Advice - Delta or Continental
May 18, 2009, 7:39 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 64
Advice - Delta or Continental
Asking for some advice.
My travel patterns are about to change starting June.
Which airline FF Program would be better convenience standpoint.
My main goals for FF programs are Award Travel and Lounge access.
Home airport West Palm Beach (PBI).
Currently a Delta Platinum & USAir Silver with Continental Lounge membership.
New travel:
- Heathrow, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, or Munich every 4-6 weeks (8 trips per year)
- Anchorage every 3-4 months (3 trips per year)
- Calgary every 3 months (4 trips per year)
- PHL every 3 months (4 trips per year)
- Charlotte every 3 months (4 trips per year)
- Various other cities (Houston, Buffalo, Toronto, Chicago) – 6-10 trips per year
It looks like USAir cannot get me to Anchorage – and Calgary is painful.
Continental can get to all of these places (usually through Houston or Newark) - and with the STAR alliance shift - I can use USAir miles for East coast runs to CLT & PHL.
Delta can get to all of these (usually through Atlanta) - but no benefits from USAir points (which I use for East Coast direct flights).
Your thoughts?
My travel patterns are about to change starting June.
Which airline FF Program would be better convenience standpoint.
My main goals for FF programs are Award Travel and Lounge access.
Home airport West Palm Beach (PBI).
Currently a Delta Platinum & USAir Silver with Continental Lounge membership.
New travel:
- Heathrow, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, or Munich every 4-6 weeks (8 trips per year)
- Anchorage every 3-4 months (3 trips per year)
- Calgary every 3 months (4 trips per year)
- PHL every 3 months (4 trips per year)
- Charlotte every 3 months (4 trips per year)
- Various other cities (Houston, Buffalo, Toronto, Chicago) – 6-10 trips per year
It looks like USAir cannot get me to Anchorage – and Calgary is painful.
Continental can get to all of these places (usually through Houston or Newark) - and with the STAR alliance shift - I can use USAir miles for East coast runs to CLT & PHL.
Delta can get to all of these (usually through Atlanta) - but no benefits from USAir points (which I use for East Coast direct flights).
Your thoughts?
May 18, 2009, 7:55 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, Skyteam Elite Plus (KE Morning Calm Premium)
Posts: 819
What about taking United from MIA or FLL and getting USair miles when you go to Anchorage and Calgary.
May 18, 2009, 7:58 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: ORF
Programs: Delta Diamond Charter Member/1.8MM, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 876
Asking for some advice.
My travel patterns are about to change starting June.
Which airline FF Program would be better convenience standpoint.
My main goals for FF programs are Award Travel and Lounge access.
Home airport West Palm Beach (PBI).
Currently a Delta Platinum & USAir Silver with Continental Lounge membership.
New travel:
- Heathrow, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, or Munich every 4-6 weeks (8 trips per year)
- Anchorage every 3-4 months (3 trips per year)
- Calgary every 3 months (4 trips per year)
- PHL every 3 months (4 trips per year)
- Charlotte every 3 months (4 trips per year)
- Various other cities (Houston, Buffalo, Toronto, Chicago) – 6-10 trips per year
It looks like USAir cannot get me to Anchorage – and Calgary is painful.
Continental can get to all of these places (usually through Houston or Newark) - and with the STAR alliance shift - I can use USAir miles for East coast runs to CLT & PHL.
Delta can get to all of these (usually through Atlanta) - but no benefits from USAir points (which I use for East Coast direct flights).
Your thoughts?
My travel patterns are about to change starting June.
Which airline FF Program would be better convenience standpoint.
My main goals for FF programs are Award Travel and Lounge access.
Home airport West Palm Beach (PBI).
Currently a Delta Platinum & USAir Silver with Continental Lounge membership.
New travel:
- Heathrow, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, or Munich every 4-6 weeks (8 trips per year)
- Anchorage every 3-4 months (3 trips per year)
- Calgary every 3 months (4 trips per year)
- PHL every 3 months (4 trips per year)
- Charlotte every 3 months (4 trips per year)
- Various other cities (Houston, Buffalo, Toronto, Chicago) – 6-10 trips per year
It looks like USAir cannot get me to Anchorage – and Calgary is painful.
Continental can get to all of these places (usually through Houston or Newark) - and with the STAR alliance shift - I can use USAir miles for East coast runs to CLT & PHL.
Delta can get to all of these (usually through Atlanta) - but no benefits from USAir points (which I use for East Coast direct flights).
Your thoughts?
May 18, 2009, 8:01 am
#4
Join Date: May 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: DL ♦M MM|HH♦|Marr Slvr|CO UA AA US|Pri Cub Plat|SPG|Avis 1st|Htz 5*
Posts: 5,044
Not sure if this helps... and you might already know this. Delta and Alaska Airlines recently upped their alliance. Don't know if this will help much from PBI. Here.
May 18, 2009, 8:45 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 23,766
UA has pulled out of FLL and in general completely sucks when it comes to serving South Florida and New York City.
My opinion about the OPs question is that since domestic upgrades are not a factor, he should fly on CO and, until he sees how the wind blows, credit the miles to his US Dividend Miles account. The US miles are as of now about the best mileage currency of any domestic carrier since US does not filter the *A awards as does UA and you can get any available *A flight using them.
The two wind-blown kickers are that if CO follows the US pattern and allows full award access, he can change to them immediately. And if US appears to be ready to leave the alliance, the miles must be rapidly burned (which is not much of a problem considering the availabilities scenario).
And since Lounge access is the same across the *A carriers, if the OP is *Gold, that will get him access on all of the international flights. The domestic clubs for everybody require a membership but the rumors are that CO is planning to get the PC members on domestic UA itineraries into the UA RCCs as a standard benefit. If you belong to the USAir Club, that RCC access is an add-on.
My opinion about the OPs question is that since domestic upgrades are not a factor, he should fly on CO and, until he sees how the wind blows, credit the miles to his US Dividend Miles account. The US miles are as of now about the best mileage currency of any domestic carrier since US does not filter the *A awards as does UA and you can get any available *A flight using them.
The two wind-blown kickers are that if CO follows the US pattern and allows full award access, he can change to them immediately. And if US appears to be ready to leave the alliance, the miles must be rapidly burned (which is not much of a problem considering the availabilities scenario).
And since Lounge access is the same across the *A carriers, if the OP is *Gold, that will get him access on all of the international flights. The domestic clubs for everybody require a membership but the rumors are that CO is planning to get the PC members on domestic UA itineraries into the UA RCCs as a standard benefit. If you belong to the USAir Club, that RCC access is an add-on.
May 18, 2009, 8:49 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: TPA-MKE-PHX
Programs: Ex DL-DM. MM. TWA-Aviator Plat. HHonors-DVIP, MR-Gold. Nat-Emerald. Avis Chairmn.
Posts: 1,925
May 18, 2009, 9:14 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: MKE
Programs: AA Exec Platinum, SPG Platinum / Ambassador / Lifetime Gold, Avis FIRST
Posts: 3,293
Though I'm a US refugee ... it looks like US (or at least a *A carrier) is the way for you to go. I only say US instead of UA or (soon) CO because of the free unlimited upgrades and the lack of filtering on awards on US.
For your international travel, you can connect pretty conveniently in Charlotte for LHR, CDG, FRA and for other European cities you can take UA via IAD or CO via EWR once they join (I'd avoid US via PHL). As a *A Gold (which you'll hit pretty quickly with your travel schedule) you'll have full lounge access when going to Europe.
US flies PHX to both Anchorage and Calgary ... however there is no non-stop from PBI-PHX ... so if you're unwilling to go to FLL or MIA for a one stop to ANC or Calgary you'd have to double connect.
You can fly PBI-CLT and PBI-PHL non stop on US.
Also, PBI-ORD you can do non-stop on UA and PBI-IAH you can do non-stop on CO once they join.
You can also fly non stop from PBI - Toronto on Air Canada.
*A seems the way to go.
For your international travel, you can connect pretty conveniently in Charlotte for LHR, CDG, FRA and for other European cities you can take UA via IAD or CO via EWR once they join (I'd avoid US via PHL). As a *A Gold (which you'll hit pretty quickly with your travel schedule) you'll have full lounge access when going to Europe.
US flies PHX to both Anchorage and Calgary ... however there is no non-stop from PBI-PHX ... so if you're unwilling to go to FLL or MIA for a one stop to ANC or Calgary you'd have to double connect.
You can fly PBI-CLT and PBI-PHL non stop on US.
Also, PBI-ORD you can do non-stop on UA and PBI-IAH you can do non-stop on CO once they join.
You can also fly non stop from PBI - Toronto on Air Canada.
*A seems the way to go.
May 18, 2009, 9:33 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: ORF
Programs: Delta Diamond Charter Member/1.8MM, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 876
May 18, 2009, 10:38 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: Amtrak Select Plus, Marriott Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,123
My DL domestic upgrade percentage is much higher than on CO, and I'm satisfied with the service (not that different, IMHO). However, mileage redemption on DL STINKS.
May 18, 2009, 1:15 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,092
What about AA? They are pretty strong in FLL and very strong in MIA. You could get to LHR and maybe CDG (can't remember off-hand) nonstop from MIA, which would be pretty nice, and you could also connect to anywhere in Europe from LHR. Personally, I'm a huge fan of European connections over stateside ones. Plus, you get the best lounge access on AA (first class oneworld lounges) based on the amount you fly. I'm pretty sure you'd only get business class lounges on Star or Skyteam. Plus, AA has (in my experience) the best redemption opportunities.
May 18, 2009, 2:04 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,679
If you're doing a lot of TATL in J, the CO is the clear winner. I've got CO fares for J this summer that were cheaper than DL's B/M fares.
The down side to CO is fares accrue at different rates depending on class. The upside is better availability, sane millage redemption charts and lower fees.
The down side to CO is fares accrue at different rates depending on class. The upside is better availability, sane millage redemption charts and lower fees.
May 18, 2009, 2:14 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,539
As a company, and their attitude toward their elite flyers, I'd go with CO in a heartbeat. Much better IT, and elite benefits. In most cases, your domestic upgrades will not be as good as DL, though.
May 18, 2009, 7:20 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 64
Thanks for all the good feedback.
The plot does thicken.
My company has a contract with United for TATL.
And another with CO for ANC and YYC.
They are pushing UA, but I agree with Monitor, UA really sucks for South Florida. Looks like I need to depart from MIA (sometimes FLL) as United insists PBI connect through IAD or CLT.
So my thoughts are Delta is a gonner - My company has sold it's soul to *A.
Now it comes down to CO, USAir or UA program. I'm leaning towards USAir as I can get shorter duration trips to LHR and leave directly from my home airport.
The plot does thicken.
My company has a contract with United for TATL.
And another with CO for ANC and YYC.
They are pushing UA, but I agree with Monitor, UA really sucks for South Florida. Looks like I need to depart from MIA (sometimes FLL) as United insists PBI connect through IAD or CLT.
So my thoughts are Delta is a gonner - My company has sold it's soul to *A.
Now it comes down to CO, USAir or UA program. I'm leaning towards USAir as I can get shorter duration trips to LHR and leave directly from my home airport.