Switch to Continental?
 

For four years, I was a Continental Platinum and switched due to flight availability out of LAX. Now, I'm an American Executive Platinum who travels about 150k annually, virtually all domestic. I'm less and less impressed by American and am considering switching back.

American upgrades me for free about 90% fo the time, but their first class ain't what it used to be.

Can anyone give me comparative thoughts? Which is better? Which treats you better? Will Continental match?

You won't get 90% upgrades that's for sure! (Esp on EWR-LAX)
:(
CO is better service in general, both in front and back. however, I'd "suffer" the less stellar service on AA for a much bigger shot at the big chair.

AA also has much better options out of LAX, so I'd say stick with them.

I think Entropy is correct.

CO does not have a level over 75k miles - so you lose a benefit right there.

Also, with the exception of the ERJ flights down to Mexico, all of CO flights from LAX are to thier elite-heavy hubs, IAH, EWR and CLE - where even if you are a Platinum on a high fare ticket, you are still battling reward tickets, upgrade mileage redemptions, higher fare Plats and paid FC seats (which have become much more common with the $1,000 transcon FC "Z" fare).

A very tough upgrade indeed.

I think most Plats will agree that the UG % was around 85-90% last year and that this year, depending on your home base, has dropped to 50%-70%.

Sounds like you have good thing going.........

My experience has been different
 

I was where you are, with high status on AA, sick of the dirty planes, nonexistent food service and the Stupid 80's on 4 and 5 hour flights with no IFE for any price. My boss, who flies out of EWR, turned me on to CO and I have been overjoyed ever since. Ad for upgrade percentage, I am at 53 flgiht segments this calendar year and have been in coach 3 times. That's 94%. And many of my flights have been transcon, several EWR-SFO, EWR-PDX and EWR-SEA and EWR-LAS. CO actually acts like they want my business, the planes are clean, and the FC service is really quite good, as is the food. Unlike AA and UA, the FAs don't spend the entire flight in the galley complaining about how awful their jobs are and how much they hate their jobs, schedules and paychecks. Even in Y, CO is far better than any other airlines that I have been on. I have told people that with the exception of the seat size and pitch, AA first is like CO Y.

So there's another opinion to further confuse you. Good luck!

Why not toggle between the two programs? After you get a status match. I'm sure they will give you on, and then fly the 75 EQM with CO and then put the rest on AA.

FYI: No one's FC is what it used to be, CO tends to be smong the best and AA is right up there to. Good luck on upgrades NYC/EWR-LAX - they are hard to come by for even a Platinum on a high economy fare. Apple to Apple though I'd much on Continental any day over AA.

-Vincent

It all really depends on where your home base is. If you were based at EWR and bought tix in any fare class K or lower I can PROMISE you your upgrade percentage would not even come close to 94% for transcons. Maybe 55% if you are really fortunate, but probably closer to 35% all things considered.