Should I switch to Continental?
 

I'm platinum on delta with 87k qualification miles for this year, so I'll be platinum for the following year as well. I have recently moved to the NJ area so my primary airport is now EWR. I'm wondering if I should switch over to One Pass. Both are skyteam and I know that they don't do skyteam status matching, but given that I fly almost every week to vegas, I'm wondering if they'd make a special case for me.

Also, has anyone else done a comparison on SkyMiles vs. OnePass. From my quick review, it looks like One Pass might be a bit better with the 125% bonus miles for platinums and a better selection of outside skyteam partner airlines.

Anyway, I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Hi. Welcome to FlyerTalk.

Since you will be flying out of Newark, I would probably switch over to CO. However, not sure how well you will do on upgrades from EWR-LAS, even as an eventual Plat on CO. Perhaps some others can post their success rates. The only thing you would really gain, aside from maybe a few extra Plat bonus miles, would be upgrades. If you aren't able to get that benefit on the routes you take, I might just stay with Delta. You get all the other benefits if you stayed with Delta.

Like I said, I would probably do it, but it is something to think about. Is your move to NJ permanent or only temporary? If only here for a little while, might make sense just to stick with Delta.

Curious which partner airlines in OnePass you consider better - from a quick glance, it looks like the key ones that CO currently has which are not in DL's are HA, BR, QF, TP, UX, and Copa. Of all of those, only QF is something noteworthy. But that can be counterbalanced by SQ and MH in SkyMiles...

the main one which i would be looking for is Virgin Atlantic which according to the continental site is accepted: Other valid OnePass reward partners include: Air Europa, Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, American Eagle, Amtrak, British European (flybe.), Cape Air, Copa Airlines, Emirates, TAP Portugal and Virgin Atlantic.

You will find that DL, CO and NW will not status match anymore because they are all in SkyTeam. :(

I have contemplated a move to NW, given I have twice monthly travel to MSP, but have been told that they will not honor due to the switch over. The bummer for you is that DL does not have UG privilege's on CO, not that you will score that many on CO :p

Let us know if CO honors the DL status match, but you may be better off where you are....

Forgot to address you question about making a special exception for status match. I think the only way that this might be possible is to have many, many weeks of travel booked in advance. Then maybe they would consider your request. Good luck.

Welcome to FT!

If Continental won't give you a status match if you're already another SkyTeam member, why don't you see if another non-ST member will match you. So, if you're elite on AA, UA, or US, take that to Continental and see if they'll match it. ;) I don't know if they indicate on your statement that you're in a match (white out), but if they don't you're home clear. You could also do a bit of advance booking to LAS, as another poster just suggested, to really show you're committed to switching to CO.

i think, with enough work, you could get CO to match your DL status. they will not, however do it with NW status.

one argument could be that CO does not offer upgrades to DL elites.

booked travel on CO and past travel history with DL will help.

thanks for all the replies. i'll definitely give a try to having CO upgrade based on my delta status. one thing that was concerning, though, is the apparent frustration with customer service. from an outside perspective, CO looks so promising since it's the only airline that isnt in dire straights when it comes to their financials.

are there any anticipated upgrades in service? DL is supposedly going to offer Song like services on cross country flights, while still keeping FC services. that definitely sounds promising.

we'll see how well that translates into actual services.

one thing i really did appreciate is that there was a mechanical problem on a flight i was on from LAS. they offered up a coupon for a future, domestic flight. i've never seen that on delta.