Hi,
I'm currently a frequent flyer on United, as are two other members of my family (we have 3p, 2p, and 1p). We are contemplating switching to CO on the following grounds:
-they will join *A soon which we like
-we live in mid-PA and CO from EWR seems like a much better local carrier than US from PHL
-we fly a lot of United, and are mostly disappointed with UA's service
-E+ is good, but like the only good thing
-food is free on CO
-very disappointed with UA Business (seat, food, service)
-upgrade system on CO
-cheaper fares generally to where we want to go
-can get to the Pres. Club with the Credit Card
-they fly to destinations that suit us better


Please tell me if this is the right decision. While I'm unhappy with United on some things, I want to make sure that I'm not getting a worse product. While I'd miss E+, it sounds like there are a lot more upgrades of CO. If it seems like it's a good decision, I'll go ahead and put the status match through.

Thanks,
revigik

If you don't need the 500EQM minimum or 25% bonus and want a status match I'd say go for it, CO still has great planes, mostly helpful FAs, and in the south is ggod on time, EWR isn't so go but hopefully will be better soon.

Depending on which routes you connect out of EWR, upgrades may be difficult to obtain, esp for lower tier elites. Also, keep in mind that EWR is subject to a significant amount of IRROPs.

Overall, CO has the superior domestic first product, and their employees are more motivated than at UA. If you purchase domestic first-class tickets, then I would definitely go with CO.

I am a CO*Plat (UGS level, sorta) and can chime in on a few of these:
1-I live in mid-pa, and have switched from CO to UA. (fly out of ABE a lot, EWR and connect on UA quite a bit too)
2-CO did have far superior service-a few years ago. It has seemed to have taken a few steps backwards, and I have noticed UA's service seems to have gained in the past 12 months (I fly 100+ segments on UA AND CO each year) UA-overall-has better service in F then CO. (service meaning attentive FA's)
3-E+ is not good, its GREAT. CO E------ STINKS. it IS that bad! 'nough said.
4- "food" is a relative term anymore. F food is different. CO usually gets you an additional "soup" (laiden with cheese and most likely mushrooms ). Y gets you a $2 subway sandwich. I dont eat the Y meals, and rarely eat the F meals, as I prefer to save my meals for something that is a few steps above "free" food.
5-Int or domestic? I assume you are talking int. I have flown UA/US/CO/DL/AF Int C and can say that of all of them, CO has the worst seat. They do have FAR superior service, IMO. (Surprisingly, I actually liked the US seat the best ) With the new UA C seats, (and CO historically REALLY SLOW at rolling out new product), I would not expect to see lie-flat seats on CO until UA is onto their NEXT product improvement. (see the avod threads and how long THAT is taking!)
6-out of EWR, as a PLAT, you will have trouble upgrading. Transcons, you will NEVER be upgraded! I am much more of a fan of the E500's and an E+ seat if i dont u/g on UA. CO coach STINKS.
7-IMO, this is not true for me. CO is much more expensive on my flights then UA or US out of PHL. (still fly some UA from PHL).
8-You still pay for this feature. So, either pay for the club with the credit card, or pay for it without.
9-This is true. I like the CO route network (EUROPE destinations are great, so is caribbean) MUCH better then the UA-east coast (IAD) connection network

A few items you forgot:

Award travel is MUCH more difficult to find on CO
parking at EWR is DOUBLE PHL
EWR stinks for security wait times
Award travel is MUCH more difficult to find on CO (did i say that?)

Overall, I am happy (ier ?) with UA. I have taken 90% of my business to UA since March. Many factors have gone into this. (Lack of promos on CO, consistant E+/E500's clearing, LARGER planes from ewr, elite choice, SWU's!!!, CR1's, award availability, etc)

I just made the same switch, though I've still got to wind down a few already-purchased UA flights before getting onboard CO for most of my ongoing travel.

Note that as a 3P, I don't think CO is going to give you a status match. Other than UA seating 1 boarding and free E+, UA 3P as a "gifted not earned" status isn't really the equivalent of any other airline's elite status, even their lowest.

So you'd be starting from the bottom on CO. No EliteAccess boarding, no preferred check-in, no upgrades (no upgrades on UA for you now either though, unless you buy e500s at the discounted elite rate), no RDM bonus (since you don't have any RDM bonus as a 3P either, no big deal).

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to *ask* CO for a match, but in your case I wouldn't expect it. Make your decision upon flying CO as a GM for your first 25K miles.