I do find it kind of funny how people often tout maximizing mileage for a trip, then balk when they have to/want to make a connection. Seems like you can't have your cake and eat it too :).

At this point I am waiting it out with DL this year, though I have used at least one other airline recently.

Unfortunately Sun Country and WN don't serve the cities I need to fly to, nor fly internationally. I look forward to the other MSP-ers comments who are hub captive. Seems like the following are staying:

fti
mnredfox
mersk862
MikeMpls (jk, I think you are a CO/WN kool-aid drinker now! :D)
and...?

Well, if you're like the poster you're referring to, I'd say he decided that as long as he's going to be near the bottom of the upgrade list anyway, as either an FO or AS elite, 25% extra RDM (AS MVP gets 50% bonus, DL FO gets 25%) and the ability to redeem on AA/BA/QF/CX/FJ (as well as the ability to earn full EQM on AA) was worth "outsourcing" the mileage plan and losing baggage fee waivers on DL.

At the GM/MVPG level, though, I'd think this was a tougher call, especially with a large chunk of flying on DL.

I go out of my way to maximize miles with connections when time permits (which is the only way I can maintain PM), but for me it's usually DL non-stop and get home today or OAL connecting and get home tomorrow. The airline that flies the last flight of the day that gets me back to MSP usually wins and that's almost always going to be DL (except for next week when I'm on my first ever WN flight).

you are right, most people would like to have both options (me included). in MSP the consensus seems to be: stay with Delta. Today I guess it's the only airline out of MSP which gives you non-stop options and/or allows you to be creative with 2-stop East-West combinations...or you can sometimes mix and match, one way go for mileage, return go for convenience.

my original question was really sparked by all the complaints on miles redeemability and (supposedly) bad customer service.

For now I am staying with DL for paid tickets, basically to milk DL of all the benefits. But my travel is slowing down and I will probably only get GM status this year. I will probably do a status match to another airline before end of the year.

Right now all my credit card miles are going to AA, AS and AmEx (which will probably end up with CO). I am already flying other airlines more - used F9 last month and am using AS to Alaska this June. Fortunately you can fly to a lot of different cities non-stop from MSP without using DL. *A is especially attractive - ORD, DEN, IAH, CLT, PHL, EWR, PHX, and probably other cities are all available with *A non stop from MSP.

SFO & CLE, for two.