up to CO's standard, but who knows how long it will be before CO reduces food service in FC to equal or go below that of NW. I just get a feeling the NW is ascending and CO, is, well, heading in the other direction.